Reading: After reading 'The Sea That Inherits Indigo', what will I inherit?

It was a book that made me think about how to live my life now.

I finished listening to the audiobook of 'The Sea That Inherits Indigo' (by Arata Iyohara: Shinchosha, 2024).

This Naoki Prize-winning work was quite a substantial read.

I will briefly introduce my impressions of the five stories.

The Island of Dream-Shifting

A story about a mysterious man who wants to revive the generations-old Hagi ware, and a female geologist who helps him. As they search for legendary clay on Mishima Island in Yamaguchi, their bond deepens.
I learned that inheriting pottery techniques is a difficult task. I found myself wanting to root for these two clumsy and inarticulate characters.

Wolf Dog Diary

A story about a freelance web designer who goes looking for the Japanese wolf, which is supposed to be extinct, with a neighborhood boy.
A young person moving from the city to the countryside. The realistic situation is depicted with great care.
Furthermore, I was captivated by the noble and overwhelming presence of the wolf dog.

Fragments of Prayer

A story about a city hall employee who explores the life of the owner of a vacant house through the various materials and rubble related to the Nagasaki atomic bombing left behind.
Both the protagonist and the listener initially feel that government work is very boring, but I was able to rethink it as a very meaningful job that protects important history.

The Station Where Stars Fall

A story about a husband who works at a post office, his wife, and his father, revolving around a meteorite discovered in Engaru, Hokkaido.
A rural post office scheduled to close soon, and a town that is about to become a topic of conversation due to a suddenly fallen meteorite.
An aging father and a new life about to be born.
I thought the way the two themes overlapped was skillful.

The Sea That Inherits Indigo

A story about a girl who watches over the egg-laying and hatching of sea turtles in Himegaura, Tokushima Prefecture.
The number of sea turtle nests is decreasing year by year. Satsuki, the protagonist who wants to protect them, seems to project her own complicated upbringing onto the hatchlings.
It carefully depicts the delicate, fluctuating emotions of a middle school student.

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Protecting traditions and nature

Traditions like Hagi ware, disappearing wildlife, and the history of war that is fading away. This work is themed around things that must be passed down.
While reading, you naturally feel that you don't want any of it to disappear.

Living life to the fullest in the present

The protagonists in every story were trying their best, wanting to find some pride in their work. These stories all made me think about what it means to find fulfillment. My own work might be plain and seem to have no future. Even while harboring such anxieties, they do what they can right now with all their might.
It is a book that makes you feel a little more positive.

Every single story was good.
They were stories that ended quietly, yet left a sense of hope.
Although it is fiction, it seems the author did extensive research on each region and with experts, so it conveys the current situation well.

I had been curious about it, so I'm glad I was able to read it.
Even though there are no major plot twists or shocking developments, there is a sense of satisfaction after reading it.

Thank you for reading until the end 😊