The Marubun bookstore on Kamitori, aka “the kappa bookstore,” has almost completed its renovation and is slated to open on November 18. A burst rooftop water tank and severe damage to the building’s steel frame necessitated lengthy repairs. The interior of the shop has been completely remodeled, and to increase sales space, mounting the kappa statue on a wall was considered, but eventually it was decided to recreate the small pond that the kappa has graced since 1970. Two smaller kappa statues previously placed in other locations will now join the main kappa in the pond center.
We had written earlier on the multitude of hand-written notes the shop’s fans had left on the closed shop’s shutters. A shop spokesman noted, “The overwhelming support turned into great energy for us.” - William
