A bookshelf that changes at will and books that are the intersection of ideas
From the staircase landing to the conference rooms and private workspaces, you'll see the spines of books everywhere, whether they have shelves or not. There are no rules for how they should be divided or arranged, and paperbacks, manga, and new books all coexist without distinction.
"Ideas are born from the intersection of two different elements. The longer the distance they travel, the more interesting they become. That's why it's good to have a mix of unrelated books, from Marx to Tensai Bakabon to romance novels. Just looking at the title of a book can inspire you, and it can also serve as a starting point for casual conversation when a meeting gets stuck," says creative director and editor Koichiro Shima. The foundation for this idea was also laid when he designed the bookshelves for the B&B bookstore in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo, which he works on with fellow editor and producer Toshihiko Hara.
The tall, narrow desk is also packed with paperbacks, including a Haruki Murakami novel that for some reason only has the second or third volume, making it difficult to find the beginning. 
The hard-to-reach space under the stairs is not wasted, either. As the number of books increases, it seems likely that more and more places like this will be available.
"The staff sorted the books by context and placed them in about 50 cardboard boxes, which we intentionally scattered. There are food books near the kitchen, and a booth with more music and film books, but each shelf has a different theme," says Hara.
"A bookshelf made by one person is perfect, but it's also a bookshelf that no one wants. What I've noticed while running the bookstore is that the fun lies in the never-finished rearrangement, like Gaudi's architecture. The same book can give off a different impression depending on where it's placed, so it's nice when someone reads it and it gets all messy. A bookshelf left as it is can spark conversation," says Shima.
A private booth for remote meetings. André Breton's "The Surrealist Manifesto" is paired with Norifumi Suzuki's "The Chronicles of the Truck Drivers." 
The stairwell is decorated with lanterns bearing the company name. There are also many manga volumes and large books, and the titles catch your eye as you go up and down the stairs. 
In front of the bookshelf on the landing. From the right, Koichiro Shima and Toshihiko Hara. They are wearing matching T-shirts for the new office opening party.
A bookshelf that is not yours to navigate can lead to discoveries and become a source of unexpected ideas, such as opening a manga that catches your eye in a closed room where you need to concentrate, or a title that catches your eye during a remote meeting.
"Just as Darwin's 'The Worm and the Soil' is a theory of evolution and a story about affordance design, books can inspire us precisely because they have many different nodes. People who look away are generally more creative. By deliberately letting your attention wander in a place where you need to concentrate, you can turn a little spare time into time for ideas. The god of ideas comes from the periphery," says Shima.
"Earthworms and Soil" by Charles Darwin, translated by Hiroyuki Watanabe
A classic masterpiece that sheds light on the workings and ecology of earthworms. "It describes the instinctive ecology of earthworms, such as how they recognize that leaves are the perfect cover to seal their burrows, and is a must-read that has become a benchmark for affordance design," says Shima. Heibonsha Library / 1,320 yen.
"Hot Days in Harlem" by Ruiko Yoshida
A photojournalist's reportage of Harlem, New York. "A masterpiece that reveals the truth, written by an author who visited the slums alone during New York's most dangerous period in the 1970s, when hip hop was born," says Hara. Kodansha Bunko / 660 yen (digital version only).
“The 20th Century” Osamu Hashimoto/Author
Through events such as war, revolution, and religion, this book looks back on the events of each year, examining what the 20th century was like. "It's a book that will spark conversation. It's a book you'll want to have in your own bathroom," says Shima. Two volumes. Chikuma Bunko / 715 yen each (digital version only).
"In Praise of Shadows" by Junichiro Tanizaki
This classic, first published in 1933, discusses Japan's traditional sense of beauty in an era before electric lighting and art born from Japanese sensibilities. "It's a must-read book that also has applications in modern spatial design ideas," says Shima. Chuokoron-Shinsha Bunko / 524 yen.
"Shinsho's Art" by Kokontei Shinsho
This book is a philosophy of life that includes heroic tales and conversations about the art of rakugo from the author, who was called the god of rakugo in the Showa era. "I want people to suddenly encounter people from the past on their bookshelves and learn that it's okay to be drunk and work recklessly," says Shima. The current edition is published by Kawade Bunko and costs 990 yen.
