Abstract

While the spectacular views are not bad to see in a line, I was moved by the attitude of listening to the breathing of the people living there and interacting with the land.　Naoki Matayoshi

In this masterpiece nonfiction essay, the author of the much-talked-about “Drive-In Exploration” traces the footsteps of Japan's modern era by touring “sightseeing spots” in various regions. The author's essays explore the meaning of travel, life, history, the world, and living.

What do we see in a spectacular view?
Our eyes are accustomed to seeing spectacular scenery. No matter how beautiful the view is, it is rare for us to gaze at it for an hour or two, and after admiring it for a while, we usually take a picture and leave. Are we really looking at the scenery?　When we stop and look at a spectacular view, we can see it. By listening carefully, we can hear voices. Such chance encounters are filled with “small unknowns. Somewhere out there, there is someone who is living a life different from mine. To imagine someone like that is to try to touch the world, and I think that is what “tourism” is all about. (From “Afterword”)

Author’s Information

Born in Higashihiroshima City in 1982. Writer. His books include "Drive-in Exploration" (Chikuma Bunko), "Market Neighborhood: The People of Naha City's First Makishi Public Market", "Secondhand Bookstores in Tokyo", "And the Market Continues: Visiting the Small Towns of Naha" (all published by Book Magazine Co.), and "Minna Island Revisited" (Kodansha).