Adventures in Shiga (1)
Dear readers, in March I travelled to Shiga Prefecture on assignment, like I did in 2023 in Fukushima and Aomori and last year in Shodoshima and Kochi.
Shiga has always been pretty much off my radar, and I doubt I would have visited on my own, but I’m glad I went because I had a chance to see some beautiful spots and meet interesting people. Please read on and be sure to check out the other links too, if you haven’t done it yet.
This post is just an introduction. More to come in the next days.
I first interviewed Shiga governor Mikazuki Taizo and author Imamura Shogo.
More often than not, interviewing politicians, especially in Japan, becomes a highly choreographed ritual characterized by zero spontaneity and well-rehearsed answers. However, I liked Mikazuki-san’s energy and personality, and his infectious passion for his job. Mikazuki is also a rather unusual administrator because he came to politics after being employed for several years at the JR West Japan railway company where he worked as a station attendant and train driver, also serving as the chairman of several JR West Union Youth committees.
Imamura Shogo is not well-known abroad, but in Japan he is a literary rising star having won in 2022 the prestigious Naoki Prize, Japan’s foremost award for popular and genre literature.
Imamura specializes in historical novels (you know, samurai, etc.) and is extremely prolific (he has published at least 30 books between 2017 and 2024). However, far from being a recluse who spends his days holed up in his studio, he has a bubbly and captivating personality. After all, before starting his writing career, he was a dance teacher.
Asked about his strong relationship with Shiga, and particularly why he hadn’t moved to Tokyo, like many Japanese writer do, Imamura said:
At first, when I was working at my father’s dance school, I was in charge of the Shiga area. That's how I fell in love with this prefecture. People here often say Lake Biwa is the only notable thing in Shiga, but I find it very attractive. I've always thought that I wanted to work near the lake. Also, a lot of my former dance students live in Shiga, so being based here gives me a chance to stay in touch with them. Actually, three out of the 15 people who work in my office are my old dance students.
Another reason I live in Shiga is that it is said to be the place where Murasaki Shikibu started creating the Tale of Genji, which is considered one of the world’s oldest novels. It’s the place where the Japanese novel was born, and I wanted to live in such a place. To me, it’s a source of energy and inspiration.
As for Tokyo… The fact is, if you live in Tokyo for a long time, you run the risk of losing touch with the rest of the country. In a sense, it’s an insular, self-absorbed world, and there are too many things you can't see from there. I feel I can understand Japan better from a smaller city like the one where I live now. On top of that, much of the literary world in Tokyo is all about flattery, and I don't really like to be treated like that. I want to do things from my own perspective. So, in that sense, I think it's best to keep my distance from Tokyo and do it my way. Also, If I had moved to Tokyo, I probably wouldn't have had such a big break. And I wouldn't have had much fun. I think I'm having fun because I've stayed in Shiga.
After the interviews, I had an early dinner at a local joint (hot pot with udon noodles, meat and vegetables, see above) before relaxing at the Milestone jazz cafe.
End of Part 1 (to be continued)
Have you been to Shiga? What were your impressions?
Let me know if you want to read the interviews to Mikazuki and Imamura. I will post them here if I get at least ten requests in the comment space.
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