I want to read the second volume. And the original work, too.
A 40-minute drive from home. I'm going to eat mazesoba.
On the way back, I stopped by a bookstore nearby.
The name of that bookstore is Bessho Shoten.
While driving for work, I spotted a utility pole advertisement that said "Bessho Shoten." How many bookstores are there these days that can afford to put up advertisements like that?
In the rural town where I live, there are almost no large bookstores left. Even the few somewhat large bookstores that remain are gradually shrinking their book sections, while sections for capsule toys, stationery, miscellaneous goods, and board games are increasingly expanding their influence. Even if I don't say books only, there are no longer any bookstores in the neighborhood that fill an entire floor with just books and CDs.
Amidst all that, a utility pole advertisement for "Bessho Shoten."
This must be a large bookstore. My heart swelled with anticipation.
I parked my car in the parking lot. Several other cars were already parked there. It seems to be reasonably popular. The store has a simple, rectangular exterior that looks like it could be built with Lego, based on white, with a design featuring light blue lines. It's probably a pale blue that has faded over time rather than the original blue. In the upper right of the line, the characters for "Bessho Shoten" look like they are about to bounce using the animation function in PowerPoint. It seems to represent my expectations.
When I finally went inside, there were fluorescent lights that weren't LEDs (I'm not sure), a quiet store even though there were people, and as far as the eye could see, books, books, books... There were no capsule toys or stationery, just a space filling an entire floor with books.
This is it! This! This is a large bookstore!
For some reason, it was a nostalgic feeling, as if I had returned to the Heisei era.
I walked around the store to look at everything. It had a classic layout: magazines, self-help books, paperbacks organized by publisher, and hardcovers organized by genre. It's robust.
However, this Bessho Shoten still has true hidden potential.
There is also a second floor!
In the city, places like Maruzen, TSUTAYA, and Kinokuniya might be taken for granted. But, as I keep saying, there are no large bookstores left in rural areas. A bookstore with a second floor is precious beyond words!
I climbed the stairs and headed to the second floor.
There, manga, CDs, and children's books were lined up. The audacity to throw in the playfulness of CDs at this point. I am in awe, Bessho Shoten. You are like the assistant shogun of old, awe-inspiring indeed.
While flashing that metaphorical seal of authority, I headed further into the back of the second floor. There, Bessho Shoten's true, true potential still remained. It was specialized books. Many specialized books with niche content were sitting there. If I could give even one example of what kind of specialized books were there, it would have more depth, but I don't remember at all. Anyway, there are many specialized books that look reasonably difficult. Since my academic ability is nowhere near enough to understand them, you clever people who are curious should stop by Bessho Shoten again and check for yourselves.
Including the second floor, while there is the playfulness of CDs, the floor area is honestly too large for just books. I was expecting a bookstore that fills an entire floor with books, but this is going too far. Bessho Shoten.
I didn't really intend to buy any books this time and was just planning to take a look, but I bought one manga.
Original work by Kaho Nashiki, manga by Yoko Kondo, "Yamori Kitan (Vol. 1)"
It was in a section with a name that had the nuance of "a corner for manga that is hard to categorize." There was a pop sign placed there that said, "This is a manga you don't want to speed-read, but want to read slowly. Whether you have read the original work or not, you will enter a loop where you will want to read it alternately with the original work" (this is also the nuance). This somehow really caught my attention. Since it also came with a postcard-style bonus, it was sealed in plastic, so I couldn't read it in the store. But I was somehow curious. Honestly, it's not a cheap price, so I hesitated to buy it without knowing the contents. Moreover, it's a two-volume set.
However, I came all the way to Bessho Shoten.
Just go for it!!
For now, I only bought the first volume. (Cowardly)
...And now, after reading it.
That's why this note continues.
I have completely fallen into Bessho Shoten's trap.
I'm sure I'll drive 40 minutes to go there again soon. How terrifying, Bessho Shoten.
The end
p.s.
More on "Yamori Kitan" once I finish reading it.