Reading Diary: 'I Can See Beijing from My Kitchen' - Meeting this book inspired me to start studying Chinese

I was so moved by the unexpectedly large number of 'likes' on my first post!
After that, I felt so much pressure about what to write next that I couldn't bring myself to upload anything (sweat).
But I am so happy that you read it!
I think everyone who keeps writing is amazing.


I want to talk about the book that (will likely be) the most memorable one of 2023 for me.
I've always loved books, but I especially prefer finding the books I want to read at a bookstore, and this was a book I happened to find at a bookstore as well.

'I Can See Beijing from My Kitchen: My Chinese Studies Started at 36'
By Nobuko Nagasawa, Chikuma Bunko

Among the shelves lined with paperback books, this one happened to be displayed with its cover facing out, and my eyes were drawn to the word 'Beijing,' the illustration on the book, and the book band.
'It's never too late to start learning a language; a masterpiece that ignites the learner's motivation'

The phrase 'it's never too late to start.' I love that.

Encouraged by phrases like this, I have often studied English (I've bought quite a few textbooks, at least) and Korean.
Even so, I ran out of steam along the way... and if asked, 'Are you fluent?', I can't say 'Yes' at my current level.
Although I had never thought about studying Chinese, I bought this immediately on intuition.

It was an amazing book.

Nagasawa-san's passion for Chinese language study and her unconventional study methods are brilliant

The author, Nobuko Nagasawa. This book tells the story of her rare and incredible experiences: starting to learn Chinese at 37 while raising children as a housewife, attending nursing school in her 40s, obtaining a practical nurse license, deepening her learning and experience to work as a Chinese interpreter and travel guide, publishing her own books, and even opening a language school.
It was a story about how one housewife, by learning Chinese, went beyond being just a housewife and greatly expanded her network, range of activities, and career.

Nagasawa-san seemed to have thought from early on in her parenting that while she loved raising her children, they shouldn't be her entire world, and she wanted to have something she could devote herself to and be independent even after her children were grown.
And despite the difficult times of raising children, she put that thought into action.
I felt the spirit of wanting to live with something that ignites one's heart, and I read it while being completely drawn in.

Once she had a dream and started taking action, she would do everything she could think of... Nagasawa-san's study methods were also creative.
For example, while it is common to go to a language school to study Chinese, she placed tape recorders all over her house to listen to them whenever she moved, or bought five dictionaries and placed them around the house to look at them whenever she could and write on vocabulary cards; it was an eye-opener.
I had never even thought of buying five copies of the same dictionary, which are quite expensive, let alone different types.

I realized that Nagasawa-san could do this because she clearly understood what she valued, her dreams, and her goals.
That's why she had no hesitation about what to focus her time and money on.
At this point, I was just... wow... so moved.

I have read various books on methods for achieving dreams, such as first visualizing dreams and goals, then breaking down tasks using backcasting or chunking...
But when someone like Nagasawa-san speaks specifically about her own experiences, it hits home even more, and you have a sudden realization that goes beyond understanding and leads straight to being moved!
It stirs the heart.

Aiming to kill two birds with one stone by working and studying to fund continued learning

As her Chinese studies progressed, Nagasawa-san thought, 'I want to earn money to study.'
She looked for a way to kill two birds with one stone: getting paid while working and also earning a qualification.
She discovered that nursing school could make that happen.
Nagasawa-san was in her 40s at the time. Her children were still in school. Normally, one might give up due to age...
Even so, Nagasawa-san began a life cycle of going to school in the morning, working at a hospital in the afternoon, and returning home in the evening to do housework. And she brilliantly achieved her goal by obtaining the qualification.
I can only say that it is amazing.

I wondered what kind of passionate, strong-willed person Nagasawa-san must have been, but I also imagined that it must have been because she felt the joy of learning, the enthusiasm for her goal, and the realization that she was growing through her experiences.

The doors of life that open when you study and take action

Nagasawa-san studied Chinese during the time around the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, a period when history was changing significantly, and she worked in various roles such as an interpreter, travel guide, and columnist.
I felt the development and speed at which the doors of her life were opening one after another as her Chinese proficiency improved.
It felt like both she was pushing them open and they were opening from the other side.

I am in my 50s now. I am at the halfway point of my life, so I am long past the age of 37 when Nagasawa-san started learning Chinese, but I still read it intently, thinking that there must be something I can imitate, because 'it is never too late to start something.'

I want to live a life like that too

Nagasawa-san must have studied for a considerable amount of time—that's the prerequisite for language learning—and when I think about that, the road ahead seems so long that I feel like losing heart, but since I went to the trouble of reading this book, I thought it would be a waste to end it feeling down.

So,
Thinking about the fun of imitating Nagasawa-san's creativity—like 'Oh, I can buy as many dictionaries as I want!' or 'It's okay to put tape recorders everywhere'—lightly ignited my own desire to study.
I could imagine myself studying, and I felt happy and chuckled (laughs).

I had a wonderful time in Shanghai a few years ago, so I wanted to go again, and I also thought I wanted to be able to watch Chinese dramas I want to see without subtitles.

Changing the subject, I lent this book to a friend who said they 'wanted to read it,' and they immediately started studying Chinese.
This was a surprise, as this friend usually has no interest in the books I read.
After all, it really does have that kind of power. This book.
Since I found a study partner first, I have also just started studying Chinese (using the smartphone app Duolingo).

I am grateful for this encounter

I sincerely hope that by knowing about this book, Nagasawa-san's charm will be conveyed to as many people as possible.
I would be happy if it could be a hint to boost the motivation of those who, like me, have studied a language several times but haven't reached their target level, yet still want to try again.
Even if it's not about language study, learning about Nagasawa-san's writing and life, and knowing about China through her eyes, is the real thrill of this book.

I also looked for other books by Nagasawa-san.
Some are out of print, but I was able to borrow one from the library.

'After Five for Housewives: When the Continuation of a Dream Comes True'
By Nobuko Nagasawa, published by Shufu no Tomo

This is a collection of short essays, and I was able to touch upon Nagasawa-san's witty charm through conversations at lunch with alumni and her answers to consultations sent to her, which was another great stimulus.
I truly think she was a very wonderful woman.

Unfortunately, I found out that Nagasawa-san has already passed away, but I am truly glad I encountered her books.

Encounters aren't just with people who are alive, are they.
I hope that good encounters are being born here and there today as well.

This has become long, but thank you for reading to the end.

🌟 February 7, 2024 Update:
Smartphone Classroom KAZIRU Official Note recommended this article.
Thank you!
https://note.com/kaziru/m/m85b446e00d7e