Book Off Facts for Kids

Book Off (Japanese: ブックオフ) is Japan's biggest chain of second-hand bookstores. It is run by Book Off Corporation Limited. The very first Book Off store opened in May 1990. The first store run by a partner (called a franchisee) opened in November 1991.

This business became very successful! It grew to have 917 stores in Japan. It also has 14 stores in other countries. You can find them in the US, France, Korea, and Canada.

Book Off sells many kinds of books. This includes comic books, magazines, and novels. They also sell CDs, DVDs, and video games. Books are sorted by their type, the writer, and their price. Book Off stores outside Japan sell second-hand books from Japan. They also sell books from the country they are in.

Book Off doesn't just sell used books. They also buy books from customers! Their main slogan is “お売りください”. This means “Please, sell us your book”. The company uses this phrase to show respect to their customers. It sounds nicer than just "We buy your book."

What Makes Book Off Special?
More Than Just Books
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What Makes Book Off Special?

Some Book Off stores, especially those outside Japan, have different signs. But they all use the same special colors: yellow, blue, and red.

Book Off has a fun mascot named "Yomuyomukun" (Mr. Yomu-yomu). He holds a book in his hands. The word "Yomu" (読む) in Japanese means "read."

Another unique thing about Book Off is how loud their employees are! They shout “いらっしゃいませ! (irashaimase! : welcome!)” when customers walk in. When customers leave, they shout "ありがとうございました! (arigatou gozaimasita! : thank you!)”. Even Book Off stores in other countries use these Japanese greetings.

More Than Just Books

Since 1999, Book Off Corporation Limited started to open other kinds of second-hand stores. These stores sell different items.

B-Kids sells used baby items and children's clothes.
B-Sports sells used sports gear.
B-Style sells used clothes for ladies and men.
B-Life sells used home goods and accessories.

The first B-Kids store opened in April 1999. Now, there are 26 B-Kids stores, 32 B-Style stores, and 24 B-Sports stores in Japan. Most of the company's business (about 81%) comes from the main Book Off stores. The other types of stores make up the remaining 19% of their total sales.