【1 Million Visitors in 4 Years】'The Power of Books' for Regional Revitalization! 'The Miracle Project: The Library That Changed the Town!' Depicts the Full Scope of the 'Hub of Knowledge' Born in Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Now Published
Toyo Keizai Inc. has published "The Miracle Project: The Library That Changed the Town!" by Masashi Takai, Chairman of Kinokuniya Bookstore. The book details the success story of Arao City Library in Kumamoto Prefecture, which attracted 1 million visitors in 4 years through a public-private partnership, showcasing the library's potential for regional revitalization.
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- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 18:00
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On May 13, 2026, Toyo Keizai Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Tetsuya Yamada) will publish "The Miracle Project: The Library That Changed the Town!", authored by Masashi Takai, Representative Director and Chairman of Kinokuniya Bookstore.
Over 1 million cumulative visitors in 4 years since opening at a municipal library in a city with a population of less than 50,000. This book covers the entire trajectory of the "Arao City Library," which Kinokuniya Bookstore produced from basic concept to operation, successfully revitalizing a regional city through "the power of books." It is filled with concrete insights into creating new libraries that focus on soft aspects, such as management and operation schemes, proactive digital strategies, and professional human resource development. You will learn how the "trinity" of local government, commercial facilities, and bookstores elevated the library to a next-generation "hub of knowledge" in practice.
"The Miracle Project: The Library That Changed the Town!" by Masashi Takai (Author)
Challenges surrounding local government libraries
Now is the time for libraries nationwide to be rebuilt
More than 50 years have passed since the library construction boom during Japan's high economic growth period, and many libraries are now facing the time for rebuilding. This book describes the challenges in renovating libraries and the ideal form of a new library as a "hub of knowledge" for the next generation.
Regional disparities in educational infrastructure
Currently, approximately one-quarter of municipalities in Japan have neither a public library nor a bookstore. This lack of educational infrastructure creates serious disparities in access to information and educational opportunities depending on where one lives.
There are 1741 municipalities (cities, towns, and villages) in Japan. Approximately 22%, or about 380 locations, do not have public libraries, and about 28% do not have bookstores (according to a 2025 survey by the Japan Foundation for Publishing Culture Industry). This means that these municipalities have neither bookstores nor public libraries. Such disparities in knowledge infrastructure have a significant negative impact on the people living there, especially children. (From page 79 of the book)
The future of libraries is here!
Achieved 1 million cumulative visitors in 4 years
Arao City Library relocated and opened in April 2022, and 4 years have passed. The number of visitors, which was 40,000 annually before relocation, reached approximately 280,000 in the first year despite being a city with a population of less than 50,000. It achieved 1 million cumulative visitors in its fourth year. In addition, users of the commercial facility, which were mainly people in their 60s and older, have seen an increase in families with young children, bringing a vibrant atmosphere back to the entire facility.
Established "knowledge infrastructure" at low cost
The greatest feature of Arao City Library is its trinity structure involving the local government (Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture), a commercial facility ("Arao City Mall" operated by Izumi), and Kinokuniya Bookstore. The municipal library occupies a vacant space within a commercial facility, which is a common challenge in regional cities nationwide, under a lease agreement. The library and bookstore are co-located on the same floor without a dividing wall. Kinokuniya Bookstore has comprehensively produced and operated the library from its launch, establishing a pioneering model of public-private collaboration. By minimizing building costs and enriching soft aspects, people gather around the library, and a new cycle is created where book purchasers flow to the adjacent bookstore.
Building a reading environment with both real and digital aspects
Arao City Library has introduced two e-library services, "Kinoden" and "LibrarIE." All elementary and junior high school students in the city are issued a tablet and an e-library service user ID. It has developed a knowledge platform where anyone residing, attending school, or working in the city with a library user card can read content anywhere they like.
"If we digitize materials and books and make them available via the internet, we can contribute to Arao City's culture and society and excite children. That was the first thing we thought of." (From page 3 of the book)
Entrance to "Arao Book Hiroba," where the library, bookstore, and cafe are integrated (Photo: Shinichi Sato)
Entrance on the "children's book corner side" (Photo: Shinichi Sato)
How libraries can change children
"Third place" where a cycle of learning is created
The library's opening hours are extended until 8 PM, matching the commercial facility's hours. Study sessions are spontaneously held where local high school students teach children, creating a self-sustaining cycle of learning.
