Photo by © LIBRO PLUS via
The Japan Times
Pre-Reading Questions:
- Do you like reading books?
- Do you like going to bookstores?
Vocabulary:
- clearly /KLEER-lee/
[adverb] certainly; obviously; without a doubt
As you can see, that restaurant is clearly famous.
- magazine /mag-uh-ZEEN/
[noun] a type of thin book with a paper cover that is published regularly and usually contains articles and photographs
My sister bought a fashion magazine yesterday.
- customer /KUHS-tuh-mer/
[noun] a person who buys goods or a service
Mr. Sato is a regular customer at our restaurant.
- miss /mis/
[verb] to fail to do, see, or experience something
You will miss your chance if you just sit here all day.
- gift /gift/
[noun] something that is given, esp. to show your affection; a present
I will give her a gift on her birthday.
Bunkitsu is clearly a go-to place if you like books and art. Tokyo’s new bookstore has wide entryways and a layout similar to an art gallery.
On December 2018 in Tokyo’s Roppongi district, Bunktisu opened its doors to book lovers. Its reception area has a few magazines that you can read for free but if you want to read its 30,000 books or so on the second floor, you must pay 1,500 yen or 14 dollars.
There is a cafe on the second floor and it serves food and free refills of tea or coffee to the customers. Hikaru Yoshino, the shop’s 27-year-old public relations officer said that coffee in Tokyo costs between 400 yen to 500 yen so he thinks Bunkitsu’s fee is acceptable enough the customers can enjoy a bottomless cup while reading for a few hours.
Bunkitsu has one copy of each book and magazine in the store so if you miss the chance to buy it, you might not get another. “It’s like buying a gift at a museum shop”, says Akira Ito, the 36-year-old store manager.
Bookstores are closing down in Japan because of e-books. Yoshino hopes that Bunkitsu would somehow survive bookstores.
True or False:
- Bunkitsu’s layout is similar to an art gallery.
- Bunkitsu opened in November 2018.
- You can read 30,000 books or more in Bukitsu if you pay an entrance fee of 2000 yen or 20 dollars.
- Akira Ito is Bunkitsu’s public relations officer.
- A coffee in Tokyo costs between 400 yen to 500 yen.
Vocabulary Check:
[adverb] certainly; obviously; without a doubt
As you can see, that restaurant is clearly famous.
[noun] a type of thin book with a paper cover that is published regularly and usually contains articles and photographs
My sister bought a fashion magazine yesterday.
[noun] a person who buys goods or a service
Mr. Sato is a regular customer at our restaurant.
[verb] to fail to do, see, or experience something
You will miss your chance if you just sit here all day.
[noun] something that is given, esp. to show your affection; a present
I will give her a gift on her birthday.
On December 2018 in Tokyo’s Roppongi district, Bunktisu opened its doors to book lovers. Its reception area has a few magazines that you can read for free but if you want to read its 30,000 books or so on the second floor, you must pay 1,500 yen or 14 dollars.
There is a cafe on the second floor and it serves food and free refills of tea or coffee to the customers. Hikaru Yoshino, the shop’s 27-year-old public relations officer said that coffee in Tokyo costs between 400 yen to 500 yen so he thinks Bunkitsu’s fee is acceptable enough the customers can enjoy a bottomless cup while reading for a few hours.
Bunkitsu has one copy of each book and magazine in the store so if you miss the chance to buy it, you might not get another. “It’s like buying a gift at a museum shop”, says Akira Ito, the 36-year-old store manager.
Bookstores are closing down in Japan because of e-books. Yoshino hopes that Bunkitsu would somehow survive bookstores.
Complete the sentences by using the words in the box.
| clearly | magazine | customer | miss | gift |
- My brother told me that he found a music __________ under our bed.
- That girl __________ likes him.
- You will __________ the train if you won’t run.
- As our regular __________ we will give you a free meal tonight.
- Don’t forget to buy me a __________ because tomorrow is my birthday.