Not far from Komazawa Park, in Fukasawa, Setagaya Ward, lies a quiet, hidden bookstore. Located in this upscale residential area lined with famous sweet shops, SNOW SHOVELING, which opened in 2012, is a bookstore called "SNOW SHOVELING."
The entrance on the second floor of a multi-tenant building is like a magical door leading to a bookstore overseas. The interior, bathed in soft light, invites you into a surreal world far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city.
"Rather than just selling books, I want customers to have an 'experience,' including the space," says owner Shuichi Nakamura. Learn more about the experience and attention to detail that goes into creating a space at "SNOW SHOVELING," unlike other bookstores.
■ Spend your time however you like
The books, selected arbitrarily and subjectively by the owner, include novels, foreign books, culture books, art books, and many other deep, independent works that aren't available at large bookstores. They also carry used books, magazines, and stationery that can be used as interior décor.
The miscellaneous goods purchased overseas and the owner's handmade interior items create a nostalgic atmosphere, even when seen for the first time. The space feels as relaxing as a living room, or even more relaxing than home, creating a homey atmosphere. Enjoy a cup of coffee (donation required) from the server in the corner of the store and immerse yourself in a good book. Connect to the Wi-Fi and work on your laptop, bring food to enjoy a meal, or bring an instrument to play—whatever you like!
The bookshelves are categorized by genre and lined up in a cramped space. The most striking feature is the shelf stocked with books by author Haruki Murakami. "My world changed when I came across Haruki Murakami's books during my middle and high school years," says Nakamura. Back then, he was a fan of 1960s music, and it felt like he'd traveled back in time and seen his idol with his own eyes. The shop's name, "SNOW SHOVELING," borrows from the phrase "cultural snowshoveling" from Murakami's "Dance Dance Dance." "I simply provide writing to fill in the gaps. It doesn't matter what it is. As long as there are words written, that's fine. But someone has to write it. So I write it. It's like shoveling snow. Cultural snowshoveling." --Excerpt from "Dance Dance Dance."
Fashion books are also selected
■A door to a world opened by Murakami Haruki's books
The reason he was so captivated by Murakami Haruki's books is because "they contain many foreign words, and I was stimulated by learning new words and knowledge." His interest naturally turned to overseas countries, and after graduating from high school he traveled abroad and visited bookstores along the way. "At the time, I had no goals. I forced myself to make up a plan to 'find myself,' and set off on a journey wherever the urge took me. At first, my English was so poor that I couldn't even say 'hello,' but once I mustered up the courage to go out, I was faced with many unknown encounters. Even though I started from scratch, the process of gradually learning, getting used to things, and gaining experience was fun, just like a role-playing game." As he continued traveling as long as his visa and money allowed, visiting bookstores eventually became his goal.
After spending his 20s traveling and working in graphic design, he entered his 30s and began to think about his future. "Until then, I had been on the receiving end of work, but I wasn't sure if I could continue doing that happily for the next 10 years. When I decided I needed to do something to express myself, the first thing I could imagine was running a bookstore."
Around that time, the Roppongi TSUTAYA bookstore opened, causing a huge boom in the public. It had long been said that "books and magazines don't sell" amidst the advancement of digitalization, but bookstores with unique themes, such as cafe services and talk events, have emerged, proposing new ways to enjoy books. Although the scale and purpose were different, drawing on his previous experience, he decided to start his own bookstore. Changing jobs to a different industry in his late 30s requires considerable resolve, but with his natural curiosity and drive, he opened "SNOW SHOVELING" in 2012.
■ A love story born from a "dating bookstore"
Nakamura, who knows bookstores all over the world, was drawn to many places, such as San Francisco's "City Lights," London's second-hand bookstore district (now closed due to rising land prices), and Paris's "Shakespeare and Company." However, he says that he was most inspired by a New York bookstore. It was a small, privately owned store in the depths of Brooklyn, the kind only locals know about. Seeing the friendly conversations between the owner and customers, the casual atmosphere, the lack of pretense, and the free-spirited atmosphere that freed both mind and body, left a lasting impression on him. He imagined he wanted to open a store like that, and he expanded his imagination and made it a reality.
"I call SNOW SHOVELING a 'dating bookstore.' The reasons for this are, first of all, that books are about meeting authors. Secondly, I once read in the magazine NEW YORKER that bookstores were ranked as the number one place where men and women want to meet." It may sound cheesy, but I think it's really wonderful. For example, if you're on the train and the person sitting across from you is reading a book you like, you can't say anything to them, but here you can. It's okay to have ulterior motives, too (laughs). At SNOW SHOVELING, regulars naturally get to know each other and start conversations, and I also intentionally talk to customers. I'd be happy if the uncertainty brings about fun happenings and unexpected encounters. And I want to cherish the community where people actually meet and connect here," he told us. In fact, at the annual Christmas party, men and women meet, and for three years in a row, couples have been formed. A truly romantic love story that begins in a bookstore.
■Spice up your life
"The joy of learning more is the spice of life. I hope that through SNOW SHOVELING, you'll find an encounter that piques your curiosity. I want to provide things that are not simply digested as information, but something to cherish and keep in your heart. That said, I don't want to be an ostentatious presence," she says with a gentle smile.
Encounters are a treasure. Sometimes they are people, and sometimes they can be eras, countries, cultures, or wisdom that you can see through books. You might have a shocking encounter that tugs at your heartstrings, or you might find casual happiness in chatting with a complete stranger. Why not visit SNOW SHOVELING with the hope that "something might happen?"
