- ARAB NEWS
- 19 Apr 2024
Since 1975
TOKYO: Major trading house Marubeni Corp. said Friday it has started talks with three major publishers in Japan on setting up together a new book distribution company by the end of this year.
The three publishers — Kodansha Ltd., Shueisha Inc. and Shogakukan Inc. — will enter the book distribution business in a rare move for a publisher in Japan, where Tohan Corp. and other major distributors dominate the market.
To cut costs and make book distribution more efficient, the new company will use an artificial intelligence system to predict demand and reduce book returns, according to the four partners’ current plan.
Wireless book tags with integrated circuits will be used to manage availability and to prevent shoplifting.
The new company is expected to handle books from other publishers as well.
JIJI Press
