Manga Cafés as an Alternative Form of Library Practice

Abstract

The first manga café was established in Japan in the late 1970s. The original concept of a small library collection in a café, where visitors could stay longer than just the time it takes to drink one beverage, has been developed over several decades. Today, there are thousands of such cafés across the country, many of which are open 24 hours a day. This paper aims to highlight the significance of these alternative library spaces, which further promote reading practices. The phenomenon of manga cafés is viewed from a cultural perspective as a specialized public space that, in addition to providing a reading space, also functions as a potential sanctuary to those less socially secure. The trend of manga cafés has spread beyond the borders of Japan, with such spaces opened in East Asia, North America, and Europe. However, the concepts of manga cafés outside of Japan vary and are adapted to the logic of sustainability and profitability to the local culture.