It's surprisingly difficult to write freely on a given theme. Mr. Yamaguchi, being the seasoned professional he is, offered a breakthrough suggestion: "How about introducing things you love in alphabetical order? Some letters will have many items, while others, like 'X,' 'Y,' or 'Z,' might be challenging."

First, I listed everything I loved from A to Z, just as they came to mind. I struggled to narrow down the many items starting with 'C,' 'P,' and 'S,' and found it difficult to find suitable items for letters like 'K' and 'W,' which are rarely used in French. Despite the challenges, the process of filtering my passions through the 'A to Z' framework was incredibly enjoyable, clarifying what I loved and why. I spent my days recalling memories from my 13 years in France and translating them into words.

I am known, both to myself and others, for my love of trivia. However, Mr. Yamaguchi specifically requested, "Keep the trivia to a minimum; focus on your personal perspective on each item, but keep the essays light and easy to read." Therefore, I paid close attention to the amount of trivia included. To avoid an overwhelming amount of text, I also interspersed numerous photographs I had taken over the years.


Thanks to Mr. Yamaguchi and the entire team, I believe the book has turned out beautifully balanced. The elegant, pale green cover and the classic floral pattern on the endpapers are striking. Its compact, easy-to-hold size makes it perfect to slip into a bag. It would be the greatest joy for me as an author if you would take it along to your favorite café.