"Tsumidemic" Reading Impressions Record July 7
Yuto, who dropped out of university and works a part-time job as a tout. A woman appears there claiming to be the name of a classmate who should have died in junior high school... "Birds of a Different Feather." Hayato, a first-grade son, comes home with an old 10,000 yen bill, saying he "got it from an old man in the neighborhood." Kyoichi, a former cook, makes his specialty clear soup and visits the old man... "Special Beneficiary." A collection of short stories that captures the fleeting sins of people living through the COVID-19 pandemic.
⚪️ "For some reason, I thought I would write down those days that I never want to experience again."
I bought the paperback book because I really wanted the bookmark with a handwritten comment by Michi Ichiho that comes with the first edition distribution.
A collection of crime short stories that depicts the moments when people cross the line due to a sudden choice amidst the pressures of reality that can happen to anyone, such as cracks in work, family, and neighborhood relationships.
The "suffocation" felt while living in the modern age, the signs of crime lurking in daily life, the social sense of stagnation, and the swaying of human psychology—the content is full of things that could happen to me while reading.
A single word that the person probably said without any malice, misunderstandings and jealousy piling up in places I don't know, turning into great resentment... Even a word that I wouldn't have thought badly of if I had room in my heart, depending on my mental state at that time, I might take it the wrong way.
It was a novel that made me feel "fear" in many ways.
What left a particularly strong impression was "Special Beneficiary."
I felt the warmth of humanity in Mr. Satake's words to Kyoichi, "Do your best."
The impact of the pandemic was so great that it remains vivid in my memory even now.
The anxiety and fear caused by the infection itself, the stress caused by isolation and behavioral restrictions, the social anxiety and confusion caused by information, the leakage of personal information of infected people and slander on the internet, the prejudice and discrimination caused by it, the increase in suicides, the delay in academics and internet addiction caused by behavioral restrictions and school closures, the decline in cognitive function of the elderly caused by restricted activities... I realized belatedly that Ichiho-san left this short story collection to ensure we do not forget the dark feelings affected by such changes in the times and the pandemic.
On the other hand, after experiencing the pandemic, there were changes in my own life. I feel that compared to before, the time spent at home has increased, and it has become easier to secure time for communication with family, hobbies, and self-improvement. Infection control measures have also been incorporated into daily life, and gargling, hand washing, and masks have become indispensable. It is important to protect yourself, but in this information-overloaded modern age, it was also content that made me feel that I want to be able to judge the surrounding situation calmly, such as what is true and what is fake.
I want to make sure I don't forget these thoughts.