The drama "Biblia Antiquarian Bookstore's Case Files" will begin airing on the Fuji TV network on January 14th. It will air in the network's flagship drama slot, the so-called "Monday 9pm" slot. The heroine, Shioriko, a female secondhand bookstore owner, will be played by Ayame Goriki. The original work by En Mikami is a light mystery novel of the same name published by Media Works Bunko, which has sold over 3.4 million copies. Since the drama's production was announced, the casting has generated considerable buzz. The timeline of a voice actor who tweeted a critical response went up in flames. Other buzz surrounding the drama's release includes a guest appearance by professional soccer player Atsuto Uchida. If the drama stays true to the original, Haruka Ayase would be a natural fit for the lead role. She has long, dark hair, a slim figure, large breasts, and a shy, glasses-wearing vibe. Unfortunately, this year she plays Niijima Jo's wife in the NHK taiga drama "Yae no Sakura." Book-related topics, including Biblia, are once again a hot topic. Three years have passed since 2010, the so-called "year of the digital book era," and the leading player in the digital book industry, the Kindle, arrived in Japan last November. A full-fledged digital book market is finally taking shape. Sales of new books remain depressed, with publishing sales through November 2012 down 3.3% from the previous year. In December, a mid-sized publisher went bankrupt, and rumors of a second-tier distributor offering voluntary retirement became a hot topic in the publishing world. Bookstores are disappearing at a rate of 1,000 per year. These are tough times for all three sectors. While the publishing industry is undoubtedly in a recession, a trend toward "touching a book = cool, beautiful" is also becoming more apparent, seemingly reversing the trend. It's as if books are being given added value beyond their content.

This month's issue of "HUGE" magazine features "GO! BOOK STORE!" The number of bookstores with elaborate interiors is on the rise, including Daikanyama T-Site, Shimokitazawa's B&B, which is involved with Shima Koichiro and Uchinuma Shintaro, Utrecht, led by Eguchi Hiroshi and connected to the select shop 1LDK Aoyama Annex, and Nakano's Omega Algea, which is thriving in the underground scene. All of these are stylish bookstores. The bookshelves are tasteful and the selection is unique. Books coexist with fashion and gourmet food.

The number of artsy secondhand bookstores run by young owners is also on the rise. In addition to "Magnif," a secondhand bookstore in Jimbocho, a mecca for secondhand books, specializing in fashion magazines, and "Totodo" in Shibuya, which handles old Comme des Garçons catalogs, a number of secondhand bookstores are opening in Koenji, the center of subculture. A secondhand bookstore specializing in art and fashion books has also opened on the street leading to the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo. The drama "Biblia" is the ultimate weapon for this "reading fashion" initiative aimed at women. The original character, a bespectacled, busty beauty, is given a lively impression by using her powerful strength. The image of a beautiful woman who loves reading conveys the idea that "reading books = beauty," inspiring viewers to read books. Many of the books featured in the story are out-of-print and unavailable in e-books, making it a popular choice among connoisseurs. Will Biblia's Shioriko really become the Joan of Arc of the publishing world? At the very least, people will have more opportunities to access paper and secondhand books. I do feel that the act of reading has become a bit superficial, but as a book lover, my priority is to have as many people as possible come into contact with books. By the way, I don't have a TV so I can't watch it.