A picture book depicting the bustle of the morning market in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, where a large-scale fire broke out in the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, was republished on the 6th in response to requests from readers, and has become a hot topic.
The picture book ``Asaichi'' published in 1980 was republished, and on the 6th, picture books were lined up at bookstores in Tokyo, and people could be seen reading them with their children or purchasing them.
This work depicts the Wajima Morning Market in the 1970s, and it vividly depicts the buying and selling of fresh seafood and vegetables, as well as the conversations between local people. It depicts how it has taken root.
According to the publisher, Fukuinkan Shoten, they have received a number of requests from readers for reprinting the book following the earthquake, and have decided to take immediate action.
Proceeds from sales will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society as a relief fund for the Noto Peninsula Earthquake.
A man in his 50s who purchased the picture book said, ``I like that the pictures are heartwarming.I want to read and tell my children that this kind of everyday life exists, and that it has now been lost.''
Background of the picture book “Asaichi” and its reprint
The reprinted picture book "Asaichi" was published 44 years ago in 1980 as the January issue of the monthly picture book "Kagaku no Tomo" by Fukuinkan Shoten, a publisher in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo.
According to the editor at the time, he and the artist Kakuya Oishi, who was in charge of the illustrations, visited the Wajima Morning Market for about three years, carefully observing the local people gathering at the market.
The text in the picture book is composed of actual conversations that were overheard in the field so that the reader can understand exactly what the morning market was like in the 1970s, and on the cover it says ``Katari = the people of the Wajima morning market.'' It has been.
According to the publisher, in the wake of the Noto Peninsula earthquake, readers have said,
``I would like you to reprint the Wajima Morning Market with faith in its recovery so that we don't forget about it.'' ``
Picture books depicting the morning market are valuable, so we are introducing them to children at elementary schools.''
We received many comments such as
``I want to do this.''
Takehiro Okazaki of Fukuinkan Shoten said, ``This is a work that captures the imagination as it includes the local language, giving a clear picture of the morning market.More than 40 years have passed since its publication, and it has remained in the hearts of many people. I was surprised and happy when I received it.I hope that this picture book will serve as an opportunity to remember the people who lived there and their lives, and that by delivering the picture book, I will be able to help the disaster-stricken areas in some small way." I did.