San Yu Bookstore

San Yu Bookstore Introduction

San Yu Bookstore, the first independent bookstore in Kaohsiung, is housed in a post-war representative traditional house. It was once a guava orchard and is one of the earliest buildings constructed after the establishment of Zhongzheng Road in the area, having been preserved in its original state to this day. The bookstore currently offers retail operations, a membership website, newsletters, printed publications, and a podcast program, while also engaging with readers of various backgrounds and ages through platforms such as Facebook, LINE, Instagram, and Plurk. In 2024, it has over 70,000 followers on Facebook with a total view count exceeding 350,000, and more than 9,000 followers on Instagram with a total view count over 280,000. Each year, it hosts hundreds of events, with diverse formats including lectures, exhibitions, markets, and concerts, focusing on a wide range of topics such as editing and publishing, mother tongue promotion, local cultural history, environmental protection, gender equality, and political situations. Upholding the belief that "the niche is actually not small," it provides a platform for diverse voices and creative forms from around the world, advocating for diversity and equality. Examples include its efforts to promote independent publications by becoming the most comprehensive space for "Zine" collections in Kaohsiung, featuring many creators who expanded their markets through independent publishing. This includes artists like Gao Yan, known for delicately illustrated book covers for Haruki Murakami, the vibrant "Ikiuki Color Planning Office" known for its bold colors across Europe and the US, and "Fei Fei Zi," which explores modern desires with a special emphasis on female portrayals. These relationships may appear ordinary but harbor the future brilliance of Taiwan. In terms of international exchange and collaboration, the bookstore has been featured in numerous media reports, particularly from Japan, with notable mentions including NHK (now offline due to timeliness issues). Currently, the majority of overseas visitors are from Hong Kong and Japan, and correspondences have been received from publishers, bookstores, and creators seeking collaboration for lectures, exhibitions, and merchandise sales, even inviting San Yu to participate in overseas pop-up events. The bookstore is dedicated to collecting and reporting local stories from Kaohsiung, publishing a bilingual edition of "Shi Xing" in Chinese and Japanese, and hosting the online program "Reading Kaohsiung, Sound Travels." Through a "walk-and-read" approach, it introduces the public to Taiwan's culture and history, primarily focusing on Kaohsiung while extending some routes to: Pingtung, Tainan, and Chiayi. It also supports cultural equity by actively participating in market invitations from rural areas. Recently, it has invested in and promoted the television drama "Listening to the Sea," which has received widespread acclaim. Additionally, it engages in diverse project execution, collaborating with both governmental and private sectors, facilitating partnerships between different entities for greater impact without limiting itself to grants. It has repeatedly self-funded events such as Wu Ming-yi's "Bike Theft Science Exhibition" and large performances by blind groups in Wang Jun-jie's "Dark Voice Theater." Committed to local grounding while maintaining international perspectives, the team aims to foster a positive, virtuous cycle, continually rooting downwards and overturning preconceived notions about bookstores, while keeping a flexible degree of freedom. In the future, it will continue to diversify its operations, believing that more exciting and enriching experiences will occur, while firmly standing its ground to voice its protective stance.

Sanyus Bookstore (Chen Yan-Jun)

San Yu Bookstore Interior (Chen Yan-jun)