You enter the glass doors of the library. You provide your card to the guard. The guard nods. You enter the elevator to the main floor. The elevator doors open. You notice a librarian alone sitting in the middle of a circular desk. No one else seems to be around.
- “I just wanted to learn a little more about Japan. You know, I liked their pop culture, but would like to know more.”
The librarian typed on the computer for about ten seconds and then looked at you.
- “Hmm…there is a lot to learn. It is part of our protocol to ask why are you pursuing this endeavor now?” The librarian said.
- “I am pursuing this for a non-instrumental purpose. I am on furlough from my position and find this pursuit a safe way to spend my days instead of being idle. At a more stable time, a visit to the region would be pleasant,” you said and pass the card to the librarian.
- “The restrictions and your status make a visit not feasible. “
- “Yes, books are my getaway for now,” you said.
- “That’s one way to learn more about the region. History is one the 3rd and 4th floors and Literature is on the 5th,” the librarian passes you the card back.
- “I mean, how to get started?”
- “You probably should start out with Modern Japanese Literature. You need some history to make sense of it. And a good way is to study what they call pure literature: it is their model. Go ahead and find these and read a little and come back for more guidance.”
The librarian pulls up some books on the computer and writes down the references.
- “The printer is still broken, I am afraid.” The librarian said.
- “What about the actual stories?” You asked.
- “There are some references in the history book. You can also try to get on the internet if you can. That’s a clue on your journey: open and closed. Got it?” The librarian said.
- “Think so. Okay, I will come back soon.”
The librarian returns to the computer, writes on a piece of scrap paper, and passes that to you. There are two references.
Fowler, E. (1992). The Rhetoric of Confession: Shishosetsu in Early Twentieth-Century Japanese Fiction. University of California Press.
Mason, R. H. P., & Caiger, J. G. (1997). A History of Japan: Revised Edition. Tuttle Publishing.
You walk to the map and find out that the books are on the fourth floor. You enter the elevator and press the “4” button.
You exit the elevator.
No one sits at the large tables, single desks, research rooms, or on the sofas. You feel the sunlight flood in the large bay windows. You find the history book and figure that is enough to get you started today. You sit down and begin.