Engagement with Local Society, Public Sector, and Partner Entities
The BOOKOFF Group works closely with local governments, businesses, organizations, and educational institutions to address a wide range of social issues through our business activities and effective use of resources. These efforts include reducing resource extraction, promoting reuse, and supporting children's education. Through partnerships with stakeholders across society, we strive to lead the transition toward a circular economy together.
Initiatives with Local Governments
To help build vibrant and distinctive local communities while enhancing public services, we have entered into partnership agreements with local governments. Through these partnerships, we promote regional circular economies through reuse initiatives, support community development through books, and provide educational opportunities.
Partnership Agreements with 17 Local Governments
Kanagawa Prefecture / Saitama Prefecture / Minamichita Town, Aichi Prefecture / Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture / Nishiwaga Town, Iwate Prefecture / Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture / Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture / Kisosaki Town, Kuwana District, Mie Prefecture / Sumida Ward, Tokyo / Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture / Noshiro City, Akita Prefecture / Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture / Uruma City, Okinawa Prefecture / Higashiyamato City, Tokyo / Fukaura Town, Aomori Prefecture / Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture / Happo Town, Akita Prefecture
(as of May 31, 2026)
“Kimochi To.” Program: Turning Unwanted Items into Donations to Support Local Communities
“Kimochi To.” is a donation program that transforms unwanted items into meaningful support for charitable organizations. By using BOOKOFF's home pickup buyback service, customers can donate the buyback value of items they no longer need—such as books they have finished reading, CDs they no longer listen to, and games they have finished playing—to participating organizations. The website also offers programs that support funds established by local governments, allowing users to select them when applying online. In addition, “Kimochi To.” collection boxes are installed within local communities, enabling residents to conveniently donate unwanted items at nearby locations, with the proceeds contributing to local causes.
| Cumulative Donation Amount | ¥524,031,517 |
| Partner and Recipient Organizations | 160 |
| Partner Local Governments | 5 |
(as of May 31, 2026)
https://www.bookoffonline.co.jp/files/sellfund-Japanese only
Advancing a Circular Economy in Local Communities through R-LOOP Collection Boxes
Launched in November 2024, R-LOOP is a collection system that accepts unwanted clothing and household goods through designated collection boxes for reuse and recycling. By installing R-LOOP boxes throughout communities, we encourage residents to reuse clothing and other items while helping reduce waste generation.
The program is jointly operated with BPLab Inc., which manages a circular platform for collecting and recycling textile products, promoting a lifestyle centered on "choosing not to throw things away." After collection, items are inspected and reused through the BOOKOFF Group's overseas reuse stores, including Jalan Jalan Japan. Donations are made to nonprofit organizations based on the volume of items successfully reused, while clothing that does not meet our reuse standards is recycled by BPLab Inc. The use of traceable collection bags, along with regular reporting and certification for participating locations, ensures a high level of traceability. Working with companies and local governments, we continue to expand the number of R-LOOP collection sites.
| Collection Locations | 775 |
| Participating Municipalities | 7 |
(as of May 31, 2026)
R-LOOP Official Website：https://www.rloop.jp/-Japanese only
Furusato BOOKOFF: Creating Access to Books in Communities Without Bookstores
Launched in 2022 from an idea proposed by BOOKOFF employees, "Furusato BOOKOFF" brings BOOKOFF stores to municipalities that do not have bookstores. According to a survey by the Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture, 498 municipalities across Japan have no bookstores, creating regional disparities in access to books and reducing opportunities for children to develop a love of reading. Through Furusato BOOKOFF, we aim to reduce disparities in cultural access, revitalize local facilities, and contribute to communities by providing sustainable book-centered services and community spaces.
| Store Name | Opening Date | |
| 1st store | “Furusato BOOKOFF Nishiwaga Town Yumoto Indoor Hot Spring Pool Store” in Iwate Prefecture | August 2, 2023 |
| 2nd store | Kisosaki Town Hall Store (Mie Prefecture) | April 23, 2024 |
| 3rd store | Fukaura Town Kazemachi-kan Store (Aomori Prefecture) | April 25, 2026 |
Please see the activity report for the latest updates on our activities. (Japanese only)
Creating Value through Hands-On Reuse Events
The BOOKOFF Group is working to expand the reuse population by fostering a more positive perception of both the reuse industry and reuse itself. Through hands-on events organized in collaboration with businesses, local communities, and students, we are making reuse more accessible and familiar to people in their daily lives.
