Book Off Corporation

What Book Off Corporation does

BookOff Group Holdings Limited (ブックオフグループホールディングス株式会社) is a Japan-based reuse retail holding company headquartered in Sagamihara, Kanagawa, and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market under ticker 9278. Founded in 1990 with its first used-book store, the group has grown into Japan's largest specialty reuse chain, operating a multi-format store network that buys and sells pre-owned books, CDs, DVDs, games, software, mobile devices, apparel, accessories, jewelry, sporting goods, and luxury goods. As of FY2025/5, the group reported consolidated net sales of ¥119.2 billion, ordinary profit of ¥3.9 billion, and its 13th consecutive period of record ordinary profit, with roughly 190 million annual in-store customer transactions.

Name

Book Off Corporation

Legal name

ブックオフグループホールディングス株式会社 (BOOKOFF GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED)

Website

https://bookoffgroup.co.jp

Company type

Public

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

BookOff Group Holdings is Japan's largest specialty reuse retailer, operating a multi-format chain that buys and sells used books, media, apparel, jewelry, and sporting goods. It serves roughly 190 million consumer transactions annually across 800+ domestic and 50+ overseas stores.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Used Goods Retail (Reuse Retail)

NAICS

Used Merchandise Retailers (4595), Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (459120), Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers (459), Book Retailers and News Dealers (4592)

akta.pro primary industry

Books, Media & Entertainment Resale (CRAFAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Collectibles, Trading Cards & Blind Box Toys Retail (CRALAFAI), Product Take-Back & Reverse Logistics Programs (EUAIANAA), Books, Media & Entertainment Inventory-led Online Retailers (CRAFADAM)

Keywords

• Reuse retail services
• Used goods retail
• Buyback services
• Secondhand book retail
• Circular economy retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Sagamihara

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail sales of used and new goods (directly operated stores): BOOKOFF earns revenue by buying used items from consumers (books, CDs, DVDs, games, apparel, accessories, sports gear, jewelry, etc.) at negotiated prices and reselling them at markup through its directly operated retail store network. The core reuse retail model.
2. Consignment and franchise fees: Franchised BOOKOFF stores pay consignment handling fees and royalties to the BOOKOFF Group for use of the brand, operating system, and product sourcing infrastructure. The company operates both directly managed and franchised locations.
3. E-commerce sales (bookoff.co.jp, bookoffonline.co.jp): Online sales of used and new goods through the company's own e-commerce storefronts, including the online bookoff shop, Yahoo! auction store, and specialty category sites.
4. Home buyback services (宅配買取, buyback lockers, home appointments): Fees generated from home buyback services, including mail-in buyback, buyback locker drop-off, and home visit buyback appointments. Revenue is recognized on the spread between buyback price paid to customers and resale price.
5. Specialty and franchise concept revenues (Japan TCG Center, hugall, aidect, Jalan Jalan Japan): Revenue from specialty concept stores (trading card game centers, fashion/jewelry buyback counters, anime goods) and international franchise royalties from the Jalan Jalan Japan reuse franchise concept operating in the US, France, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Book Off Corporation buys used books, CDs, DVDs, games, apparel, accessories, jewelry, sporting goods, and collectibles from individual consumers at negotiated prices and resells them at markup through a network of directly operated and franchised BOOKOFF retail stores, e-commerce storefronts, and home buyback services (mail-in, lockers, and home appointments). The company supplements resale with franchise royalties, consignment handling fees, circular-economy services (R-LOOP collection boxes, CDプラ recycled plastic, Reclothes upcycled fashion), and a charitable donation buyback service (キモチと。).

Product overview

Book Off Corporation operates a diversified reuse retail platform comprising multiple store formats and services. The core BOOKOFF chain offers used books, CDs, DVDs, and games through physical stores and mail purchase services. Specialized formats include BOOKOFF SUPER BAZAAR (large-scale comprehensive reuse), BOOKOFF PLUS (compact format), Japan TCG Center (trading card games), hugall (luxury goods counters in department stores), aidect (jewelry services), and Rehello (fashion/branded goods e-commerce). Supporting infrastructure includes R-LOOP (collection boxes), キモチと。 (charitable donations via mail purchase), and international expansion through Jalan Jalan Japan stores. The portfolio extends to upcycling (Reclothes), recycled materials (CDプラ), and food waste reduction (FOOD ReCO), all aligned with the company's circular economy mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• リハロ (Rehello): Brand for fashion and collectible goods resale platform
• CDプラ (CD Pla)
• キモチと。(Kimochi to)
• R-LOOP
• サステナブックプロジェクト (Sustena Book Project)

