If you have a bit of interest in books, you may already know about the opening of 'Books Kinokuniya' in Bangladesh. Just on 19th June, 2026, it launched its massive 5,000-square-foot space on the ground floor of the Centre Point shopping mall in Uttara, Dhaka.
This Japanese book retailer giant, 'Books Kinokuniya', was founded in Tokyo in 1927. And now operates across Japan, the United States, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines, and, most recently, Bangladesh.
The launch marks a significant milestone in the country's evolving literary and cultural landscape. And it is literally a really big event for book lovers specially who love to read international copies and search for them.
Ahead of the official opening, Kinokuniya hosted an exclusive preview event titled 'The Prelude.' The gathering brought together distinguished guests from the literary, cultural, academic, and media communities, as well as invited patrons.
Attendees were offered a first glimpse into the store's vision, curated collections, and its commitment to fostering a vibrant reading culture. Speaking on the occasion, Hiroyoshi Kageyama said, "Kinokuniya's arrival in Bangladesh reflects our confidence in the country's growing culture of reading, learning, and intellectual exploration. We look forward to creating a space where people can discover new ideas, engage with diverse perspectives, and connect through the shared experience of books."
On the 19th and 20th, both days' slots were fully booked, and the gathering was really inspiring.
People are like book enthusiasts of all ages, from little children to college students to Job holders. There was a stall in front, also for painting, clay playing, a photo booth and a few more. So the visitors seem to be really enjoying themselves and not just visiting any shop.
We talked with the Director of Kinokuniya, Hiroyoshi Kageyama. Asked: How is the response? He shared that the response from the people was really impressive, and he expects that Kinokuniya can be an inspiring environment where readers can explore and engage with global ideas and cultures.
Also, we tried to talk with visitor. Trisha, a visitor and book enthusiast who is a student of North South University, asked how she had heard about the great interest in an international bookstore like Kinokuniya's opening in Bangladesh. She shared, "Here in Bangladesh, there is rapid growth community of anime, manga, and pop-culture enthusiasts, especially among Gen Zs so that it can be a good add. Also, there is an existing international demand for books, and it's not only about books; it's also about the calm environment. I visited Kinokuniya's largest Malaysian store, so I'm focusing on the overall experience."
Another book lover, Md Miftah Jaman, came along with his two little kids. We had asked him why he had come there and what he expected. He shared that he came to let the boys experience a beautiful bookstore experience.
One of them likes painting, so he wanted to buy some items related to that. He also shared that kids' international-standard books are often hard to find, so that Kinokuniya can serve them. He also shared that even though so many collections can be found, the price range is a bit higher.
This outlet carries 40,000 books, a wide selection of English-language imports alongside Bangla-language books, ranging from Fiction, Non-fiction, Manga, Children's books, Graphic novel, Literature, Arts, Philosophy, Business, Education, Lifestyle, and academic resources. There was also a beautiful section of stationery. The space is designed to be more than a retail outlet, offering an inspiring environment where readers can explore and engage with global ideas and cultures.
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