Meeting My Own Personal Bookshelf for 10,000 Yen: From Iwata Shoten

Hello, I'm Rin Kiki, and I just love books.

Are you familiar with the 10,000 Yen Book Selection service?
It's a service where a bookstore owner, featured on NHK's 'Professional: Shigoto no Ryugi,' selects about 10,000 yen worth of recommended books and delivers them to you.

I was actually able to use the service this time, so I'd like to share my experience!
If you're curious about what kind of service it is, please check it out.

What is Iwata Shoten's '10,000 Yen Book Selection'?

First, let me briefly introduce what kind of service it is.

Iwata Shoten is an independent bookstore located in Sunagawa City, Hokkaido.
It's what you'd call a 'local bookstore.'
When you apply through an application form that is only open for a few days a year, a lottery is held every month, and winners receive a 'Book Selection Chart' from the owner.
Once you fill out and return this chart, the owner uses that information to select books that suit you within a 10,000 yen budget, and the books are shipped once you transfer the payment.

Surprisingly, there is no service fee for the book selection; you only pay for shipping and the cost of the books.
The eligible age for application is 'high school student and above.'
The owner believes that for small children, the best thing is to just read widely at places like libraries.

From winning the lottery to receiving the books

In my case, I had applied in April 2024, and on August 19th, when I had already given up hope, I received an email saying I had won for the September batch!

A 'Book Selection Chart' was attached to the email, and they asked me to return it by September 3rd.

I filled it out and sent it back on the very day the email arrived.

I was told I was the 19,430th person to experience the 10,000 Yen Book Selection.

On August 30th, the owner sent me a message and the titles of the books, but since I had already read one of them, I asked for a replacement.

I paid for the newly selected book and the additional goods via bank transfer, and waited for them to arrive.

On September 5th, they arrived via Sagawa Express!

I was so happy that I opened them right away, so I missed the chance to take a picture of the package 💦

I ordered the 10,000 Yen Book Selection books, a DVD, a book cover, and a bookmark as extras.

One of the paperbacks even came with a paper cover.

About the Book Selection Chart

Now, you fill out the Book Selection Chart to have books chosen for you, but you're curious about what's in the chart, right?

What matters is your reading history.
So, I answered with my top 20 most memorable books I've read so far.

I only listed books I found interesting, but there is a section to mark circles, triangles, and crosses, so it seems it's okay to include books you didn't find interesting.

There was also a question asking, "At what age did you like yourself the most?"

What kind of questions there are is also introduced in the 10,000 Yen Book Selection book.

Furthermore, you can write a message on a separate sheet about anything you like.
I also wrote a personal letter.

Selected Books

Here is the list of books I received initially.

Since I had already read "Shaberedomo Shaberedomo," I had it replaced with
"The Delightful Way of Life of Familiar Weeds."

So, that was the lineup of 10 books.

I haven't been able to read them yet, so I'll share my thoughts later.

Books were selected just for me!

When I looked it up on social media, I found that there were some books Mr. Iwata recommends as staples (in my case, "Curtain Call!" and "Hero Hero," etc.), and others that felt very personalized.
Business books don't seem to be chosen very often, but this is a recommended service for those looking for books that will resonate with them or those who want to try books by authors they have never read before.

Above all, the process until they arrive is fun.

Waiting excitedly for the email reply,
unable to wait for the books to arrive from Hokkaido,
and the joy of opening the package.

I had a wonderful experience.
It would be great if there are books that resonate with me again.
I would like to write a follow-up report once I have read the books I purchased.

Sincerely, Kiki