Waseda WeeklyWaseda Weekly

I was touched to find a book that resonated with my feelings.

Please tell us what got you into reading.

Takemoto: I've read picture books ever since I was little, but after reading the entire Harry Potter series (Seizansha) in the third grade of elementary school, I started reading fantasy novels. Next, I got hooked on historical novels, and I've read a wide range of other things, including science fiction short stories, detective stories, pure literature, and light novels. In my third year of high school, I fell in love with the works of Oe Kenzaburo, and I wanted to study him at university, which is where I am today.

Maeda-san

Maeda: I've loved books since I was little, and apparently my mother would read me picture books until my jaw nearly dropped (laughs). When I was in the third grade of elementary school, I read the entire "Arsène V Lupin Collection" (Kaiseisha), which made me realize how fascinating reading was, and I started trying my hand at all kinds of books. I like fantasy, such as Ono Fuyumi's "Twelve Kingdoms" series (Shinchosha) and Abe Chisato 's "Yatagarasu" series (Bungeishunju), as well as mysteries, academic books, and classics.

Seto: I was always obsessed with sports and lived a life unrelated to books. However, after I retired from club activities in the fall of my third year of high school and got accepted into a university through recommendation, I suddenly had a lot more free time. I felt hesitant to hang out alone while everyone around me was studying hard for their entrance exams, so I thought the only thing I could do was read! The first book I came across was Morioka Takeshi's "Let's Talk About Hard Times" (Diamond Inc.). I was moved by the gentle writing style of Morioka's letters to his daughter, which sympathized with the loneliness he felt as the only one suffering from burnout, and I became hooked on reading.

Each person has their own reading rules

How do you choose the books you read?

Seto: I use the website "Book Meter," where many people write their book reviews, as a reference. I often choose from authors who write commentaries on the books they've read, or who leave comments on the book jackets.

Takemoto-san

Takemoto: On the contrary, I'm the type who likes to follow my intuition. In fact, the first time I read a work by Oe Kenzaburo, it was because he had the same face as my math teacher, whom I really hated.

Maeda and Seto: Face!?

Takemoto: To get revenge on him for scolding me, I wanted to see what was going on in his mind, so I decided to read books by people who looked like him (laughs). Well, choosing books based on their faces is unusual, and I often buy books based on the cover. Even in fields I know nothing about, I often come across interesting books.

Maeda: I choose intuitively based on the title. Sometimes I choose books by my favorite authors, such as Ono Fuyumi or Takemoto Kenji, but most of the time I just choose randomly without thinking about it.

Do you have any rules for reading?

Takemoto: I choose a genre and read only that genre for three weeks. For three weeks I read only science fiction novels, and for the next three weeks I read detective novels... I'm holding my own internal fair. This is influenced by the author Oe Kenzaburo.

Seto-san

Seto: After I read a book, I make it a point to write my thoughts on "Book Meter." I think it would be great if someone else could discover a new book after reading my thoughts.

Maeda: I often read a variety of books at the same time. I like to browse all the floors of a bookstore, buy about five books in different genres, and read them a little at a time over the course of a week or two. Even if I read five books at the same time, they're all in different genres so I don't get confused, and I can read them all with a fresh feeling until the very end.

Three book lovers introduce their favorite books

Please tell us what you recommend about your favorite book.

[Maeda's book] "The Neverending Story" by Michael Ende / Translated by Ueda Masako, Iwanami Shoten

Maeda: When I was in elementary school, I read "Momo" (Iwanami Shoten) by the same author, which prompted me to pick up this book. I was attracted by the title, but I was also drawn to the setting, in which the reader is drawn into the world inside the book. Each chapter has a different worldview, and it was a discovery to discover that a novel like this existed. It is a book that offers a unique reading experience, different in nature from light novel fantasy. I also like that the text is beautifully printed in two colors and the binding is very elaborate.

Takemoto: The first work by Oe Kenzaburo I picked up was a full-length novel called "Contemporary Game" (Shinchosha), but I had no idea what it was about, and for the first time in my reading life, I gave up. But I thought that a short story might offer clues to understanding it, so I started reading "The Luxuries of the Dead." The story is about a university student who is told he has a part-time job with good hourly wages, and when he goes to do it, he finds out he's moving corpses to another aquarium. It's a work that allows you to experience both the ordinary and the extraordinary at the same time. It's a story that could happen to university students today, where a high hourly wage lures you into taking a shady part-time job. You can also sense the passage of time, as a similar perspective existed around 70 years ago when this work was written.

[Seto's book] "Fifty People" by Jeong Serang / Translated by Saito Mariko, Aki Shobo

Seto: I picked it up after TV producer Nobuyuki Sakuma recommended it on a YouTube channel called "Shuppan-ku." As the title suggests, it's a story about 50 people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds, but I'm sure there's a character in it that you can relate to. The writing is very easy to read, and there are words that will resonate with each reader, so I recommend it even to people who don't usually read.

