At the swap meets, they can get rid of unwanted books and stock up on what they need to round out their collection. A bidding system ensures fairness in the pricing of the merchandise. A swap meet takes place every day of the week except Saturday at the Tokyo Kosho Kaikan Antiquarian Book Hall in Kanda, Tokyo. However, turnover at these swap meets has been sluggish of late. Classics, scholarly works, and other specialty items seem to be in short supply.
Booksellers are unable to find the books they want.
Meanwhile, those who wish to compensate by stocking more of the comics, paperbacks, and general-interest books and magazines now in growing demand are frustrated by lack of expertise and space limitations at the hall. While the kumiai have always given short shrift to general-interest sales, other elements of the industry have been pursuing a new, younger clientele that differs from the traditional used book aficionado. The new entrepreneurs do not frequent the swap meets, instead buying most of their inventory directly from their customers. Adding to the woes of second-hand booksellers is the stagnant state of Japan's publishing industry. Image aside, the antique bookshops do not deal exclusively in moldy old tomes.