Products and services

• BOOKOFF retail stores (used books, CDs, DVDs, games) Core reuse retail chain where consumers sell and buy used books, CDs, DVDs, and game software through hundreds of directly operated and franchised stores across Japan.
• BOOKOFF SUPER BAZAAR (large-format reuse stores) Large-scale comprehensive reuse shop format offering a wider product assortment spanning books, media, apparel, accessories, and miscellaneous goods.
• BOOKOFF PLUS (compact format stores) Compact format used-goods store offering books, CDs, DVDs, and games with extended operating hours.
• Japan TCG Center (trading card game specialty stores) Trading card game (TCG) specialty stores offering Pokemon cards, Duel Masters, and other collectible card games along with related events.
• hugall (department-store luxury buyback counters) Purchase consultation counters operated within department stores, offering valuation and purchasing services for luxury goods and brand items.
• aidect (jewelry consultation and buyback) Jewelry consultation service offering at-home consultations for jewelry repair, redesign, and purchasing services.
• Rehello (branded goods and fashion resale e-commerce) E-commerce site specializing in brand goods, fashion items, and collectibles, offering a platform for purchasing second-hand luxury and branded merchandise.
• BOOKOFF Online (e-commerce platform) E-commerce platform for purchasing books, CDs, DVDs, games, and other used goods online with home delivery.
• Jalan Jalan Japan (overseas reuse stores) Overseas reuse store brand operating in the USA, France, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan, offering Japanese used fashion and pop-culture goods through directly operated and franchised stores.
• Home buyback service (mail-in / locker / home-visit) Mail-in buyback service and home-visit buyback appointments enabling customers to sell used books, media, apparel, and goods without visiting a store, plus station-based BOPISTA smart buyback lockers for 24/7 drop-off.
• R-LOOP (clothing and household goods collection boxes) Box-type collection system installed at BOOKOFF stores and partner locations (including FamilyMart convenience stores) for convenient drop-off of unwanted clothing and miscellaneous goods for reuse.
• キモチと。 (charitable donation buyback service) Mail purchase donation service allowing customers to donate the value of their sold items to specified charitable organizations, including UNHCR Association Japan, World Vision Japan, NPO Florence, Shanti IV, and the Japanese Red Cross.
• Reclothes (upcycled fashion brand) Upcycled clothing brand that transforms discarded textiles into new fashion products through design competitions and partnerships.
• CDプラ (CD/DVD recycled plastic) Recycled plastic material brand produced from discarded CDs and DVDs, used to manufacture new products such as smartphone stands and wet-suit hangers, achieving near-100% recycling of CD/DVD waste streams.
• FOOD ReCO (food waste reduction e-commerce) E-commerce shop selling near-expiration processed foods and irregular agricultural products at discounted prices to reduce food waste.

Quantifiable outcome

• 連結売上高前期比107.6%（Year-over-year consolidated sales growth of 107.6% reported in January 2026 for FY2025/5)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered important, core and minor.

