Monmon Shobo's Bookstore Tour: Sapporo Edition <Tronika>

Even though I live in Sapporo, I've been missing what's right under my nose. I have absolutely no idea how many bookstores there are in Sapporo. After all, the ones I've been buying from until now were large bookstores like Kinokuniya, Sanseido, MARUZEN & Junkudo, Bunkyodo, Asahiya Shoten (no longer there), Fukido (same), Naniwa Shobo (same), Atene Shobo (same), and Koeido Shoten (same)... I also occasionally went to Village Vanguard when it was in Sapporo Parco. Ah, quite a few have closed down💦
As for used bookstores, I had an old-fashioned image of them (the kind where an elderly shopkeeper sits with a stern face deep in a narrow aisle—is it even okay to call this an old-fashioned image?), and I thought the hurdle was too high... but I guess it's different now (or maybe it has always been different).
I obtained information about bookstores in Sapporo from a shelf owner at Platto BOOK and decided to actually visit them. First up is Tronika on Densha-dori. It's on the second floor of a retro building called the Sansei Building. So used bookstores also carry magazines and movie pamphlets, huh? Oh, they sell merchandise too! I was wandering around wondering how far I could go in, and I ended up barging into what might have been a restricted area.
On this day, the shopkeeper's mother was minding the store, and she told me about how this retro Sansei Building is the oldest reinforced concrete building in Sapporo, about the store's selection, and about the little presses I've gotten hooked on.
Still, it's hot in the summer! Being the oldest, it doesn't have air conditioning. I was told to come back and take my time when it gets cooler, so I bought the three books (I call them Santaro on my own; they were originally separate books), a picture book, and a letter before heading home.

Tronika also has a store in Maruyama, and apparently that one has air conditioning. I definitely think this one has more atmosphere. It had that exciting feeling like when you wander into a run-down local museum and find an amazing collection sleeping in the storage room! (I wonder if this expression gets the point across.) Above all, the shopkeeper's mother is lovely👍

A good start to my Sapporo bookstore tour!

#SharedBookstore #ShelfOwner #TriedItOut #BookstoreTour #Sapporo #Tronika