Nobuko Takagi's 'Hotohoto' taught me that acceptance is enough.

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'Hotohoto'
Nobuko Takagi

"Please enjoy it."

I picked up the book that was introduced to me with those gentle words.

"Please enjoy it."

Have I ever introduced a book to someone else with those words?

"I think it's probably interesting. Sorry if it's not."

"I'm not sure if you'll actually be able to read it, but..."

"I'm not sure if it's to your taste, but just in case..."

I feel like these are the main lines I use when introducing books to people.

When I put it into words, I understand clearly that my life has been devoid of book-loving people around me. Somewhere, I am desperately defending myself, not trusting others and ensuring I don't get hurt by their responses.

Because showing someone what I like is like showing them the inside of my heart, and I feel that a rejection of the book is a rejection of myself. Moreover, the act of reading a book takes up time.

So, these are words born from my many years of experience, and I don't particularly want to deny them. After all, I am scared somewhere deep down.

But this time, when I was told "Please enjoy it," my heart felt very happy. It felt like I was being told to face the book properly, rather than worrying about what others might think. It is a phrase that assumes reading, and I also felt trusted.

In the first place, when I ask someone to introduce a book to me, it's because I have an affection for them, and there are times when I ask for a book recommendation because I want to know their inner self.

It is quite brazen of me to ask others so easily when I would be scared if asked the same.

And that applies regardless of gender.

Reading a book that someone I am interested in likes is also a way to know a part of them. I believe that they exist while being influenced to some extent by that context, worldview, and philosophy.

Thinking about it that way, I feel like there is a connection in the other worlds I create, even if we don't meet.

And that expands the world of literary expression that will come to me in the future, allowing me to think of a new self.

I like that repetition.
I still want to take it easy.

This time, "Please enjoy it," made turning the pages very enjoyable. It might be simple, but for the first time in a while, I was able to immerse myself in the story honestly without any distracting thoughts.

Before you know it, you don't even realize you've become the protagonist of a story in your daily life.

Even if people's emotions and feelings are pointed in the same direction, they never perfectly align and pass from beginning to end.

But humans conveniently want to create stories by projecting only what they want to remember onto seasons, objects, plants, and living things. And there are times when you want to delve into the thoughts that dwell there when thinking about something.

From the other person's perspective, facts are not facts, and they show a different side. What you thought was good might be bad.

This is something I, being an opportunist, can relate to immensely. My answers just keep becoming more and more selfish.

The story lets us read about misunderstandings and regrets that once existed through interactions with the dead, and through things and events that make us feel the daily life and the seasons.

What exists there, I think, is not a solution or a conflict, but acceptance.

There are many people I want to meet again, and if those people dwell in something, I have mountains of things I want to say.

But that might be a thought that has changed selfishly, or it might just be a memory.

That is fine to accept as it is. If they dwell in something and are teaching me by having me think of them, even as they change with time, I thought the important thing is to not overlook that something and to think of them layered upon it.

Thinking that way, the stories that make tears well up also became enjoyable.

In conclusion, "Please enjoy it," gave me a realization. I cannot turn back the time that has passed, but I can create the time that will pass from now on. I decided to open my heart head-on to feeling something.

Whatever I think about a book is correct, and the world of creation can connect anywhere. How I express that is also free.

I decided I would try to open my heart a little and introduce things to people. Let's be a little more open to books and people.

What are you talking about? I hope to have many dwellings to inhabit, to enter them as much as possible, and to just be careful not to be forcibly evicted for non-payment. I will return things properly. Sometimes a little extra. I think repeating this is fine.