• Noshiro City, Akita Prefecture (秋田県能代市)importantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 July 2025BOOKOFF and Noshiro City in Akita Prefecture entered into a partnership agreement for the promotion of a circular society. The agreement covers reuse awareness activities and initiatives leveraging BOOKOFF's reuse retail infrastructure to support local resource circulation goals.
• UNHCR Association Japan (国連UNHCR協会)importantGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 April 2025BOOKOFF and UNHCR Association Japan collaborate on disaster relief efforts, enabling people to donate unwanted books, CDs, and DVDs through BOOKOFF stores and home buyback services, with proceeds supporting UNHCR's refugee assistance programs. The partnership has been activated for multiple disaster relief campaigns, including the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake and the Venezuela earthquake.
• FamilyMart Co., Ltd. (ファミリーマート)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2024BOOKOFF and FamilyMart launched a pilot program installing clothing and household goods collection boxes (R-LOOP boxes) at FamilyMart stores. This four-party partnership (also including Sumida Ward, social welfare法人墨田さんさん会, and BPLab) established collection points for reusable items at convenient FamilyMart locations, creating a new resource circulation infrastructure in the convenience store setting. The pilot was the first of its kind to bring reuse collection to convenience stores in Japan.
• Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture (山形市)importantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 March 2024BOOKOFF and Yamagata City signed a 'Circular型社会推進に関する協定' (Partnership Agreement for Circular Society Promotion) focused on promoting reuse-based resource circulation and creating reading opportunities. The partnership builds on the company's existing collaboration with Montedio Yamagata (モンテディオ山形) and includes book donations and community programs.
• Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture (仙台市)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2023BOOKOFF and Sendai City entered into a partnership agreement to promote the circular economy in Sendai. The agreement covers book donation programs to facilities in need, store openings in underserved areas, and joint awareness campaigns about reuse and sustainability. The partnership builds on prior collaboration including the annual '杜の都リユースフェス' community event.
• World Vision Japan (ワールド・ビジョン・ジャパン)importantGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 October 2023BOOKOFF and World Vision Japan partner through the 'キ・モチと。' home buyback donation service, enabling donors to direct the monetary value of their donated items to World Vision's child-focused humanitarian and development programs worldwide.
• SC Sagamihara (SC相模原)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 September 2023BOOKOFF is a sponsor of SC Sagamihara professional football (soccer) club. The company collaborates with the club on community sustainability events, SDGs awareness campaigns, and local social contribution activities. BOOKOFF has served as a main partner for SC Sagamihara's SDGs DAY initiative.
• Shanti International Volunteer (シャンティ国際ボランティア会)importantGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 September 2023BOOKOFF and Shanti IV collaborate on programs to provide reading opportunities to children in need globally. Used books donated through BOOKOFF stores and the 'キ・モチと。' donation service support Shanti IV's educational programs in Southeast Asia and other regions.
• NPO Florence (認定、特定非活動法人フローレンス)importantGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 March 2023BOOKOFF partners with NPO Florence through the 'キ・モチと。' donation service to support isolated and financially struggling families in Japan, providing social connections and assistance through the proceeds of donated used goods.
• Vegalta Sendai (ベガルタ仙台)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2023BOOKOFF sponsors Vegalta Sendai professional football (soccer) club and collaborates on community events that promote reuse and circular economy awareness. The partnership combines sports marketing with sustainability messaging, including game-day book donation collection drives.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Treasure Factory: Operates Reuse Shop and other secondhand apparel/lifestyle stores in Japan with buyback-and-resell formats that overlap BOOKOFF's apparel and household goods reuse categories.
• Mercari: Japan's largest C2C marketplace for used goods; competes directly with BOOKOFF for seller-side supply (people choosing to sell on Mercari instead of BOOKOFF's buyback counter) and buyer-side demand.
• Geo Holdings (2nd Street): Operates 2nd Street, Mode Off and other reuse/secondhand fashion and lifestyle chains across Japan — the most direct domestic competitor to BOOKOFF's apparel, accessories and general merchandise resale formats.
• EcoRing: Operates jewelry, brand goods and luxury item buyback and resale retail in Japan, directly overlapping with BOOKOFF's aidect jewelry and hugall luxury brand-counter concepts.
• VALUENCE Holdings: Japan-headquartered operator of luxury and branded goods reuse businesses (e.g., Brandear, Allu), competing with BOOKOFF's hugall and Rehello luxury resale offerings.
• Rakuten (Rakuma/Flea Market): Operates Rakuma, a major C2C used-goods marketplace in Japan, providing an alternative sell-and-buy channel to BOOKOFF's physical buyback and stores across books, apparel and hobby categories.

Broad incumbents

• Yahoo! Auctions (Yahoo Japan): Major Japanese online auction/marketplace operated by LY Corporation; BOOKOFF even operates its own store on this platform, reflecting its role as both a sales channel and a competitive used-goods marketplace.

Emerging players

• WonderREX: Specialty reuse retail chain in Japan for hobby, hobby goods, and household items; competes for specific category demand with BOOKOFF's specialty formats such as あそビバ and B.SPORTS.

Others

• Round One Corporation: While primarily entertainment and bowling, Round One's Treasure Field and used-games trading corners overlap with BOOKOFF's TCG/used-games segments, making it a partial adjacent peer in Japan's reuse hobby ecosystem.

Regional players

• Kojima (used goods / recycle shops): Some Kojima/Sofmap affiliates operate used-media and hobby trade-in counters in Japan that overlap with BOOKOFF's books, games, and hobby merchandise categories.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgcvb0Z4dQ9i_8fMZ3k8VVA

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Book Off Corporation