NABC Store Manager's Diary — Saturday, August 22, 2026

A steady stream of customers. Today was that kind of half-day. Even before I came in, there were unusually good sales in the morning: library books and ZINEs sold. It's a shame I couldn't meet that customer. 　When I started my shift in the afternoon, the poet Kosakai ("Charlie") dropped by right away and we chatted a bit — about the Tokai Tanka Anthology and so on. I'm very grateful that they support this shop. The second meeting for the anthology is, of course, planned to be at Heiwaen. 　Because it was Saturday, the usual customers from Cafe River were many as always, but we also had lots of bookstore customers: people visiting for the first time and some on their second visit bought ZINEs and books about Nagoya. Also, when the owner of one of the shared shelves came to deliver books, they brought their own ZINE, so I purchased it right away. 　At my old workplace, Shidami Library, there was a Shakespeare lecture in yesterday's staff training. I saw that Deputy Director Ōhashi introduced on SNS a karuta called "Saō Hyakunin-ikku," which collects lines from 100 characters appearing in Shakespeare's works. Many people reacted saying, "I want to buy that," so I thought this is something to get, asked the lecturer and karuta author Ueno to contact me, and to my surprise they brought a copy to the shop immediately, so I put it out on the counter straightaway. 　As all that was happening, to my surprise regular visitor Sae-chan from the Shidami Library days came with her mother! She was supposed to be in Canada since last year for her mother's study abroad—yet here she was!!! 　I first met Sae-chan because her mother was a regular user of Shidami Library and studied there almost every day. One day when we were talking, I discovered she was the head of a medical yoga group and she started by giving a maternity yoga class. Sae-chan must have been in first or second grade at the time. She was a fun, friendly, energetic girl; we read picture books and stories together and she often helped with the library storytime. Now that same Sae-chan is in sixth grade! This time she had returned to Japan partly for a visit home, even though her real hometown is in another prefecture, and she surprised me by coming to see me. I was so happy I nearly cried. 　This time she came back with her mother; her older brother is staying in Canada with their father. He must already be a second-year high school student — I remember he came to the library's book-report lecture when he was about in sixth grade, so he must have grown a lot. I think this episode was also mentioned in the book by the lecturer Konatsumuri. 　Kotobuki from the Tokai Yūri History Research Group also came by! We've asked them to give two lectures in September and November — September is fully booked! November is almost full as well. The consecutive lecture series will continue next year too! We also talked about Beniko's photo exhibition in October. Watanabe from Kastrī Shobō and Beniko will be in attendance during the exhibition! There's also a talk event with Beniko and Ritsuko! (Too lavish.) Kotobuki said, "This is going to be something else!" 　Kotobuki and I got excited talking about wanting to do a course on the history of performing arts in Nagoya. 　In the evening, ZINE creator Hitokuchi Gyoza came by. They delivered a newly made ZINE titled "Die in an Instant." While reading it, I learned they have a baby who's now ten months old, so they bought some picture books as well. I recommended a few picture books suitable for a ten-month-old — some of them we don't even stock. 　Just when I was thinking picture books had sold after a long time, Mr. Inoue from Zuiunsha came in for the first time in a year! He was returning from an event at Hiraku Honya in Tajimi. As always, he was full of energy. He said his hotel was west of the station and that if he was staying nearby he just had to come here. He also bought my ZINE "This Is Not Just a Place to Borrow Books, A Library." I'm very grateful.