Juliet Seva

Fully Booked reopens its branch at Power Plant Mall in partnership with Books Kinokuniya and Wasachi.

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761322339277IMG_1392.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Fully Booked reopens its branch at Power Plant Mall in partnership with Books Kinokuniya and Wasachi. <em>Juliet Seva, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The scent of new books now blends with the aroma of matcha at Fully Booked’s newly reopened branch at Power Plant Mall in Makati City.</p><p>The bookstore chain’s reopening on Friday marked its first-ever café collaboration with Wasachi, a globally minded matcha concept.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761322423076FB_Kino_Wasachi.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Hiroyoshi Kageyama (Director of Kinokuniya Thailand), Satoshi Ito (General Manager of Kinokuniya Company), Takuma Yamanaka (Founder of Wasachi), Chris Daez (PR Director of Fully Booked), Jaime Daez (Managing Director of Fully Booked), Christine Tan Coqueiro (VP for Retail, Rockwell Land Corporation), Hiroyasu Soeya (Owner of Dreams Global Trading Manila Inc.). <em>Courtesy: Fully Booked</em></span></span></span></div><p>For Jaime Daez, Fully Booked’s founder and managing director who wasn’t even a matcha fan until he tried Wasachi’s drinks, the partnership was a great discovery.</p><p>“It changed my perception and I knew I had to bring it home,” he revealed.</p><p>Fully Booked’s existing collaborations with Japanese bookshop Kinokuniya opened the idea of them teaming up with another Tokyo-based brand.</p><p>The branch in Rockwell, which once housed Press Café until its closure in 2021, now finds a fitting revival through Wasachi.</p><p>“It’s always been my dream to have a cafe beside a bookstore because it’s the perfect synergy. It really complements each other very well,” Daez shared. </p><p>With 47 branches since its establishment in 2003, Fully Booked continues to grow by offering local titles to world-renowned books, along with stationery, art supplies, novelty books, vinyl records, and collectibles.</p><p>Still, Daez wanted something that would make the brand stand out.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘Best matcha latte in Tokyo’</strong></div><p>Founded in 2024 by Takuma Yamanaka, Wasachi carries the philosophy of “happiness from Japan.” It is drawn from “wa” (Japan) and “sachi” (happiness or gem). </p><p>Chef Daniel Calvert of the three-Michelin-starred restaurant Sézanne even called Wasachi’s matcha latte the “best in Tokyo,” while Tatler Asia hailed its matcha cookie as among the best of its kind.</p><div><br/><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FabscbnNEWS%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0FNvjWDG6rUyKbfpmWUDUFzMFzXWku3ScZVXbgnDLcrj8PakPEsu8yknUAC32Pe2Sl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="752" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>The café’s menu ranges from P190 to P320 for drinks and P90 to P340 for matcha pastries. </p><p>Non-matcha fans can enjoy savory offerings like Avocado Toast with Lemon Zest at P235 and Tomato and Whipped Feta Tartine at P375.</p><p>Among the beverages, Yamanaka recommends the Philippine-exclusive Mango Matcha Latte, made with locally sourced fruits.</p><p>“Mangoes here are just better than the ones in Tokyo,” he admitted.</p><div><strong>A space for mindfulness</strong></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:959px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761322636137IMG_1410.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Wasachi founder Takuma Yamanaka creating matcha drinks for Filipino customers. <em>Juliet Seva, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>For Yamanaka, Wasachi is more than a café. It’s a reminder to slow down. </div><p>Unlike coffee’s caffeine rush, he explained, matcha offers a calmer and more balanced energy. </p><p>“What we would like to provide mostly is happiness, right? But at the same time, behind a tea culture is the idea of zen... It&#x27;s more like taking a break,” he explained.</p><p>He also believes pairing tea with reading can help people connect with the physical world.</p><p>“It&#x27;s much better to touch a paper book and not like a short span of time with gadgets…[When] you read a book, you enjoy your time in the very quality moment.”</p><p>Right after an interview, Yamanaka was quick to return to the counter and help his Filipino staff create drinks.</p><p>“Numbers will follow, I believe, if you&#x27;re focusing on providing a great experience,” he asserted.</p><p>If Fully Booked and Kinokuniya’s collaboration with Wasachi proves successful, both Daez and Yamanaka are optimistic about expanding to more locations in the metro.</p><p>For now, readers and matcha lovers can visit their branch on Level 3 of Power Plant Mall and enjoy special discount cards until October 26, 2025.</p>

<p>The scent of new books now blends with the aroma of matcha at Fully Booked’s newly reopened branch at Power Plant Mall in Makati City.</p>

The scent of new books now blends with the aroma of matcha at Fully Booked’s newly reopened branch at Power Plant Mall in Makati City.

Book hunting meets matcha sipping at Fully Booked’s first café collab

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Book hunting meets matcha sipping at Fully Booked’s first café collab

Juliet Seva,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 25, 2025 07:58 AM PHT

Read More:

bookstore

Fully Booked

cafe

matcha

Kinokuniya

Wasachi

Japan

tea

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