I've Grown Fond of Hiragana. | Creative Awards Impressions
I read the entire series of Ayano Ly's entry for the All-Category Division, "Hooked on Hiragana." I was excited by the novel approach of observing "irohanihoheto" one character at a time.
Ly's perspective is very gentle. For example, in the first installment about "i," there is this passage.
Do I usually write "i" with this much care? When was the last time I properly wrote an "i"?
Is it common to feel such affection for a single hiragana character? I write a handwritten diary, but since I'm scribbling, I treat the characters quite carelessly. As for hiragana, I write them in a flowing, rushed manner. My struggle is that I write them so fast that I can't even decipher them myself.
Regarding "ro," Ly offers this observation.
I thought "ro" was quite cute, but it seems it's not just cute; it might be a character that truly has a core of its own.
Finding a core in the character "ro" is a perspective unique to Ly. It's interesting. I quite like "ro" for being more than just cute, too.
I couldn't help but laugh at the observation that "he" is rock and roll. Now that it's mentioned, it really might be rock. I don't think I can think of any other hiragana that expands horizontally like "he" does.
Among "i," "ro," "ha," "ni," "ho," "he," and "to," the one I liked best was "to." Compared to the explanations of the other characters, it feels like a healing type. If I'm not careful, I might even feel a sense of tolerance from it. If I had a friend or lover like "to," my heart might feel instantly at ease.
They don't say much, but just having them come and sit beside you brings peace of mind. I want someone like "to" to always be by my side.
I truly think so. "To" seems like the essential person who connects an organization. I find myself nodding along to Ly's explanation.
Looking at them one character at a time like this, hiragana somehow look cute and endearing. Before I knew it, I had grown fond of the characters themselves.