This time, I’d like to share my thoughts on reading — its joy, its wonder, and why it matters to me. It’s also a personal story — I wasn’t always someone who loved books.
From Obligation to Joy: How I Fell in Love with Reading
Back when I was a student majoring in the liberal arts, I wasn’t much of a reader — in fact, I used to dislike books altogether. My first real encounter with reading came after I entered the workforce, when I began reading business books out of necessity. But even then, reading didn’t feel particularly enjoyable — more like something I just had to do.
It wasn’t until I was in my 30s that my relationship with reading began to change. I started commuting by express bus, and since I could always get a seat on the first ride — with no stops along the way — I suddenly had a full hour to myself (two hours round trip). Wanting to make the most of that time, I picked up a book.
At the time, it wasn’t about enjoying the reading itself — I just didn’t want to waste time. But looking back now, I realize that was the moment I truly discovered the joy of reading.
As I kept at it, reading gradually became more than just a habit — it became something I looked forward to. With each book I finished, I felt something shift inside me. I didn’t know what exactly was changing, but I do remember the sensation: something fresh, something I’d never experienced before.
Reading and the Introverted Soul
Reading eventually became a daily rhythm, and it’s been over ten years now. I read not just on my commute but also at home. I’ve never kept track, but I’m sure I’ve read more than 2,000 books.
I’ve followed my curiosity wherever it led me — devouring books across all genres:
novels (Japanese and foreign, both modern and classic), religion and philosophy, history (not just textbooks, but also mythology, science, and the arts), politics, economics, finance, the natural sciences (math, physics, chemistry, biology), engineering and medicine, the arts (painting, design, music), encyclopedias, folktales and fairy tales, Japanese poetry (waka and haiku). I fully intend to keep reading for the rest of my life.
I wouldn’t say all introverts are naturally drawn to reading, but in my case, it felt like the perfect match. Reading was more than just a way to learn — it was a quiet joy, a deeply personal pleasure. It was a one-on-one conversation with strangers across time and space… a return to a childlike sense of wonder… an encounter with the unknown.
When I read, I felt free — released from the distractions and demands of the outside world. Those moments were bliss.
Honestly, I’d say that about half of who I am today was shaped by the books I’ve read. Thanks to reading, my worldview expanded. The way I see ordinary things in daily life began to shift. I started noticing the things I had once overlooked — their depth, their background, their history — and I found myself quietly paying attention to details that had once gone unseen.
If you’re a reader, you’ll probably understand this feeling. I believe it’s something that only reveals itself after years of reading — a landscape you reach slowly, page by page.
Reading: The Ultimate Form of Entertainment
For me, reading is the ultimate form of entertainment — one that nourishes the mind while delighting the heart. Honestly, it might even be more essential to me than my daily meals. And best of all, it doesn’t cost much.
We now have so many ways to consume stories and information — TV, movies, YouTube, and more. Each medium has its own strengths. But reading offers something truly unique. It invites you inward. It gives your imagination room to breathe.
Maybe you’re someone who doesn’t love reading — at least not yet. But with the right book, at the right time, even that can change. It happened to me.
Through this blog, I hope to share the joy of reading — not just with book lovers, but with those who are simply curious. If even a small part of that joy reaches you… if we can share it, even for a moment — that would make me incredibly happy.
Books transcend time and space.
Turn a page, and you may find a soul waiting.
The Library of Alexandria, the oldest known library in the world.