Books are your allies that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Finally, please give us a message about the appeal of reading.

Seto: I think there are many people who have experienced failure and setbacks and have given up, thinking, "I'm no good." I would like those people to read this book. There are authors out there who express your pain in the perfect words, and the emotion you feel when you come across such a book is immeasurable. What's more, it also describes how to deal with that pain, so reading this book will become a life experience and I think it will be a catalyst for changing your values and actions.

At Toyama Campus Building No.33

Interview and text: Kyoko Suemitsu (Graduated from School of Science and Engineering in 1998)
Photography: Nanako Ono

student club that Takemoto, Maeda, and Seto, who we interviewed this time, belong to are listed below. Be sure to check out the events at Waseda Festival 2025!

[Waseda University Contemporary Literature Society]
X: @genbun_second
Instagram: @genbun_e515

[Waseda Literary Association]
X: @wasebun
Instagram: @wase_bun

*Click to enlarge

Wasebun Shobo
■ November 1st (Sat) and 2nd (Sun) 10:00-17:00 (until 16:00 on the 2nd)
Toyama Campus Building No. 32, Room 228
We will be selling the club magazine "Rafugaki," which features novels and poems written by club members, and introducing books recommended by club members.

[Book Portal]
Website: https://www.wcoop.ne.jp/bookportal/index.html
X: @bookportal
Instagram: @bookportal_waseda

*Click to enlarge

"Book Prescription"
■November 1st (Sat) 10:00-17:00
■ Waseda Campus Building No.16 Room 304
student club members will open a bookstore where they can deliver a carefully selected book. This is a unique initiative that brings together Book Portal and the Co-op Book Center. Each prescription contains the wishes of each student club member, such as who they would like to read it for and what mood they would be in. We have increased the number of books available from last year, and we hope to provide many people with wonderful encounters through books, so please come and visit us!

Toyama Library 3rd floor study room

We asked them about their favorite books, their stories of when they read them, and what makes them recommended. Let's find a book that interests you!

"The Woman in the Purple Skirt" by  Imamura Natsuko, published by Asahi Shimbun Publications/Asahi Bunko

I have checked out works that have won the Akutagawa Prize and the Naoki Prize, and picked up this one because it was nominated for the Akutagawa Prize. The story revolves around a woman who obsessively observes a woman in a purple skirt, and the sense of incongruity and madness in everyday life is written in a matter-of-fact style. The quiet eeriness is striking and it is one of my favorites. This work prompted me to read all of Imamura Natsuko's works. I think the best part of a novel is that it changes the way you see reality after reading it, and all of Imamura's works have that feeling and are interesting. (1st year School of Culture, Media and Society)

"Learning Linguistics" by Chino Eiichi, published by Chikuma Shobo/Chikuma Gakugei Bunko

Chino Eiichi, a renowned Czech linguist, provides very easy-to-understand explanations of linguistic fields and scholars aimed at beginners. He also lists recommended books for each explanation, making it easy to study. The content is not difficult, so anyone with an interest in linguistics should find it interesting. The book was written in 2002 and has been reorganized in recent years, so it is not up-to-date, but it explains the universal foundations of modern linguistics, making it a very useful book. (Third-year student in the School of School of Fundamental Science and Engineering)

"The Most Transparent Story in the World" by Sugii Hikaru, published by Shinchosha/Shincho Bunko Shincho Bunko nex

The story is a light mystery. What attracted me most was that it can only be read in print. I think many people read e-books, but I hope this book will inspire them to try reading in print. (1st year School of International Liberal Studies)

"Life Kinetik(R) The World's Most Advanced Method for Brain Activation" by Horst Lutz / Translated by Shigeta Kaori, published by Diamond Publishing

It contains important ways of living and stretching exercises to activate the brain. I came across this book when I was torn between wanting to always move forward and wanting things to stay the same, which made me indecisive and made me feel like I was missing out on good opportunities. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to be reborn as a new person, or who believes they still have something to offer. (4th year School of Political Science and Economics)

"The Miracle of the Ghost Theme Park" by Mokusei Ako, published by KADOKAWA /Kadokawa Horror Bunko

The story is about the protagonist, a "ghost hospitality attendant" who is in charge of the ghosts that appear at an amusement park. It's a mysterious yet heartwarming story, and it's easy to read because it's not scary like a horror movie. The descriptions are detailed and beautiful, so I think anyone who likes Disney will love it. (1st year School of Social Sciences)

"Night and Fog (New Edition)" by Viktor E. Frankl / Translated by Ikeda Kayoko, published by Misuzu Shobo

