Tokyo bibliophiles will no doubt look back at 2004 as the year in which a revered Tokyo institution -- the Maruzen book store -- moved from its original location in Nihombashi, where it had operated since 1870, to a new home on the first through fourth floors of the OAZO Building in Marunouchi.

While the familiar old Maruzen building, where I'd browsed for reading matter for the past 40 years, will be missed, the new shop boasts a convenient location just two minutes on foot from the Marunouchi North exit of Tokyo Central Station. It is served by five major subway lines that converge on Otemachi, and it's open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.

In addition to books in English -- with two rows of massive shelves housing sections on Japanese language and general reading about Japan -- Maruzen's foreign book selection on the fourth floor offers titles in French, German, Chinese and Korean. There is also a large section of children's literature.

With 13 shopping days still remaining until Christmas, this not-so-subtle preamble is intended as a gentle reminder to last-minute shoppers that a well-crafted spy story or whodunit is a sensible way to please those on your gift list. And if the intended recipient resides abroad, Amazon.com and other online book dealers can wrap and ship for you at very reasonable rates.