Amazon Kindle Lineup Refreshed in Japan, With Prices Up ¥10,000

There is also a smaller change. The power button has moved from the bottom edge to the upper right, because users said they pressed it by accident when standing the device upright. Covers and a remote with page-turn buttons are part of the same push for easier use.

Prices rise across the board

This is the first full refresh in two years, and Amazon blamed rising costs, mainly memory prices, for price increases of at least ¥10,000 on every model. The entry Kindle (16GB) goes from ¥19,980 to ¥29,980. The Kindle Paperwhite (16GB) moves from ¥27,980 to ¥39,980, and the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition from ¥44,980 to ¥56,980.

Amazon says more than 85 million people use Kindle worldwide, and that the question has shifted from whether someone uses a Kindle to which one and how. The company framed this generation around a premium reading experience and personal style.

Leather sleeves for Japan

For Japan only, Amazon is adding leather sleeves made with outside brands, due in late November. Preorders opened on November 5 on Amazon.co.jp for sleeves from Italian brand BONAVENTURA and Japanese brand MAISON CANAU, each in 7-inch and 11-inch sizes. BONAVENTURA's come in four colors. They cost ¥33,000 to ¥44,000 and ¥15,400 to ¥25,000 respectively.

Amazon cited Japan's high rate of accessory purchases alongside the device. The Kindle Scribe, an 11-inch handwriting model, was renewed in June, so the whole lineup, including kids' models, has now been updated.