Japanese used bookstores are experiencing a sales surge of up to 5x as bulk orders arrive, with evidence suggesting foreign AI companies are purchasing hundreds of tons of books to scan and destroy. The purchasing patterns and shipments to logistics centers in Okayama Prefecture indicate AI training operations, raising concerns among bookstore owners about cultural impact and copyright issues.
Japanese used bookstores have experienced a surge in bulk orders since August, with some shops reporting five-fold sales increases. Over 50 tons of books have been exported to the U.S., and industry observers suspect the purchases are for AI training data, though a logistics center handling the orders declined to confirm details.