Foreign-Language Bookstores / 高雄的外文書店
◎Written by Jian Cheng
◎Photographs by Jung-Hui Pao
Reading is a traveler's spiritual homeland. No matter how far they go, once absorbed in familiar words and books, it is possible to feel at home again.
As Kaohsiung becomes an international city, and language learning remains popular in Taiwan, more foreign-language bookstores continued to open in Kaohsiung. These stores not only sell books on language learning in order to meet consumers' needs, they also introduce literature and other trendy reading materials to readers. Thanks to the wide variety of books and the book displays in bookstores, foreigners in Kaohsiung are able to enjoy reading in a comfortable environment just like other Kaohsiung citizens.
Whether they are here for business, tourism, or relocation, more than fifteen thousand foreigners, mostly from English-speaking countries and Japan, live in Kaohsiung now. As a result, mostly English and Japanese books are to be found in foreign bookstores here.
Eslite Bookstore- Thoughtful Display of English Books
Eslite Bookstore is the most representative of the Taiwan-based bookstores. Its elegant space and the overtly comfortable atmosphere, attract book lovers from all over Kaohsiung. Despite its focus on Chinese books, Eslite Bookstore has a considerable selection of English and Japanese books as well. It even has more foreign books than in the Chinese on language and design sections.
One thoughtful thing Eslite Bookstore does is to put newly published English books next to other new Chinese books. In this way, foreigners will notice books in their mother tongue the moment they enter the store. A considerate act like this definitely helps foreigners to fit into the local society.
Covering 3300-square-meters, the Eslite Bookstore is located on the 17th floor of the FE21 Mega Department Store in Kaohsiung. Featuring an unique design of stairway, the Eslite Bookstore is positioned on the highest floor, consequently, offering impressive and incredible views. Readers can overlook the Port of Kaohsiung whilst enjoying their reading.
Kinokuniya Bookstore-An Authentic Japanese Experience
Speaking of Japanese bookstores in Kaohsiung, the Kinokuniya Bookstore located in the Talee Isetan Department Store, is no doubt at the top of the list of the best. Selling both Japanese and Chinese books, the Kinokuniya Bookstore has the same amount of books in both languages. In addition to those on technology, economy and literature, the Kinokuniya Bookstore has a significant collection of magazines on traveling, fashion, crafts, women and comic books. For many Japanese or Japanophiles, the Kinokuniya Bookstore can satisfy their diverse needs and provide them with an opportunity to learn the differences between Taiwanese and Japanese style of publishing.
Food for Your Mind and Body
Both the Eslite and Kinokuniya Bookstores are located in department stores and close to cafe or food plazas. How much better can life become than to be able to relax on a cup of coffee with a good book!
◎文／張筧 ◎攝影／鮑忠暉
閱讀是人們心靈的故鄉，無論旅人走得多遠，只要沈醉在熟悉的文字和書本裡，就彷彿可以跨越時空，徜徉在另一個夢中的國度。
隨著城市國際化的發展和國內語文學習風氣的興盛，近幾年來高雄出現了多家專門銷售外文圖書的書店，這些書店對外文書籍的銷售，不單純著眼於國內語文教學的需要，它們同時也引進了文學的、時尚的的閱讀，多樣化和具有文化深度的選書以及顯眼的陳列方式，讓在高雄的外籍人士，可以和本地市民一樣，在舒適的環境裡享受閱讀與買書的樂趣。
無論工作、商務、旅遊、定居，外籍人士在高雄已經突破了15000人，其中以英語系國家及鄰近的日本為多，這也顯示在本市外語書店的分佈上，也以英、日文為主。
誠品書店新書上架中、英文好書併列
誠品書店是台灣最具代表的本土書店，精緻的空間美學及書香的氛圍，吸引了來自各地的愛書人。它雖然是一家以中文閱讀為主的書店，但仍引進數量龐大的英、日文書籍，尤其在語文及設計類別的圖書中，外文書的比例還超過中文書籍的數量。
誠品在顯示國際化的部分，還包括推薦新書上架時，往往是中、英文書籍併列，對外籍朋友而言，一進書店在最顯眼的位置，就可以看到最熟悉的語言、文字，有助於更快的融入高雄人的生活之中。
位於高雄大遠百百貨17樓的誠品書店，佔地一千坪，獨特的階梯式設計營造出閱讀的空間層次感，讀者在閱讀的同時，舉目還能遠眺高雄港的雄偉，開幕之後，誠品高雄大遠百店已成為全國最高、視野最優、空間氣勢最磅礡的書店。
紀伊國書屋體驗日本風
日語書店中則以位於大立伊勢丹百貨的紀伊國書屋最具代表性。以銷售中、日文書籍為主的紀伊國書屋，日文出版品的數量和陳列空間幾乎和中文書籍相當，定位清晰，書店內除了科技、財經、文庫之外，各種旅遊、時尚、工藝、婦女、漫畫雜誌種類數量繁多，對於在高雄的許多日本僑民或是哈日族而言，紀伊國書屋可以滿足多元的需求，也可以觀摩到中、日文出版文化的異同。
咖啡相伴時尚隨行
無論是誠品大遠百店還是大立伊勢丹的紀伊國書屋，它們都位於百貨公司的樓層內，週邊也都有咖啡、美食的休憩空間，可以說是書香與時尚相隨的文化型態，逛累了可以歇歇腳！