For all the book lovers out there, have you heard of an event called "Kakkuu Honshoten" (Fictional Bookstore)? The concept is quite unique: exhibitors display "fictional books" that consist only of a cover illustration and a back-cover synopsis. This event, held in Sapporo, started in 2021 and takes place annually in early October. Let's find out what it's all about.

What Kind of "Fictional Books" Are There?

The "fictional books" created and displayed by exhibitors range from paperback to picture book sizes. Book lovers are sure to feel a thrill of excitement seeing the shelves lined with these imaginary paperbacks. By the way, the pages inside are completely blank. The main focus of the event is the "fictional books" that encourage you to imagine the story based solely on the cover art and description.

A variety of fictional books lining the shelves

A wide range of genres, including sci-fi, fantasy, essays, and cookbooks

Visitors to the cafe venue enjoy the event in their own way, some picking up a book intrigued by its title, others examining the cover designs one by one. You can also purchase the fictional books you like, so the number of books on display tends to decrease toward the end of the event period. We recommend visiting early.

Sapporo Literary Circle Writes the Contents of the Fictional Books

At the 2023 Fictional Bookstore, there was a collaboration with "Tsukiori Bungeibu," a literary circle active mainly in Sapporo, where they wrote the contents of the fictional books. The process itself is fascinating, as the novels are created in reverse order of the usual writing process—imagining the content from a fictional book and writing a part of the main story.

A novel written based on a fictional book

One impressive piece was the fifth volume of a dense sci-fi novel series, even though volumes one through four don't exist. It was a fantastic read. This truly shows how the event stimulates the imagination about books.

The Fictional Bookstore Gets Better Every Year

The 2024 "Fictional Bookstore" is scheduled to be held from October 5th to 15th. The venue is Multipurpose Cafe Ivy, located near Nishi-18-Chome Subway Station in Sapporo.

In 2024, in addition to fictional novels, there will also be displays of fictional CDs, DVDs, and posters.

Even writers who think, "I want to write a novel but I'm not confident I can finish it," can express their worldview through a fictional book. A must-check for all book lovers!

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