When I was a child, I often read Shiina Makoto.
My younger brother likes Shiina Makoto, so I would basically read whatever he bought.
This time I brought "Adbird".
Makoto Shiina (author) "Ad Bird" Shueisha (March 11, 1997) ( Amazon )
When I became an adult I wanted to read it so I bought it myself.
Shiina Makoto writes essays, stories, and also takes photographs, but this is a story.
I think the first time I read it was when my younger brother was given a copy by my grandfather when we went back to the countryside.
I remember thinking it was a thick book and starting to read it, but when I started, I couldn't understand it and had a hard time getting through it, so I read it bit by bit.
The story is set in a devastated, dystopian future.
"Ad" means advertisement, and this is set in a future where the advertising war has intensified, with natural objects such as trees and animals being modified and used in advertisements, resulting in the global environment being polluted.
There are modified insects in the exposed soil, and it is dangerous, so we can't live a normal life as we do now.
Meanwhile, two brothers in their twenties go in search of their missing father.
That's the story.
Also, Shiina Makoto's "All Japan Food Encyclopedia" may have been the first gourmet book I read.
Reading it makes me hungry (lol).
I remember him saying, "Is my life okay after putting so much in?" as he made a very impactful "Shiso Meat Butter Rice Bowl," which consisted of a large dollop of butter, stir-fried beef and shiso, and then served it on rice.
Makoto Shiina (author) "All Japan Food Guide" Shueisha (April 20, 1989) ( Amazon )
In "We Are Mysterious Explorers," a group of grown men go camping in remote locations, such as deserted islands.
This is not the kind of smart camping where you buy everything in advance, but rather a wild type of camping where you go fishing and procure what you need locally.
Makoto Shiina (author) "We are a Suspicious Expedition Team" KADOKAWA (1982/06) ( Amazon )
As a child, I had no experience camping and wondered what it would be like to have a bonfire and sleep outside.
Then, they enjoy drinking alcohol while savoring the fish they have caught.
Shiina-san likes beer and whiskey.
"Mist Falls on the Town of Sadness" describes a couple of men living together in a small apartment, and it looks like a lot of fun. There's whiskey there, and everyone drinks it together, and even as a child I thought, "That looks delicious."
Makoto Shiina (author) "Fog Falls on the Town of Sadness" Shinchosha (1991/10/30) ( Amazon )
When I first started drinking alcohol, I didn't like beer or whiskey, and I was envious of people who could drink it with enjoyment.
Shiina Makoto was quite a mischievous child, and there are many stories about him.
As an adult, she makes a living by traveling the world, enjoying the places she visits, and writing books about her experiences.
I think it's a really good life.
He remembers each moment very well and has an incredible memory.
I think I was blessed with the friends I met, but I realized that even a mischievous kid can become a writer.
I remember thinking that.
Shiina Makoto's website is also interesting and I find myself reading it carefully.
I think he's the kind of author whose works you suddenly want to read.
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