Amazon Launches Color Kindle in Japan, Boosting E-Reader Appeal
New device brings vibrant hues to digital pages, targeting growing demand for visual content.
Amazon has officially introduced its first color e-paper reading device, the Kindle Colorsoft, to the Japanese market. This release signifies a major step for the company as it caters to an increasing consumer appetite for color content in digital books and manga.
Vibrant Reading Experience Comes to Japan
The Kindle Colorsoft, priced starting at 39,980 yen, is now available through Amazon Japan and will be stocked at major electronics retailers from August 1st. The device leverages a 7-inch color e-paper display, offering users a more engaging way to experience illustrated books and vibrant manga panels.
The lineup includes three models:
- Kindle Colorsoft (16GB storage): 39,980 yen
- Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (32GB storage, automatic brightness): 44,980 yen
- Kindle Colorsoft Kids Model (16GB storage, kids cover, 2-year warranty, 12 months Amazon Kids+): 42,980 yen
While the black and white display boasts a crisp 300dpi resolution, the color mode operates at 150dpi. This innovation allows for a richer visual experience, making colorful content pop on the screen. The device also introduces a multi-color highlighting feature, supporting yellow, orange, blue, and pink, which enhances the ability to organize and later retrieve important passages.
Enhanced Features for an Immersive Read
Echoing the functionality of the popular Kindle Paperwhite, the Colorsoft model includes an adjustable front light for optimal viewing comfort and a page-inverting option. Battery life is rated at approximately 8 weeks under typical usage. Connectivity options include USB Type-C, Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz), and it features IPX8 water resistance.
Meeting Market Demand for Color
At the device’s unveiling, **Miyazawa Kazutoshi**, Head of the Kindle, Fire Tablets and Accessories Division at Amazon Japan, highlighted the Kindle’s longstanding presence and strong user base in Japan. He noted that the platform’s popularity has surged, with cumulative users increasing nearly fivefold over the past five years. Key factors contributing to this growth include Kindle’s ability to manage extensive manga collections, long battery life, eye-friendly front lighting, and a distraction-free reading environment.
“Among the many Amazon devices, the Kindle is the origin, and we look back on the fact that more than 20 models have already been launched, counting from the original 2007 model (previous in the US), which was developed with the concept of ‘viewing books in any language.’”
—Miyazawa Kazutoshi, Head of Kindle, Fire Tablets and Accessories Division, Amazon Japan
The introduction of the Kindle Colorsoft directly addresses the rising trend of color content, especially in children’s educational materials and manga. **Takasugi Sari**, product lead at Amazon Japan, emphasized how the color display enhances expressiveness while maintaining the core benefits of space-saving, portability, and readability.
The ability to color-code library displays also improves book discoverability. Globally, the e-reader market is projected to grow, with color displays becoming a significant driver. A recent report indicates the global e-reader market size was valued at USD 5.6 billion in 2023 and is expected to expand significantly in the coming years, with color technology playing a key role (Axe Market Analysis, 2024).
The Kindle Colorsoft’s dimensions are 127.6 x 176.7 x 7.8mm, weighing 215g for the standard model and 219g for the Signature Edition. The Kids Model measures 132.2 x 178 x 12.7mm and weighs 334g. Accessories compatible with the Kindle Paperwhite will also be available for the new color device.
