Let's Play in the Back Alley

It seems the number of note residents has finally exceeded 10 million.

I couldn't quite grasp how many 10 million people actually are, so I looked it up and found that it'sa little more than the population of the 23 wards of Tokyo.

I was surprised to realize that meeting someone on note has about the same probability as running into someone by chance in the city center.

In that city of note, there are people who enjoy creating under the hashtag #WhatAreYouTalkingAbout.

Commonly known as the "Back Alley".

With 700 residents of the back alley, or "Roji-urers,"I looked that up too, and it seems to be about the same number as the actors in the famous Shiki Theatre Company.

Just imagine it.

The probability that you move to Tokyo from the countryside, don't know your way around, and happen to meet someone who is an actor in the Shiki Theatre Company.

It feels like quite an amazing miracle.

And when I talk to people I've connected with, it's common to hear things like, "Actually, I'm an actor at Shiki too."

It makes me feel like everyone who uses note is a Roji-urer.

Recently, 99 of them brought their works together and published four e-books. It's an anthology made by 100 people including the readers, featuring essays, novels, and anything else.

*I am not participating in the Amazon Associates program.

I truly have no idea what this is about.
And I have also had my name included as an author of this book.
Still, I have no idea what this is about.

At the center of this is Mr. Konishi Kinoko.

Turning points arrive in life.

Entering higher education. Finding employment. Marriage. Childbirth. And so on.

Such turning points always involve a meeting or a parting.

A year ago, I met Mr. Konishi, and my life reached a major turning point.

Until then, I had no connection to writing or social media, but now I am involved in publishing four books, and as a 'Rojiura-er' (back-alley dweller), I enjoy writing every day in the back alleys of the Note town.

It can truly be called a turning point.

◇◇◇

My first impression of Mr. Konishi was that he was one of the top 'Noters' (as it appeared to me), with many followers and interacting with various people in the comments. His unique, witty writing style is interesting, and it certainly makes you want to ask, 'What are you talking about?'

I timidly chanted the spell '#WhatAreYouTalkingAbout' (#なんのはなしですか), and I was simply overjoyed when he actually came to collect it and gave me a comment.

And on Mondays, he gathers all the '#WhatAreYouTalkingAbout' works written by Rojiura-ers and features them in the form of a newsletter. This was the first time I was featured.

I took screenshots of the comments Mr. Konishi gave me and the mentions of myself in the newsletter, looking back at them many times, and they became an encouragement to keep writing.

I have even missed my stop at the station nearest to my office while reading the newsletter on the commuter train.

Like an elementary school student looking forward to Jump every week, I became absorbed in 'What Are You Talking About,' and to me, Mr. Konishi was my idol, Akira Toriyama.

◇◇◇

The turning point that led to that came from Sunou Honda.

“I want to publish an e-book in the back alley. Konishi-san gave me the go-ahead, but could I consult with you on how to proceed?”

I received that message in October 2024.

Thinking back now, why did she consult me? At the time, I wasn't particularly close with Konishi-san, and I was writing even more reckless (or perhaps unhinged?) and playful articles than I do now.

Even so.

There is no doubt that this first step by Sunou-san involved various people and caused the back alley to change rapidly.

Konishi-san defines the mission, vision, and values of “Nan no Hanashi desu ka” as follows.

The Mission of “Nan no Hanashi desu ka”

The Vision of “Nan no Hanashi desu ka”

Values of "What are you talking about?"

Click here for details↓↓↓

Indeed, this past year we have acted in accordance with our mission, vision, and values.

People might call this "doing things on the fly."

|However|

In the first place, there is never anything that goes exactly according to plan.

Having a fixed goal and moving toward it is weak.
If you do that, you will stop immediately when you encounter difficulties.

I don't know what it is, but it looks interesting, so let's go that way.

Such curiosity, a spirit of challenge, and recklessness are what spark innovation.

And, most challenges do not go well.

But even if you fail, by writing about it in a funny way, everything settles down just fine.

Back alleys are interesting.

It's a place that lets you keep fooling around, tells you that you don't have to try so hard, and forgives everything.

Even though it looks like the place furthest away from the idea of "let's live properly," in the end, it's actually the closest to "living properly."

After all, there are 700 people. It's like the Shiki Theatre Company.

People carrying all sorts of thoughts and all sorts of lives are gathered here.

That is precisely why there are joys and sorrows here; it's not just about fun things, and there will be times when we clash or lose something.

But if we can find even that amusing, look at each other and ask, "What are you talking about?" and share a light laugh.

Even if you say from the bottom of your heart, "You saved me," if you can be brushed off with a "What are you talking about?" and let your guard down.

I think there is nothing more blissful than that.

I don't know where this back alley is heading or how long it will continue.

Even so...

That is precisely why.

I want to enjoy this very moment to the fullest.

Now everyone, please join me!

What are you talking about?

I actually intended to talk about this at the e-book publication party on the 13th, but I'm sure I'll end up crying that day, so I wrote it now.

To everyone who always plays with us, thank you.

To everyone who entrusted us with their precious works for the release of this e-book, thank you.

To everyone who took the initiative to help organize the party, thank you.

And to Konishi-san and Sunou-san.

Thank you so much for sharing this special time with us.

Let's keep doing plenty of fun things together.