August 8 Reuse Day
To mark Reuse Day on August 8, the BOOKOFF Group, as a member of the organizing committee, carries out initiatives to promote awareness of reuse and the circular economy while expanding participation in reuse. These activities are supported by Japan's Ministry of the Environment and endorsed by 26 companies. At the reuse experience event held on August 8–9, 2025, for elementary school students—the next generation who will shape the circular economy—and their parents, six reuse companies, including BOOKOFF, hosted exhibition booths. More than 90% of participants reported that the experience deepened their understanding of reuse and encouraged them to put it into practice in their daily lives.
Please refer to the activity report for information on initiatives for 2025. (Japanese only)
BOOKOFF Sendai Reuse Festival
The BOOKOFF Sendai Reuse Festival has been held in Sendai since the autumn of 2022. It originated with a fashion show held at BOOKOFF SUPER BAZAAR Sendai Izumi Furuuchi Store in March 2022 for students who had struggled to find a venue to present their graduation work during the COVID-19 pandemic. By creating the event together with local communities, businesses, schools, and organizations, we aim to foster a more positive image of reuse, broaden participation in reuse activities, and contribute to building a sustainable society through partnerships with local communities.
About “BOOKOFF Sendai Reuse Festival 2025” (Japanese only)
Initiatives with Students
The BOOKOFF Group creates opportunities for young people who will shape the future of the circular economy to develop and demonstrate their talents through our reuse business.
Reclothes: Supporting Young Designers Through Upcycling Used Clothing
Each year, the BOOKOFF Group purchases 400 million or more items from customers, while fewer than 300 million are ultimately sold. As a result, some items reach the end of their lifecycle without being resold. To create new value from used clothing, we launched the Reclothes Cup upcycling design competition in 2021. The competition provides students who aspire to careers in the fashion industry with opportunities to present their work, encourages their creativity, and contributes to reducing fashion waste.
Furthermore, we launched the upcycling brand Reclothes and established Reclothes Lab inside BOOKOFF SUPER BAZAAR Mina Tenjin Store, where young people who have studied fashion go on to design and produce original upcycled products under the guidance of professional instructors. The initiative provides Reclothes Cup participants with ongoing opportunities to design and produce merchandise and costumes.
Collaboration with Miyagi Bunka Fashion College
Since June 2021, the BOOKOFF Group has partnered with Miyagi Bunka Fashion College through industry-academia collaboration. BOOKOFF provides used clothing, while students develop and create their own upcycling designs. Their work is showcased at the BOOKOFF Sendai Reuse Festival, and students also participate in sales events at BOOKOFF stores and styling workshops. In addition, the Group delivers classes on sustainability and career development through the reuse business. Through these initiatives, we promote both the circulation of resources and the development of future talent by actively fostering collaboration and the effective use of human and material resources.
Collaboration with Tama Art University
■About the Co-Creation Project “Suteru Design”
“Suteru Design” is a co-creation project that brings together Tama Art University TUB and various companies to realize a circular economy by designing not only how things are made, but also how they are discarded. Through practical initiatives, the project encourages people to view the circular economy as something that directly concerns them and promotes new values and behavioral change throughout society. As part of the project, BOOKOFF is developing practical applications for “CD Plastic,” which involves recycling discarded CDs, DVDs, game discs, and their cases into reusable materials, with a strong focus on building a circular economy.
https://tub.tamabi.ac.jp/news/2154-Japanese only
Sports Support
The BOOKOFF Group is expanding its selection of high-quality, affordable secondhand sporting goods while promoting wider participation in sports through community initiatives with local sports teams, sponsorship agreements with athletes, and support for sporting events. Through these activities, we aim to encourage more people to take up sports and help grow the sporting population.
Support Athletes
At BOOKOFF, we are committed to supporting athletes who pursue their dreams. As part of this effort, we are expanding our selection of high-quality, affordable reused (secondhand) sports equipment.
We also sponsor athletes such as professional snowboarders Hiroaki Kunitake and Kiara Morii, as well as Kana Nakashio, a designated training athlete on the Japan National Surfing Team “Naminori Japan.” In addition, we support sports events and initiatives to promote entry-level participation and encourage the broader growth of the sporting community.
Japan's national surfing team “Naminori Japan” designated athlete Kana Nakashio
Collaboration with Local Sports Teams
● Ryukyu Golden Kings
● Vegalta Sendai
● SC Sagamihara
● Gunma Crane Thunders
