Nice to meet you.
You seem to read a lot of books, Professor. Could you tell us about any books that have profoundly changed your way of thinking or values in your life so far? Any number of books is fine. Thank you.

Takaaki Yoshimoto and Yūko Hanīya

The ones who influenced me were Takaaki Yoshimoto and Yūko Hanīya. It was around the time I entered high school.
I started reading them in the high school library after I entered. They were probably at home too, but it was too much trouble to look for them (laughs). For Yoshimoto, it was 'Kyōdō Gensōron' (The Theory of Collective Illusions). If I had to pick one by Haniya, it would be 'Kokū' (The Void).

Haniya was recommended to me by a senior student in high school, and at home, my father often mentioned Haniya’s name on the phone, so I heard it frequently.

They influenced my way of thinking. The books I read from high school through university have become the framework for how I think now. That period was when I could read the most. Nowadays, I mostly just stack them up without reading.

Modern society has too many distractions, like Twitter and email (laughs).

I'm saving the complete works of Shinobu Orikuchi, the folklorist and Kokugaku scholar, as a treat for when I retire.


I'd like to ask about dieting. I gained weight as soon as I quit smoking.
Professor, could you tell us what you do in your daily life to maintain your physique?

Use Your Brain!

As people age, their metabolism slows down and they gain weight. It’s the same for me.

The brain uses the most energy among human organs. For example, after spending a day with Akira Asada, or after finishing a recording session for 'Schola', my weight drops. It shows how little I use my head on a regular basis... (laughs).

Losing weight through sports is tough. The best way to diet is to use your brain!