[Self-Introduction 2024] Writing about "Mystery (Detective Novels)," "Children's Reading," "My Sister with Zero Life Expectancy," "Favorite Movies," etc.

　Once again, hello.

　It has been a year since I started on noto, and though it is a bit late, after reading everyone else's posts, I decided to write a "self-introduction" of my own. Since I have reached a certain number of posts, I thought this would be a good way to organize them as well.
（※Since the number of articles has increased, I have slightly updated the content of this self-introduction since the time of posting ← November 2024）

　As stated in my profile, after working in the publishing industry for about 15 years, I have spent the last 12 years or so dedicated to housework and child-rearing.


　My original "loves" were reading and movies　.
　I had planned to focus my articles on books and movies once things settled down, but when my sister, who was three years older than me and also raising children at the time, met a tragic end, I found myself with more themes I wanted—no, needed—to write about.

　Below, I will write about what I am currently writing and what I want to write about.

（1）Regarding my sister's tragic death

　#If you are willing to read it, please find the details here↓↓↓

...When you feel that you are the only person in the world who knows who that person, now gone, really was—what kind of actions do you take?

　I want to leave behind in writing the fact that "that person truly lived" and "love truly existed there."


　At the same time, in the hope that even one fewer person will suffer the same pain, I want to organize the events that occurred during my sister's battle with illness and the mediation process, and share the lessons for the future.
　　

　The reason I specifically titled it "My Sister with Zero Life Expectancy," despite the pain it causes, is because the way my sister lived after she was given "zero life expectancy" was truly extraordinary.

　—However, one thing I do think is that if she had been able to honestly say "thank you" and "I'm sorry," her final moments might have unfolded differently. Including that difficulty in living, I feel affection for her now...

　I hope to eventually compile this into something like a novel (though it might take some time).

（2）Regarding joint custody

　When I write about my sister, I naturally end up at the issue of parental rights.
　I am, for the most part, in favor of the joint custody system currently being deliberated in Japan.

　However, caution is necessary, and my honest feeling is that even if the system is put in place, if the mindset of adults does not change, the number of children who get hurt will not decrease.

　The events that happened to my sister were a problem that existed before the custody system　.
　It was an emotional dispute between adults.

　The lesson I learned, as someone who could do nothing on the sidelines, is:

「Do not involve children as much as possible in the exchange of negative emotions between spouses」
「Do not involve children as much as possible in disputes between adults」

　—That is what I mean. It does not mean that one should not divorce or separate.


　When discord between spouses is unavoidable, I believe it is important to convey correct information to the children, rather than negative emotions.

#It is a standalone article, but I have written a little about it, so please take a look here if you like↓↓↓

(3) On children's reading

I love books. While raising my children with the hope of passing on the "joy of reading" to them, I began to think that
before asking "what kind of books are good," the challenge of "what kind of daily habits should be built so that children will pick up books easily" is more important I have come to think that this is more important.
Especially in this digital society.

I have compiled those experiences and thoughts into a magazine.

I would be happy if you could read even a little bit of it.

#Solving mysteries from early childhood through reading tendencies... A story about how it became easier to raise my child once I understood "this child is this type" ↓↓↓

# A story about things you can work on concretely before the vague goal of "improving reading comprehension" things you can work on concretely ↓↓↓

# This is a magazine. It's long, but it's about "reading stamina is a lifelong asset" ↓↓↓

# This is a magazine. Books piled up (tsundoku) raise a 'reading child'. This is the final installment, but it touches on all the items ↓↓↓

# Things I noticed about "children and reading," here's another one ↓↓↓

# Also, I'm writing about various realizations I've gained through parenting, etc., in a relaxed way... I'm also writing [Parenting Essays] ↓↓↓

(4) On detective novels and mysteries

As a very personal preference, I love detective novels, especially the "honkaku" (orthodox) style that focuses on logical puzzle-solving. Or rather than just love, it's no life no mystery—it's my life's work.

It started with Jiro Akagawa, whom I read in elementary school, but I fell into an even deeper swamp when I encountered a guidebook in junior high school: "50 World's Greatest Detectives" by Saitaro Fujiwara (*).

In an era without the internet and with no adults around me who were knowledgeable about detective novels, this book became my mentor and my starting point.

I spent my teens devouring the overseas mysteries introduced here. From my 20s on, I explored domestic mysteries by authors like Soji Shimada and Yukito Ayatsuji.

This "50 World's Greatest Detectives" was first published in 1984, but the "Top 10 Masterpieces" list from overseas introduced on one page is still, even now, a stunning lineup (I'm completely in my own world of hobbies here. Sorry to those who have no idea what I'm talking about)!

It is introduced strictly as an "example" chosen by fans, and it is noted that this is a table selected by "Hitchcock Magazine" through a survey of 27 people involved in detective novels... (They must have been 27 hardcore fans. I wish I could have joined them).
Since the rankings were calculated by points, there are several titles tied for the same position. Even now, these titles are power words, aren't they? If it were me, I would have ranked "The Mystery of the Yellow Room" and "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" higher, and I would have included "Murder on the Orient Express" somewhere (laughs).

*"Challenging Your Brain: 50 World's Greatest Detectives - Reasoning and Intellectual Trick Puzzles" (By Saitaro Fujiwara / KK Bestsellers / 437 yen excluding tax) ...It is an extremely wonderful guidebook, but it is also a book full of major spoilers, so please be careful if you are interested.

# I want to share the charm of detective novels and mysteries with many people, so I am writing about tips for selecting books (there are 11 parts in total, but you can read from wherever you like)↓↓↓

# I am also writing about the live-action adaptations of detective novels and my love for the original works / "Sand's Vessel" edition↓↓↓

# I am also writing about the live-action adaptations of detective novels and my love for the original works / "The Voice of Sin" edition↓↓↓

# A reading record of the monumental work of New Orthodox mystery, "The Decagon House Murders," with full spoilers↓↓↓

# First nomination for the "Japan Booksellers' Award" for a children's book! I love "After School Mystery Club"↓↓↓

(5) Books I'm glad I didn't die without reading... About "books that move the heart"

Setting mysteries aside for a moment, I will also write little by little about books that I truly felt were "worth reading," regardless of genre.

Rather than just saying it was "interesting," I would like to pick out books that
"definitely changed something inside me between before and after reading",
"actually eased the pain in my heart after reading",
"made me want to hug the book and say 'thank you' due to the joy and sense of accomplishment that welled up after reading".
...I would like to pick these up.

I would be happy if I could share the joy of reading with other book lovers.

However, I have hardly written about specific books yet. I will get to that eventually...

(6) About my favorite movies

I love watching movies just as much as I love reading. When I was a magazine editor, I was also in charge of the movie pages. I'm not very good with action or horror, but other than that, I watch everything. Or rather, when I make a list of movies I want to write reviews for (below), it's almost entirely American movies for now.

I believe that a movie is a piece of exquisite art, created within just two hours by professionals who poured all of their passion, skill, and sense into it at that time.

While there are many works that are forgotten, there are also masterpieces that continue to move viewers even decades later.


If anything, books are like "seniors or mentors" to me, but movies are like best friends. They have encouraged me for a long, long time.


From now on, I would like to write a little bit at a time about the movies I like and the movies I recommend (*I have already written about a few).

#Something like this too... Thoughts on being a "housewife"↓↓↓

#Something like this too... About impossible "work" outside of job duties↓↓↓