Cambodia: Famous Japanese bookstore Tsutaya opens its first branch in Phnom Penh's AEON Mall shopping centre

The famous Japanese bookstore Tsutaya has officially opened its first Cambodian branch at the AEON Mall Phnom Penh shopping centre. The inauguration, which took place last Thursday, attracted attention not only for its vast selection (more than 70,000 books in English, Khmer and Japanese), but also for its innovative concept combining literature, lifestyle and community engagement.

Covering an area of 1,500 square metres, the store offers much more than just books. Visitors can enjoy the Ivy Tokyo Coffee Lounge, a space that combines Japanese minimalism with Cambodian warmth, providing a welcoming environment for book and coffee lovers

The store's design and facilities reflect Tsutaya's philosophy of transforming traditional bookstores into vibrant cultural destinations, a model that has proven successful in more than 800 locations in Japan, China, Taiwan, and Malaysia.

At the opening ceremony, Mr. Ueno Atsushi, Japan's ambassador to Cambodia, presented 100 handmade fans from Kyoto, each printed with the word ‘Arigatou’ (thank you), symbolising the deepening cultural ties between the two nations. Kim Leang Kean, managing director of ULS, the company that operates the Phnom Penh store, emphasised Tsutaya's mission to inspire, connect and discover, while Hideyuki Uemoto, CEO of Tsutaya Books Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., highlighted the dynamism of Cambodian youth and their growing appetite for culture as key reasons for the brand's expansion into this market.

Each store should offer a unique design and personality, with spaces dedicated to community events, author signings and book-related activities, in order to promote a vibrant reading culture and provide a new place for Cambodians to gather.

The arrival of Tsutaya Bookstore is part of a broader partnership between Urban Living Solutions Co., Ltd. (ULS) and Tsutaya Books Malaysia, which plans to open six stores across Cambodia by 2034.

‘Innovation in bookstores is not just about selling books, it's about offering a lifestyle,’ said Muneaki Masuda, founder of Tsutaya.

As Cambodia continues its rapid economic and cultural development, Tsutaya Bookstore is well positioned to play a central role in promoting creativity, lifelong learning and community engagement in the years to come.