I wish Miyazaki will win the Nobel Prize for Literature someday.

I was attending a party at the Hotel New Otani in Tokyo, and a former student Miyazawa came to the venue. He had become slim.

Miyazawa graduated from the English Literature department of the University of Tokyo, and is writing novels now.

During our chat, I said that I felt that humanism was lacking in typical Japanese works these days and said that Albert Camus, whom I was reading at the moment, was different. 

Miyazawa said that you couldn't compare contemporary Japanese authors with Albert Camus. We then chatted on about Motoyuki Shibata and Haruki Murakami, and parted our ways.

Back on Tokyo streets, I was reflecting on the Miyazawa comment. I did not mean because Albert Camus was a great figure in world literature, a Nobel laureate, contemporary Japanese authors are no comparison. 

My feelings were more subtle and nuanced.

We of course have Hayao Miyazaki, who is a great humanist. I wish Miyazaki will win the Nobel Prize for Literature someday, I thought.

It started to snow, and I hurried my way in the chilly winter air.

Qualia Journal.

The taste of okonomiyaki

After a public event I was taken to an okonomiyaki place in Osaka. This was where Masaya Takada, a great friend of mine, used to hang out, I was told.

In Tokyo, we typically make our own okonomiyaki. When we were seated, there was a hot iron plate in front of us, so my default assumption was that I would make the okonomiyaki myself. Instead, the kind attendants brought the cooked delicacies onto the iron plate. There the food stayed nice and warm, for us to enjoy.

I was with Teppei Eguchi and Tamito Konno, both of whom knew Masaya well.

We exchanged our memories, and told what a great guy Masaya was.

The taste of okonomiyaki was deep and resonant in the Momotaro restaurant last night. Maybe Masaya was with us, enjoying his beer, just as he used to do.

Qualia Journal.