A question about my [hypothetical] book store. . .

[Mangafanatic]

As some of you may know, it's my dream to one day open a book store that specializes in the sale of Manga, but, today, I was talking to my sister about it and she brought up something I had only thought about in passing.

What manga would I sell? When I had first conceived the idea, my thought was to provide a manga source superior to that of any general book store. I wanted to make my shop so complete in its merchandise that people who really wanted manga would think of me first before they thought of Borders or B. Dalton. But, I think I've run against a bit of a dilemna.

My sister was saying that she thought it would be morally right if I didn't ever stock anything that contained nudity. I don't really read manga that has nudity (that's the general rule), but I still am somewhat confused about whether what I personally would read rules what I would stock in a store I owned. Afterall, if I sold videos, I would probably have Titanic on the shelf, and if I worked in a Gap, there would probably be things on the rack that I wouldn't wear. Likewise, if I was the owner of Ruby Tuesdays, it's possible I might sell alcohol, which I myself wouldn't drink.

Likewise, is MY personal conviction about what one can and cannot read the only thing that should govern what I sell? I don't really have a major problem with some language or blood in manga, but I know Christians who do. What do I do with that information?

Is it wrong to sell something I wouldn't read? I wish that smiley face looked a little more confused. . .

So, I guess my question is: do you guys have any opinions or comments you could offer?

[Debitt]

o.o Oh quite the conundrum~ I personally think that if you plan to go into business, the reality is you'll have to deal with some things you don't want to deal with, and not stocking certain manga/books based on content may not attract the same number of customers than if you did. But bloody capitalism aside, I think that maybe a fair median can be drawn - maybe divide the manga into sections based on rating or content or target audience. Maybe put content stickers on the spines/packaging of the books to further explain the content of a book to a customer so they'll know in an instant whether they approve of the content or not. In a situation like a bookstore, I don't think that my exact personal convictions should dictate what I stock, especially when it comes to borderline series such as Ranma 1/2 or some Yuu Watase manga (I personally stopped reading Ranma and Fushigi Yuugi because of my personal issues with the nudity, but I know plenty of people who love the series and have a fair justification as to why they aren't bothered by it).

But that's just my nonsensical 2 cents.

[Nate]

Hmm, a difficult question, one which every Christian businessman (or woman ) must run into at some point.

First, I would definitely say that no matter what, you should divide the sections into further subsections. What I mean is, you have sections, right? Fantasy, mecha, romance, etc. Then, you further divide that into subsections. All ages, 13+, and if need be, 16+ (or 17+). Maybe even with a small description on the subsections to better inform parents of the content...like, on the 16/17+ signs, you could put something like "These titles may contain graphic violence, language, nudity and sexual situations." Something like that.

I don't think you would need over 16 or 17, as that would pretty much be hentai, which either way I know you would not sell.

Granted, if you did limit the titles you sold based on content, you would have a significantly smaller selection of manga to offer. Honestly, I don't think any of us have a right to tell you how to feel. If you want to limit your selection, that's fine. If you are meant to succeed, God will provide no matter how few titles you stock, you know?

I, personally, were I to open a business like that, would sell pretty much any non-hentai titles. I am not telling you to do that, I am merely saying what I would do in a similar situation. I don't think there's anything necessarily wrong with selling something you wouldn't read yourself...but again, it's really up to you, not us, and not your sister. ^^

[Mangafanatic]

Yeah, one of the missions I had with this store was to make it a place where parents could come and get information. I wanted a place where concerned parents could come and find manga that's appropriate for their child. I always planned to make the shop a very unique enviroment.

In the past, I'd always thought I'd most anything that wasn't in shrink wrap. There might be titles that I'd choose not to put on the shelf, but I had never thought before that I'd elimate all titles that have "this", "that", or "the other thing."

Thank you for your comments Koko-chan and Kae-kun. I really appreciate it.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

oohhhh that is a perdicament indeed! may i suggest having a certain area, like in the back for the +17 stuff or something

[Arnobius]

I don't think you would need over 16 or 17, as that would pretty much be hentai, which either way I know you would not sell.

Manga's a bit different. There are Mature titles that are hentai, and some that are actually well done serious stories that I own with a clear conscience.

