Kinokuniya Bookstore NYC...

Vagabond...
Originally uploaded by Tasayu

Growing up in New York I was very lucky to find whatever I needed. One of those things being anime and manga. Back then it was one of two ways, cheap and possibly boot legged Chinatown goods or over priced specialty shops, which we had both of. But we also had the actual Japanese bookstores like Asahiya and Kinukuniya. One of which sadly closed down this year. Probably because the majority of goods can be found online. Tho the other has flourished into a three story complex and that is Kinukuniya. Which expanded from only books, to hosting japanese and cultural events such as inviting artist, musicians and such to the store. One event which lingered on is ths painting you see in the picture done by the mangaka of "Vagabond" and "Slamdunk". So it seems for a genre which was once a niche and now in almost every bookstore around that the original carries must evolve or perish. Which in my opinion is a good thing.