Our History

A century of bookselling. One story that began with a single book — now reaching the world.

Founded in March 1928 (Showa 3) in Shizuoka, we are proud to be approaching our 100th anniversary in 2028. The long journey we have walked — devoted entirely to books — has been made possible by the unwavering support of our local community.

In September 1972 (Showa 47), we expanded into the Yokohama-Kanazawa area, opening a location inside the Uny Kanazawa-Bunko store (now Apita Kanazawa-Bunko). For more than half a century since, we have remained guided by a single, unwavering belief: “to serve the community through books.”

A Bookstore Rooted in Its Community

At the heart of everything we do is the spirit behind our tagline: “Discovering Local Talent.” We have long made it our mission to curate books connected to the Yokohama-Kanazawa area and its surrounding neighborhoods — shining a light on local voices, talents, and culture that might otherwise go unheard.

As a symbol of our identity, we designed a family crest inspired by the mantis shrimp (shako) — a beloved specialty of the Kanazawa area. This emblem represents the bond we share with our community and has become an enduring mark of who we are.

In March 2008 (Heisei 20), we began handling school textbooks — an extension of our roots in bookselling, and a new way to support local education.

A New Challenge: Moving from Selling Books to Making Them

In July 2007 (Heisei 19), we established an in-house publishing division — stepping from the world of bookselling into the world of creation. Our titles Kanazawa-Bunko Panorama Bird’s-Eye Map and Kanazawa Ward Emergency Handbook both became local bestsellers, each selling over 2,000 copies through our own store alone.

These publications attracted attention from major national newspapers — including the Yomiuri Shimbun and Mainichi Shimbun — as well as numerous magazines and trade publications.

We also expanded into self-publishing services. Yokohama Kanazawa no Shiokaze, commissioned by a local customer, sold out its 500-copy print run in just one month. Another title, Kirai-so, was featured in local town magazines — steadily nurturing a culture of community-driven publishing.

A Chance Encounter with Ukiyo-e

It was through our work with local books that we first encountered the world of ukiyo-e — Japanese woodblock prints. While handling books by a local author, we had the opportunity to view their remarkable personal collection, and our journey with ukiyo-e began.

Kanazawa has deep historical ties to ukiyo-e, most famously as the setting of Hiroshige Utagawa’s celebrated Eight Views of Kanazawa series. Captivated by the enduring beauty of these works — still as vivid and alive today as when they were first printed hundreds of years ago — we made the decision to bring ukiyo-e into our store.

We partnered with publishers of reproduction woodblock prints and launched in-store sales, which were met with an enthusiastic response. This led us to open an online shop under the name “Ukiyo-e Woodblock Print Specialty Store — Iwashita Shoten,” accepting orders from across Japan. We later launched an international site as well. Today, we are proud to be a destination for ukiyo-e enthusiasts around the world.

Expanding Into the World: Our Trading Business

In 2015, we launched a trading division, selling original, in-house developed products through domestic and international online platforms. Drawing on the craftsmanship and community-rooted perspective we have cultivated since our founding, we have extended our reach beyond Japan and into global markets.

From Analog to Digital — Our Vision

Books. Publishing. Ukiyo-e. Global trade. The path we have traveled is connected by a single thread: creating content and tangible goods, and delivering them to people.

From the analog world of ukiyo-e — Japan’s original form of commercial publishing — to the digital world of e-commerce and global platforms, we remain committed to what has always defined us: connecting people and the world through content and craftsmanship. That is Iwashita Shoten.

Toward Our 100th Year — and Beyond

In 2028, we will mark a century in business — a milestone made possible by a century of trust from the people and communities we have served. As a testament to one hundred years of connecting books and people, we will continue to embrace new challenges.

We look forward to your continued support in the next hundred years to come.