But if you see an anime rated 18+, that's definitely porn.

oohhhh that is a perdicament indeed! may i suggest having a certain area, like in the back for the +17 stuff or something

Where I shop, they usually keep it behind the counter, since kids have a tendency to open the shrink wrap

[Ashley]

An interesting dilemma you've found yourself in Osaka. I can relate--I am not exactly thrilled at the idea that I have to draw a nude old man next week. >.<

My suggestion would be to do what others have said--break it up into sections, and maybe even check ID for the adult content stuff. The problem you run into is that if you start saying "well I won't sell anything with X" in it, you either
A- come off hypocritical because you start "judging" and "ranking" sins--i.e. you put nudity/lust as more sinful than say witchcraft. When really, they should be equal.
B- get to the point where all you can sell is edited versions of Angelic Layer

My point is that Christians have different strengths and weaknesses. I think you would be better off offering a huge variety of things (to the point where even the secular fan would come in) and showing everyone the love of Christ in what you suggest to them, how you treat the parents, etc. etc.

Tell me where this store of yours is and I promise I will fly out to see you. XD

[Joshua Christopher]

Print up guides and have them posted all around.
Alphabetical ordered manga names, and content listed as;
v-violence
gv-graphic violence
l-language
sl-strong language
bn-brief nudity
mn-moderate nudity
en-extreme nudity (Which you should hopefully not have to use).

Just an idea, which I'm sure is a bad one.

[true_noir_chloe]

You've had so many good answers I have nothing to add. I think Kokoro, Kae, AH and Ash gave you enough to swallow. ^____^

However, I agree with Ash in that I would love to find out when you open this book store and then fly out to visit it.

Oh yes, I did have one question for you: Are you familiar with the manga reading rooms in Japan? I'm going on hearsay here, but I hear that you pay an hourly fee and then you can go in and read any manga in the time you've rented the room for. It's a seperate room with manga's that you don't sell, but are there to be rented basically. You would know who goes in and how many hours they've signed up for, just like any LAN center or something like that.

I had always thought if I had a manga book store I would want a room in the back for kids who can't afford to spend $60 dollars for an entire series and then they could just read the books with a fee.

[Arnobius]

An interesting dilemma you've found yourself in Osaka. I can relate--I am not exactly thrilled at the idea that I have to draw a nude old man next week. >.<

My suggestion would be to do what others have said--break it up into sections, and maybe even check ID for the adult content stuff. The problem you run into is that if you start saying "well I won't sell anything with X" in it, you either
A- come off hypocritical because you start "judging" and "ranking" sins--i.e. you put nudity/lust as more sinful than say witchcraft. When really, they should be equal.
B- get to the point where all you can sell is edited versions of Angelic Layer

My point is that Christians have different strengths and weaknesses. I think you would be better off offering a huge variety of things (to the point where even the secular fan would come in) and showing everyone the love of Christ in what you suggest to them, how you treat the parents, etc. etc.

Tell me where this store of yours is and I promise I will fly out to see you. XD

Hmm, but sins of theflesh tend to be more of an immediate temptation than witchcraft, so I don't see that refusing to sell X rated manga is a problem. Most bookstores where I live don't sell real pornography, so I don't see that she could be considered hypocritical in refusing to sell porn manga. Besides, there's a difference between carrying Harry Potter and carrying The Necronomicon when it comes to dealing with witchcraft...

[Mr. SmartyPants]

i like A-H's idea, put them behind the counter!

[termyt]

I would not sell anything I have a moral objection to. I can not, in good conscience, sell anything I know to be wrong - how can I cause my brother to stumble?

However, there are things that I do not participate in that I do not think are necessarily wrong. I don't like gory horror movies, but I do not believe it is automatically sinful to watch them.

As a shop owner, I think I would feel free to stock titles that will be enjoyed by most who read it, even if they have the potential to cause some to sin. In the end, we each are responsible for ourselves and need to make our own decisions about what is good for us to read and what should be avoided.

So, keeping all of that in mind, the only titles I would not stock are those who’s main purpose is to promote behavior or ideals I oppose – such as hentai, yaoi, titles that glorify illicit sex, and probably most titles with a rating of 17+ or greater. I would also separate the sections based on ratings to help parents monitor what their children read.

It maybe a good idea to produce a flyer or brochure of some sort explaining ratings and what to expect in the way of content.

