Hirohisa Kato has been running ‘books+kotobanoie’, a second-hand bookstore that opens twice a month at his home for over 10 years. On open days, Hirohisa arranges flowers at the entrance, burns incense, and his wife Ayako makes coffee for the visitors.

Hirohisa is a used car dealer by profession. This house was not built to be a bookstore, nor was it meant to be a final dwelling place. It was a playful project conceived through an acquaintance, architect Tatsuya Yabe, where they exchanged emails and created an imaginary residence.

‘As we continued exchanging emails, the desire to bring it to life emerged. I wanted Tatsuya to consider it a serious project. Once it was completed and we had a space for books, I realised I could have even more books. Then it occurred to me, why don’t I open a bookstore? I keep the core books I have a strong personal attachment to and cannot let go of in the bedroom. But aside from that small selection, everything else is for sale. Even when the books are sold, they don’t disappear; they just move from my bookshelf to someone else’s who also appreciates them. That’s how I changed my mindset.’

Nychair X has been used regularly in the house since its completion in 2005. Over the past 20 years, his children have grown up and left home. More than 10 years have passed since the bookstore started. Why has Nychair X remained here all this time?