I came across this book when I needed to face the question, "Can people find meaning in life no matter what the circumstances?" Based on the author's own experiences at the Auschwitz concentration camp, the book calmly yet powerfully describes how people maintained their human dignity and did not lose hope even in extreme circumstances, and every word carries weight. In particular, the perspective that "the meaning of life changes depending on the situation, but does not necessarily disappear" gave me the strength to face difficulties. (1st year Master's student, Graduate School of Education)

"What she likes is homosexuality, not me" by Asahara Naoto published by KADOKAWA/Kadokawa Bunko

By naming and categorizing things, and treating small and rare things as if they don't exist, we are simplifying our perception of the world, and I felt as if a world I hadn't seen before had opened up to me. The main character is a fan of the rock band Queen, and there are scenes where she listens to their songs and reminisces, and each chapter uses a Queen song as its title. This book got me started listening to Queen, and I became a fan myself. (Third year School of Humanities and Social Sciences)

"On the Shortness of Life and Two Other Essays" by Seneca / Translated by Nakazawa Tsutomu, published by Kobunsha / Kobunsha Classics New Translation Library

This is a philosophical work by Seneca, an ancient Roman Stoic scholar. As it is practical philosophy, it is easy to read and does not contain abstract arguments. "You should not use your time for the evaluation of others, and being busy does not necessarily mean fulfillment. If you give away your time to others, your life will become shorter, so when necessary, retreat to leisure and devote yourself to learning for your own sake." Seneca makes this assertive argument using beautiful rhetoric with couplets. While there is a lot of talk about diversity, in reality, stereotypes of "being like" and biased social demands are flooding in, causing modern people to lose sight of their own lives. The philosopher's proud ideals for living one's true life resonate across 2,000 years. (2nd year School of Law)

"The House Where the Mermaid Sleeps" by Higashino Keigo, published by Gentosha/Gentosha Bunko

It was the first Higashino Keigo work I read when I received it from my father as a high school student. As I read on, I came across ethical issues and the fraying (?) love between parent and child, and there were some heartbreaking scenes. I was also impressed by the precision of Higashino Keigo's plot (I read it at the time without knowing it had been made into a movie...). (Third year School of International Liberal Studies)

"Uncool Management - Team DeNA's Challenge" by Namba Tomoko, published by Nikkei BPM (Nikkei Publishing Division)

I read it because my favorite person recommended it. Rather than being a glittering success story of a business owner, it was a down-to-earth story of how Namba-san has managed to get to where he is today despite failures and hardships, and I found it very interesting. (1st year, School of Commerce)

"Two Travelers on the Taiwan Railway" by Yang Jiangjiang / Translated by Miura Yuko, published by Chuokoron-Shinsha

I borrowed it from Gender and Sexuality Center and read it. It's set in Taiwan, which was under Japanese colonial rule, and tells the story of a Taiwanese and a Japanese woman. It features a variety of Taiwanese dishes, and it explores the relationship between colony and colonial power, the position of women at the time, and much more, making it not only entertaining but also thought-provoking. As it's set as a book written by a fictional author, the mix of fact and fiction can be confusing, but that's also what makes it so appealing. (2nd year School of Culture, Media and Society)

"Galois - The Life of a Genius Mathematician" by Fumimoto Kato, published by KADOKAWA/Kadokawa Sophia Bunko

The best thing about this book is that it helps you understand the meaning of studying mathematics. The main topic is about the life of the mathematician Galois, but at the same time, it also helps you understand what modern mathematics is striving for and what it is doing, making it the perfect book for anyone studying mathematics. (1st year master's student Graduate School of Fundamental Science and Engineering)

"Today is a good day" by Harada Maha published by Tokuma Shoten/Tokuma Bunko

I first read it in the fall of my second year of high school. At the time, I just thought it was a lovely romance novel. The second time I read it was in the spring of my third year of university. I realized it was a book that would give me hints when I hit a wall. If I read it again when I was older, it would surely give me an opportunity to think about my career. It's a book that's interesting no matter how many times I read it, and I highly recommend it! (Third year School of Human Sciences)

"sashMeal"by Nukaga Mio, published by Shogakukan/ Shogakukan Bunko

I love the Hakone Ekiden and participated in track and field in elementary school. I also read a lot of novels related to track and field in junior high and high school, but this work left a particularly strong impression on me. What makes it so recommended is that it connects the mind with cooking. No matter how out of shape a person's body is, they still eat food. That's how essential cooking is to humans, and this work expresses the power of food in a very subtle and pure way, and it's impressive to see how the clumsy protagonist's heart changes through cooking. The dishes that appear in the novel are also very delicious. I have actually made many of the dishes that appear in the novel, and even now, some eight years after reading it, those dishes are still on my dinner table every day. (Third-year School of Sport Sciences)

[Next Focus Preview] "School Festival Special" to be released on Monday, October 27th