[Cap'n Nick]

Everybody is giving such great suggestions! Since all of the good ones are taken I shall instead give anti-advice!!!

TEN THINGS NOT TO DO WITH YOUR [HYPOTHETICAL] BOOKSTORE

10. Emblazon all 16+ titles with a large sticker that says "BURN, YOU HEATHEN SCUMBAG"
9. Free Haggis Tuesdays
8. "Why Manga is Evil" pamphlets for concerned parents
7. Print manga review flyers, but base each manga's score on the number of times they use the word "perfunctory"
6. Replace Pocky with colored pipe cleaners
5. Insist that all patrons address you as "Osaka-hime-chan-sama"
4. Put reading room next to unguarded back door and convenient line of getaway taxis
3. Arrange sections according to obnoxious stereotypes (Harem, Catgirl, Codependant Whiner...)
2. Insist that all staff, at all times and under threat of severe caning, dress, act and speak like pokémon
1. Sell only Encyclopædia Britannica

[Mangafanatic]

10. Emblazon all 16+ titles with a large sticker that says "BURN, YOU HEATHEN SCUMBAG"
9. Free Haggis Tuesdays
8. "Why Manga is Evil" pamphlets for concerned parents
7. Print manga review flyers, but base each manga's score on the number of times they use the word "perfunctory"
6. Replace Pocky with colored pipe cleaners
5. Insist that all patrons address you as "Osaka-hime-chan-sama"
4. Put reading room next to unguarded back door and convenient line of getaway taxis
3. Arrange sections according to obnoxious stereotypes (Harem, Catgirl, Codependant Whiner...)
2. Insist that all staff, at all times and under threat of severe caning, dress, act and speak like pokémon
1. Sell only Encyclopædia Britannica

They shall be the creed of my business.

Thank you all for your advice. I appreciate it alot. Y'all are the best.

[Scribs]

TEN THINGS NOT TO DO WITH YOUR [HYPOTHETICAL] BOOKSTORE

1. Sell only Encyclopædia Britannica

hey now, lets not slam Encyclopædia Britannica, My father used to sell those back a long time ago...

[Lynx]

i have another suggestion. a few hours away from me is a store that specializes in manga and anime. it's a locally owned store, and the girl that runs it does it purely for the love of anime and manga. a few things she did that impressed me were 1) she had japanese classes you could sign up for, 2) she had anime you could rent just like at a blockbuster, and, what most applies to you, 3) she sold manga in japanese. japanese manga is awesomely helpful in learning japanese, you learn different ways of saying things, different contexts words can be used in, shades of meaning, and if you really have no clue whats going on, you can always look at the pictures for general meanings.

[mitsuki lover]

i have another suggestion. a few hours away from me is a store that specializes in manga and anime. it's a locally owned store, and the girl that runs it does it purely for the love of anime and manga. a few things she did that impressed me were 1) she had japanese classes you could sign up for, 2) she had anime you could rent just like at a blockbuster, and, what most applies to you, 3) she sold manga in japanese. japanese manga is awesomely helpful in learning japanese, you learn different ways of saying things, different contexts words can be used in, shades of meaning, and if you really have no clue whats going on, you can always look at the pictures for general meanings.

Now that sounds like a good idea.
I remember the last time I was at Barnes & Nobles they had a book on
the half price pile that was about how to learn Japanese using a manga
approach.They also had a pronounciation guide to the words to make it
easier.I.e. each word was phonetically reproduced to show how it should
properly be pronounced.

[Mangafanatic]

i have another suggestion. a few hours away from me is a store that specializes in manga and anime. it's a locally owned store, and the girl that runs it does it purely for the love of anime and manga. a few things she did that impressed me were 1) she had japanese classes you could sign up for, 2) she had anime you could rent just like at a blockbuster, and, what most applies to you, 3) she sold manga in japanese. japanese manga is awesomely helpful in learning japanese, you learn different ways of saying things, different contexts words can be used in, shades of meaning, and if you really have no clue whats going on, you can always look at the pictures for general meanings.

Yeah, I'd actually thought about Japanese classes. I'd also wanted to sell some imported stuff (art book specifically). Thanks for your suggesitons. I'll keep them in mind for the next several years before I get to open my dream establishment.