Let’s read books at Ginza Sony Park. Let’s think about books.
If you find a book you like, pack it in a tote bag and take it home.
Ginza Sony Park has transformed into a “HON – NO KOEN”
for a limited time in collaboration with the podcast program “Planet of Books.”
Feel free to pick up a book and enjoy reading.
Additionally, if you purchase a tote bag available at the reception,
you can take home the books you like.
“Planet of Books” is a popular podcast hosted
by book coordinator Shintaro Uchinuma,
where he discusses various topics revolve around books every week.
The books displayed in the park are collected
as part of the “Books We Don’t Want to Throw Away” project,
led by Value Books, a company based in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture,
specializing in buying and selling second-hand books.
Value Books receives approximately 30,000 books daily from across Japan.
About half of these books are assigned a purchase price and delivered
to new readers through online sales.
However, the remaining half, regardless of their content,
are often left without a price due to the balance of supply
and demand in the second-hand book market and many are inevitably recycled.
Yet, the value of a book should not be determined by its price.
If a book gains meaning for the first time when it resonates with someone’s interest,
then the moment it catches someone’s attention and is picked up,
it can always become a “new release” for that person.
At Value Books, some of the books initially destined
for paper recycling are carefully selected
by hand and given a chance for new encounters as
“Books We Don’t Want to Throw Away.”
During the event period, there will also be live recordings of “Planet of Books.”
In an era where everyone scrolls through social media and uses AI,
what significance does a physical book hold?
Thoughts and dialogues about the future of media will unfold
as part of the scenery of this park.
Let’ s explore these ideas together.
Program
In collaboration with Shintaro Uchiuma, a book coordinator and host of the podcast “Book Planet,” we will gather approximately 20,000 carefully selected second-hand books that are difficult to price for various reasons, transforming Ginza Sony Park B2 into a “Book Park” where visitors can freely immerse themselves in reading.
The books available for reading can be found anywhere within Ginza Sony Park. Additionally, if you are interested in any books, you may purchase an original tote bag (1,800 yen including tax) available at the venue, which allows you to take home up to five books per tote bag.
During the exhibition period, there will also be a live recording of the podcast “Book Planet,” where we will think together about the future of printed books.
*One book only when reading on other floors.
Overview
Title:
HON – NO KOEN
Date:
February 7 (Sat.) – February 23 (Mon.,/Holiday), 2026
Opening Hours:
11:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M
Venue:
Ginza Sony Park B2
Admission:
Free
Collaborator
Shintaro Uchinuma
Born in 1980. A graduate of Hitotsubashi University, Faculty of Commerce. Book coordinator. President of NUMABOOKS Inc., Director of VALUE BOOKS Inc. In 2012, he opened “B&B,” a new bookstore where you can drink beer and hold events every day, and in 2020, he opened “Nikkiya Tsukihi,” a specialty store for diaries. He also serves as the President of Sanposha Inc., which operates “BONUS TRACK” in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo, and as a Director of Kataho Inc., which operates “HOME/WORK VILLAGE” in Ikejiri. His books include “Korekara no Honya Dokuhon” (NHK Publishing), “Hon no Mirai wo Sagasu Tabi Taipei,” “Hon no Mirai wo Sagasu Tabi Seoul,” and “Hon no Gyakushu” (Asahi Publishing). He currently lives in two locations: Shimokitazawa, Tokyo, and Miyota, Nagano. Father of two children. Personality of “HON – NO WAKUSEI.”
Web：NUMABOOKS
Instagram：@numabooks
