Online bookstore Flotsam Books opened a physical store on January 11, 2020. It's located in Daitabashi, Tokyo.

The sudden announcement, posted on Twitter just a few days after the opening, likely caused many people to gasp in surprise and delight.

As some of you may already know, we've suddenly and carelessly opened a physical store. pic.twitter.com/liPXDu1uRr

— flotsambooks (@flotsambooks) January 14, 2020

Takayuki Kobayashi is the owner of flotsam books, a unique online bookstore specializing in visual books, primarily in the fashion, photo, and art genres. Their activities are not limited to selling books online, but include a stall at the "TOKYO ART BOOK FAIR," pop-ups at Isetan Shinjuku and JOURNAL STANDARD relume Omotesando, a "Photobook Drinking Party" at the now-defunct Harajuku VACANT, the new art book fair "Photobook JP" specializing in photobooks, and the "Offline Art Book Shop" co-hosted with twelvebooks, as well as selecting books for office bookshelves, and a wide range of other activities that have earned them many fans across all industries.

Soon after the long-awaited opening of the brick-and-mortar store, flotsam books will be holding its first event, "aki moris books in flotsam books," from February 15th.


"aki moris books" is a bookstore that lies within the future vision of graphic designer Tadashi Morisaki. Morisaki, who handles book design and is himself a book lover, is a long-time customer of flotsam books. When he once asked flotsam books to purchase his books, he mentioned that he wanted to open his own online used bookstore in the future. Kobayashi then suggested, "Why not actually create a limited-edition brick-and-mortar used bookstore?" This pop-up was then realized.

“Sometimes the shelves of your favorite used bookstores suddenly become more plentiful. Sometimes the lineup at a used bookstore you occasionally visit suddenly changes to suit your preferences. Perhaps a book lover like you gave it away, or perhaps a family member disposed of it. The shelves of a used bookstore quietly carry on the stories of such nameless people. ”

During this period, the focus will be on the books of one book lover, Masashi Morisaki, creating a second bookstore within the bookstore.