TAIWAN TSUTAYA Co., Ltd 's past and future
As a bridge between Taiwanese and Japanese culture, we are expanding our reach by developing art projects and other businesses, centering on the development of "TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE."(Updated March 21, 2025)
Aiming to create a new culture for Taiwan
We first entered Taiwan in 2012 and opened "TSUTAYA 亞藝映画音", which mainly offered DVD and CD rentals.
Since 2017, the number of "TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE" stores has been expanding. Currently, the company operates a total of 13 "TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE" stores in Taiwan, mainly through its local subsidiary, TAIWAN TSUTAYA Co., Ltd. Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "TAIWAN TSUTAYA Co., Ltd."), two of which also have "SHARE LOUNGE" facilities. (As of January 2025)
The per capita book purchasing rate in Taiwan is about half that of Japan. However, there are many people who want bookstores in their towns, independent bookstores are on the rise, events at bookstores are booming, and people like to spend time drinking coffee in bookstores, so the culture surrounding bookstores is not that different from Japan.
Many Taiwanese people are Japanophiles and have a strong interest in Japanese culture, including its atmosphere, food, and anime content, and many are delighted to be able to experience Japanese culture while in Taiwan.
Furthermore, the perception that "Japanese bookstore = Daikanyama T-Site" is becoming more widespread. Our local subsidiary, TAIWAN TSUTAYA Co., Ltd., aims to bring the Japanese "Tsutaya Bookstore" to Taiwan, but is also working to develop an original Taiwanese "TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE" that not only conveys Japanese culture, but also respects Taiwanese identity, blends it with each culture, and supports the cultural development of Taiwan.
Awarded at the Business Alliance Conference
Since 2017, TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE has expanded to 11 stores, seven of which were opened (and renovated) during the COVID-19 pandemic since 2020.As a Japanese company that has had a major impact on Taiwan's struggling domestic economy, the company was recognized at the Business Alliance Conference hosted by the Taiwanese government's Ministry of Economic Affairs in December 2023.
These store openings are supported by franchise companies in Taiwan. All overseas stores, including those in Taiwan, are operated by franchise companies. At TAIWAN TSUTAYA Co., Ltd., we have been talking about our philosophy in various places to help people understand our brand, gaining sympathy and increasing the number of partners who will work with us to grow the TSUTAYA brand in Taiwan.
Currently, the majority of our members are developer companies who have high expectations for TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE's ability to attract customers and the ripple effect it will have on the entire facility. (9 member companies: as of January 2025)
Growth of local employees in Taiwan
Furthermore, our accelerating store openings are supported by locally hired employees. In our overseas stores, including Taiwan, we have a deep understanding of the "Tsutaya Bookstore" and "TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE" concepts, and we are able to offer proposals that combine local culture and originality with the Japanese culture that only we can offer, which is what is well received by local customers.
Currently, a local Taiwanese employee serves as a director and is responsible for running TAIWAN TSUTAYA Co., Ltd. together with Japanese members. We will continue to develop hybrid talent who understand both Japanese and Taiwanese cultures and can make proposals that are unique to Taiwan.
Future expansion of Taiwan business
TAIWAN TSUTAYACo., Ltd. will continue to expand its "TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE" stores in Taiwan, and is currently expanding its other business areas.
For example, we are developing businesses that utilize the assets of the CCC Group, such as spatial design and book selection services for apartments and hotels, pop-up stores at outdoor events, and art sales at art galleries in Taiwan in collaboration with CCC Art Lab.
Additionally, we work with GREEN FUNDING, a crowdfunding platform operated by our group company One More, to support Taiwanese companies in launching crowdfunding projects and implement programs to help Taiwanese startups enter the Japanese market, thereby serving as a bridge between businesses in Japan and Taiwan.
TAIWAN TSUTAYA Co., Ltd will continue to create new culture in Taiwan as a place that connects people and lifestyles, and will continue to challenge itself to ensure that our brand continues to be loved by Taiwanese people in various places across Taiwan.
TAIWAN TSUTAYA Co., Ltd.https://tsutaya.com.tw/