Eslite Spectrum Nihonbashi, located on the second floor of COREDO Muromachi Terrace, allows you to experience "the current state of Taiwan" without leaving Tokyo. We spoke with Lin Chiani, a staff member at the store who is originally from Taipei, about Taiwanese culture, which is attracting attention from around the world, including food, books, and music.

Eslite Spectrum Nihonbashi 's Lin Jianni (center)

The roots and highlights of the Taiwanese brand "Eslite Spectrum"

The roots of Eslite date back to March 1989, when Robert Wu founded a specialist bookstore for humanities and art at the roundabout on Ren'ai Road in Taipei City, Taiwan. At the time, there were not many bookstores in Taiwan that handled specialized books, so it is said that the company took inspiration from Japanese bookstores.

In 1999, Eslite Dunnan became the world's first store to open 24 hours a day. In 2004, it was chosen as "Asia's Best Bookstore" by the Asian edition of TIME magazine, and in 2015, it was chosen as one of the "17 Best Bookstores" by America's CNN. Currently, the company operates over 40 stores, and in addition to bookstores, it has also expanded into art galleries, food Services, hotels, and condominiums. In some cases, an entire building is dedicated to Eslite Living in Hong Kong, and the company has established a position similar to that of a department store.

Eslite Spectrum Nihonbashi opened on September 27, 2019. It is Eslite's first base in Japan, leaving the Chinese cultural sphere. The store design, with its Japanese atmosphere reminiscent of the streets of the Edo period, was designed by Yao Ren-xi, a renowned Taiwanese architect and honorary fellow of the American Institute of Architects. With a theme of Japan-Taiwan fusion, the store has selected products with stories and overflowing with Japanese and Taiwanese craftsmanship.

Eslite Spectrum Nihonbashi Floor Map

The shop mainly sells books, but also offers stationery, general merchandise, a restaurant, a cafe, etc. It also has an event space and a cooking space, and frequently hosts various events such as talk shows, Shops, and exhibitions.

Cooking events using the Taiwanese-made, all-purpose cooking appliance, the Tatung rice cooker, are extremely popular.

Taiwanese culture that Japanese people don't know yet

Taiwan and Japan have many cultural similarities, so I think Taiwan is an easy place to live and attractive to Japanese people. For example, schools in Taiwan are the same as in Japan, with a six-year elementary school system, three-year junior and senior high schools, and a four-year university system. It's also the same in that you take your shoes off indoors. I think there are many foods that suit Japanese tastes.

On the other hand, Taiwan, located further south than Japan, has a tropical temperament and is passionate. For example, masks have become a necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic. White and light blue are the most common, but in Taiwan, "colorful masks" that lift people's spirits were an early trend. Colorful and cute masks with various patterns are all the rage! The mask I'm wearing today is from Taiwan (laughs).

The item I most highly recommend right now is a "drink holder." Drink stands can be found all over the city in Taiwan. Taiwanese people love drinks, and it's not uncommon for them to drink two or three cups a day. That's where drink holders come in handy, as you can simply slip the cup of the drink you've purchased into the holder and carry it around with you. You don't see them much in Japan, but they've actually been around in Taiwan for quite some time now.

Taiwanese people are very eco-conscious, and many people carry their own stainless steel or glass straws, so I guess many people want to bring their own carrier bags. Like masks, they come in a variety of colors and patterns, and they've recently become popular at Eslite Spectrum Nihonbashi.

Speaking of Taiwanese drinks, Tapioca drinks" is a standard drink, but what is unfamiliar to Japanese people is "TooToRyu" is also popular. " at the drink stand HAPPYLEMON in Eslite Nihonbashi Salty Cheese Tea" has also been loved for a long time in Taiwan. The fact that you can customize the amount of ice and syrup in both drinks is another characteristic of Taiwanese drink culture. Also, in Taiwan, it is common to add milk to any drink. In Chinese medicine, "Winter melon tea (Dongquan tea) "or" Herbal Jelly" is also delicious when you add milk. Please try this Taiwanese drink at home, perfect for the hot summer!

"Winter melon tea" can be easily enjoyed by simply dissolving it in hot water and adding ice.

Taiwanese stationery is also attracting attention. I recommend the fountain pens from Taiwanese stationery brand "TWSBI". They are affordable, yet have excellent processing technology, functionality, and design. I am a big fan of theirs! They also have a lineup of unique inks, such as Eslite Spectrum Nihonbashi original ink, created in collaboration with Taiwanese instant milk tea brand "San Tien Yi Ka," and inks inspired by the Taipei Metro line colors. If you want to enjoy a variety of inks, glass pens that don't require ink replacement are also convenient.

"TWSBI" fountain pens have a skeleton body that allows the color of the ink to show through.

The world is paying attention to Taiwan's soft power

Eslite Spectrum Nihonbashi also carries many books written in traditional Chinese characters, with about 100 titles imported from Taiwan every two months. In fact, the language used in Taiwan and China is slightly different, and the same words can have different nuances and pronunciations. Recently, more and more people are interested in learning the Chinese language used in Taiwan (Taiwanese Mandarin), so we also stock books that will help you learn it.

Be sure to check out "Eslite Selections," a selection of books that Eslite staff in Taiwan consider to be the most important and worth reading right now. Check out this section and you'll be able to get a sense of the current trends in Taiwan! Recently, there seems to be an increase in books introducing traditional Taiwanese games, architecture, design, and more, in an effort to return to Taiwan's roots and promote the country to the world.

In addition to books selected by Eslite Taiwan, the museum also introduces a selection of the most topical and original works from Japanese publications.

Wu Ming-yi's masterpieces, "Bicycle Thieves" and "The Magician on the Pedestrian Bridge," which depict a slightly nostalgic Taiwanese scene, have been best-sellers in Japan as well.

In addition, Taiwan is trying to send various software, not just books, overseas. For example, "Taiwanese dramas" are one of them. Originally, Japanese dramas were very popular and admired in Taiwan, but in recent years, with the backing of the government, many Taiwanese dramas have been produced. This year, 2023, a Taiwanese drama based on Miyabe Miyuki's novel "Copycat Criminals" swept the Netflix rankings and became a hot topic.

In the music industry, Taiwanese artists are active not only in Japan, but also abroad. Rock bands such as Fire EX., whose songs have been translated into Japanese, and Cosmos People, who visited the opening of Eslite Spectrum Nihonbashi, and Suming, who is from the indigenous Mi people of Taiwan, have many fans in Japan.

From left: Alien ``Ideal State'', Shu Mien ``Chanter'', Extinguisher ``Unknown Hero''

Enjoy the summer! "Japan-Taiwan Summer Festival 2023" now underway

The "Japan-Taiwan Summer Festival 2023" is being held at Eslite Spectrum Nihonbashi until Sunday, August 27th. This year, with the theme of "Cool Summer Fun," we are waiting for you with a selection of items and events to help you enjoy the cool summer.

The key visual is a photo by wave photographer Shun Natsui. The special exhibition of cool-looking works is also worth seeing!

For more information on "Japan-Taiwan Summer Festival 2023," click here