I intend to dedicate the next few years to a period of voracious reading. I will read whenever I have even a little free time, including spare moments. I will read anything that interests me, regardless of genre. I’ve always loved books and have read many different kinds, but for the next few years, I intend to consciously immerse myself in reading.

What drives me? It’s the uncertainty of this era.

It has long been pointed out that we live in an age of uncertainty, but this trend is intensifying, and we are finally entering an era where it’s truly incomprehensible. Although I’m naturally a carefree person, such uncertainty is undeniably unsettling. The uncertainty will only accelerate further in the age of AI. I sometimes find myself shivering at the thought of a future where there’s no longer a place for humans to live.

Information isn’t actually very helpful in dispelling these anxieties. Especially with the wave-like influx of information we see now, it only clouds people’s minds. In such times, only intelligence and culture are useful. And with intelligence and culture, one can improve their judgment regarding information. With that in mind, I decided to seek the foundation of my intellect and culture in books.
I still vividly remember the advice I received from a Japanese language instructor at a cram school. It was only a fleeting moment, and I’ve now forgotten the instructor’s name, but he had recommended my target university as his top choice, so I went to him for advice. He told me, “Make the next four years a time of voracious reading. You don’t need to pay too much attention to university lectures, but just read lots of books. That’s the way of life for a literature student.”
In fact, during my university years, I hardly ever showed up to school, but I read books and made reading a part of my life. And I am deeply grateful that it is still alive and useful to me today.
Since then, whenever I face difficulties, I turn to books for help.
Therefore, I want to dedicate the little bit of intellectual curiosity I have left to reading and cultivate my intellect and culture.
(Kei Kitajima)

※Translating Japanese articles into English with AI