"In a third place like a library, you can face yourself and concentrate on studying. Such experiences should build great confidence. Previously, there was an atmosphere among local junior and high school students that 'studying was uncool' or 'I don't want to be thought of as a bookworm,' but that's no longer the case. Children are studying at the library much more diligently than their teachers probably imagine." (From page 164 of the book)
"Parent and Child Corner" inspired by the Ariake Sea mudflats.
Over 1 million cumulative visitors in 4 years since opening at a municipal library in a city with a population of less than 50,000. This book covers the entire trajectory of the "Arao City Library," which Kinokuniya Bookstore produced from basic concept to operation, successfully revitalizing a regional city through "the power of books." It is filled with concrete insights into creating new libraries that focus on soft aspects, such as management and operation schemes, proactive digital strategies, and professional human resource development. You will learn how the "trinity" of local government, commercial facilities, and bookstores elevated the library to a next-generation "hub of knowledge" in practice.
"The Miracle Project: The Library That Changed the Town!" by Masashi Takai (Author)
Challenges surrounding local government libraries
Now is the time for libraries nationwide to be rebuilt
More than 50 years have passed since the library construction boom during Japan's high economic growth period, and many libraries are now facing the time for rebuilding. This book describes the challenges in renovating libraries and the ideal form of a new library as a "hub of knowledge" for the next generation.
Regional disparities in educational infrastructure
Currently, approximately one-quarter of municipalities in Japan have neither a public library nor a bookstore. This lack of educational infrastructure creates serious disparities in access to information and educational opportunities depending on where one lives.
There are 1741 municipalities (cities, towns, and villages) in Japan. Approximately 22%, or about 380 locations, do not have public libraries, and about 28% do not have bookstores (according to a 2025 survey by the Japan Foundation for Publishing Culture Industry). This means that these municipalities have neither bookstores nor public libraries. Such disparities in knowledge infrastructure have a significant negative impact on the people living there, especially children. (From page 79 of the book)
The future of libraries is here!
Achieved 1 million cumulative visitors in 4 years
Arao City Library relocated and opened in April 2022, and 4 years have passed. The number of visitors, which was 40,000 annually before relocation, reached approximately 280,000 in the first year despite being a city with a population of less than 50,000. It achieved 1 million cumulative visitors in its fourth year. In addition, users of the commercial facility, which were mainly people in their 60s and older, have seen an increase in families with young children, bringing a vibrant atmosphere back to the entire facility.
Established "knowledge infrastructure" at low cost
The greatest feature of Arao City Library is its trinity structure involving the local government (Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture), a commercial facility ("Arao City Mall" operated by Izumi), and Kinokuniya Bookstore. The municipal library occupies a vacant space within a commercial facility, which is a common challenge in regional cities nationwide, under a lease agreement. The library and bookstore are co-located on the same floor without a dividing wall. Kinokuniya Bookstore has comprehensively produced and operated the library from its launch, establishing a pioneering model of public-private collaboration. By minimizing building costs and enriching soft aspects, people gather around the library, and a new cycle is created where book purchasers flow to the adjacent bookstore.
Building a reading environment with both real and digital aspects
Arao City Library has introduced two e-library services, "Kinoden" and "LibrarIE." All elementary and junior high school students in the city are issued a tablet and an e-library service user ID. It has developed a knowledge platform where anyone residing, attending school, or working in the city with a library user card can read content anywhere they like.
"If we digitize materials and books and make them available via the internet, we can contribute to Arao City's culture and society and excite children. That was the first thing we thought of." (From page 3 of the book)
Entrance to "Arao Book Hiroba," where the library, bookstore, and cafe are integrated (Photo: Shinichi Sato)
Entrance on the "children's book corner side" (Photo: Shinichi Sato)
How libraries can change children
"Third place" where a cycle of learning is created
The library's opening hours are extended until 8 PM, matching the commercial facility's hours. Study sessions are spontaneously held where local high school students teach children, creating a self-sustaining cycle of learning.
"In a third place like a library, you can face yourself and concentrate on studying. Such experiences should build great confidence. Previously, there was an atmosphere among local junior and high school students that 'studying was uncool' or 'I don't want to be thought of as a bookworm,' but that's no longer the case. Children are studying at the library much more diligently than their teachers probably imagine." (From page 164 of the book)
"Parent and Child Corner" inspired by the Ariake Sea mudflats.