SNOW SHOVELING BOOKS & GALLERY
2F, 4-35-7 Fukasawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
http://snow-shoveling.jp/
The entrance on the second floor of a multi-tenant building is like a magical door leading to a bookstore overseas. The interior, bathed in soft light, invites you into a surreal world far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city.
"Rather than just selling books, I want customers to have an 'experience,' including the space," says owner Shuichi Nakamura. Learn more about the experience and attention to detail that goes into creating a space at "SNOW SHOVELING," unlike other bookstores.
■ Spend your time however you like
The books, selected arbitrarily and subjectively by the owner, include novels, foreign books, culture books, art books, and many other deep, independent works that aren't available at large bookstores. They also carry used books, magazines, and stationery that can be used as interior décor.
The miscellaneous goods purchased overseas and the owner's handmade interior items create a nostalgic atmosphere, even when seen for the first time. The space feels as relaxing as a living room, or even more relaxing than home, creating a homey atmosphere. Enjoy a cup of coffee (donation required) from the server in the corner of the store and immerse yourself in a good book. Connect to the Wi-Fi and work on your laptop, bring food to enjoy a meal, or bring an instrument to play—whatever you like!
The bookshelves are categorized by genre and lined up in a cramped space. The most striking feature is the shelf stocked with books by author Haruki Murakami. "My world changed when I came across Haruki Murakami's books during my middle and high school years," says Nakamura. Back then, he was a fan of 1960s music, and it felt like he'd traveled back in time and seen his idol with his own eyes. The shop's name, "SNOW SHOVELING," borrows from the phrase "cultural snowshoveling" from Murakami's "Dance Dance Dance." "I simply provide writing to fill in the gaps. It doesn't matter what it is. As long as there are words written, that's fine. But someone has to write it. So I write it. It's like shoveling snow. Cultural snowshoveling." --Excerpt from "Dance Dance Dance."
Fashion books are also selected
■A door to a world opened by Murakami Haruki's books
The reason he was so captivated by Murakami Haruki's books is because "they contain many foreign words, and I was stimulated by learning new words and knowledge." His interest naturally turned to overseas countries, and after graduating from high school he traveled abroad and visited bookstores along the way. "At the time, I had no goals. I forced myself to make up a plan to 'find myself,' and set off on a journey wherever the urge took me. At first, my English was so poor that I couldn't even say 'hello,' but once I mustered up the courage to go out, I was faced with many unknown encounters. Even though I started from scratch, the process of gradually learning, getting used to things, and gaining experience was fun, just like a role-playing game." As he continued traveling as long as his visa and money allowed, visiting bookstores eventually became his goal.
After spending his 20s traveling and working in graphic design, he entered his 30s and began to think about his future. "Until then, I had been on the receiving end of work, but I wasn't sure if I could continue doing that happily for the next 10 years. When I decided I needed to do something to express myself, the first thing I could imagine was running a bookstore."
Around that time, the Roppongi TSUTAYA bookstore opened, causing a huge boom in the public. It had long been said that "books and magazines don't sell" amidst the advancement of digitalization, but bookstores with unique themes, such as cafe services and talk events, have emerged, proposing new ways to enjoy books. Although the scale and purpose were different, drawing on his previous experience, he decided to start his own bookstore. Changing jobs to a different industry in his late 30s requires considerable resolve, but with his natural curiosity and drive, he opened "SNOW SHOVELING" in 2012.
■ A love story born from a "dating bookstore"
Nakamura, who knows bookstores all over the world, was drawn to many places, such as San Francisco's "City Lights," London's second-hand bookstore district (now closed due to rising land prices), and Paris's "Shakespeare and Company." However, he says that he was most inspired by a New York bookstore. It was a small, privately owned store in the depths of Brooklyn, the kind only locals know about. Seeing the friendly conversations between the owner and customers, the casual atmosphere, the lack of pretense, and the free-spirited atmosphere that freed both mind and body, left a lasting impression on him. He imagined he wanted to open a store like that, and he expanded his imagination and made it a reality.
"I call SNOW SHOVELING a 'dating bookstore.' The reasons for this are, first of all, that books are about meeting authors. Secondly, I once read in the magazine NEW YORKER that bookstores were ranked as the number one place where men and women want to meet." It may sound cheesy, but I think it's really wonderful. For example, if you're on the train and the person sitting across from you is reading a book you like, you can't say anything to them, but here you can. It's okay to have ulterior motives, too (laughs). At SNOW SHOVELING, regulars naturally get to know each other and start conversations, and I also intentionally talk to customers. I'd be happy if the uncertainty brings about fun happenings and unexpected encounters. And I want to cherish the community where people actually meet and connect here," he told us. In fact, at the annual Christmas party, men and women meet, and for three years in a row, couples have been formed. A truly romantic love story that begins in a bookstore.
■Spice up your life
"The joy of learning more is the spice of life. I hope that through SNOW SHOVELING, you'll find an encounter that piques your curiosity. I want to provide things that are not simply digested as information, but something to cherish and keep in your heart. That said, I don't want to be an ostentatious presence," she says with a gentle smile.
Encounters are a treasure. Sometimes they are people, and sometimes they can be eras, countries, cultures, or wisdom that you can see through books. You might have a shocking encounter that tugs at your heartstrings, or you might find casual happiness in chatting with a complete stranger. Why not visit SNOW SHOVELING with the hope that "something might happen?"
SNOW SHOVELING BOOKS & GALLERY
2F, 4-35-7 Fukasawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
http://snow-shoveling.jp/
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