Tamura Shoten, a bookstore operator based in Toyonaka City, Osaka Prefecture, received a special liquidation commencement order from the Osaka District Court on August 4. Founded in 1948, the company operated for more than 70 years, but sluggish book and magazine sales, combined with rising payment processing fees and electricity costs, squeezed profitability. Total liabilities stood at ¥1.46 billion (approximately $9.2 million) as of the fiscal year ended May 2023, though this figure may fluctuate as proceedings progress.
The development was disclosed on August 19 by the Kansai branch of credit research firm Tokyo Shoko Research (TSR). After its founding in Osaka City, Tamura Shoten expanded its store network primarily across the…