I have a favorite phrase coined by my former senior colleague who already retired form GK Design Group. It succinctly describes a characteristic of books as media, which I believe contributes to enhancing their attractiveness.

In recent years, digital media has developed to provide various kinds of appealing content in our lives. Since most of them are replaced and become unavailable in quick succession, I often miss the chance to get my favorite items. Consequently, something like a sense of compulsion forces me to spend much time in watching those programs.

Meanwhile, books are the kind of media that allows us to access their content without using any electric devices. We can read them anytime and as many times as we want as long as we keep them at our fingertips. That’s especially convenient for people like me who have a habit of reading books repeatedly once they become their favorite ones.

What’s more convenient is when I can’t bring myself to start reading books even when I find them interesting. On those occasions, I resign myself to leaving them unread in my bookshelf. The books are not to blame. The time is not ripe for me to work on them. I believe the time will come when I rediscover the fascination of my favorite books as if they grow into completely different ones. Whether it’s one year or 10 years from now, I don’t know. But books can wait. This way of thinking helps to work up my appetite for books.

Hajime Kikuchi
CMFG Design Dept.
Unit Leader