[Numazu: The trajectory of literature and poetry] (Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, former province name: Suruga)

--- The reason why Kosaku believes that the Kano River is one of the most beautiful rivers in Japan is not because of the beauty of the slow-moving form of the Kano River that flows through the town of Numazu. When Kosaku stands on the Onari Bridge and looks upstream, the long river called the Kano River, which originates from Mount Amagi, always comes to mind. ---- The Kano River originates in the mountain ranges of Izu, and after meandering and making many sharp turns, flows into Suruga Bay. The opening sentence, which praises the beauty of the city and nature of Numazu that greets the river at its mouth, is a passage from Yasushi Inoue's (1907-1991) autobiographical novel "Summer Grass, Winter Waves." Inoue, who spent his childhood in Yugashima and his impressionable adolescence in Numazu, may have expressed his own circumstances in the Kano River, further deepening his feelings about his fulfilling youth. Reading through this passage and many other of Inoue's recollections of Numazu, it is clear that Numazu's gentle atmosphere and sophisticated culture enriched Inoue's poetic sensibility and literary views, and the charm that supports this can be felt in Numazu today. Of the many literary figures with ties to Numazu, Serizawa Kojiro (1896-1993) deserves special mention alongside Inoue. Born in Ganyu-do, which borders Suruga Bay at the mouth of the Kano River, he studied at Tokyo Imperial University before going to France to study in the 1920s, where he devoted himself to his studies, but was infected with tuberculosis and was forced to spend his time in recuperation. However, after this experience, Serizawa found a theme that approached the origins of human spirituality, namely life and faith, and published a series of masterpieces. In particular, "The Fate of Man" became a monumental autobiographical novel in modern literature, and continues to attract many readers to this day. Today, the Numazu City Serizawa Kojiro Memorial Museum (photos 2-4) stands near his birthplace, and showcases his literary career along with the achievements of other writers with ties to Numazu. The architecture, designed by Kikutake Kiyonori (1928-2011), a master of museum architecture, is also a highlight, and the building, made of chic, hard materials, is majestic and modeled after a church. The spiral staircase inside invites visitors up into the darkness, and with the faint sound of the waves, you can feel the weight of Serizawa's literary world. Not only is Numazu home to such literary figures as Inoue and Serizawa, but the city also has a rich cultural sphere. One of the attractions of this sphere is River Books (photos 5-7 @riverbooks_numazu). The owner, who is originally from Numazu, left his job as a salaryman to open this bookstore in 2023, and the store is a quaint renovated old house near the Kano River. The store's diverse selection of books, from general books to tanka poetry collections, cooking recipes, and photo books that the owner has a deep knowledge of, is attractive, and the unique flow of the old house makes it feel like you are peering into a "hobby room." In addition, one of the reasons this store was born and is loved by the people of Numazu is related to the "memories of the town" that are embodied in the interior and items inside the store. In other words, the bookshelves are inherited from the "Marusan Bookstore" that once existed in the center of Numazu, and the server used for the beer takeout service was given to the store when a long-loved izakaya in Numazu closed. Although it is a new face as a cultural bearer, it continues to light up quietly into the night, reflecting the charm of Numazu that has been woven over the years and the feelings of the people. In the evening, as if searching for the source of the sunset slanting down, we passed through the pine forest and arrived at Senbonhama (photos 1, 8-10). It is a 300m-long beach that forms part of the gentle curve of Suruga Bay, and is a scenic spot where you can see the deep blue horizon and the shape of Mount Fuji. It is also a place where Inoue, Serizawa, and many other cultural figures walked, loved, and sang. Even today, the natural transition from the rhythmic undulations of the land to the dynamic ebb and flow of the tides is soothing, and the expressions of the people gazing out at the sea, dazzling yet cheerful, in the light of the setting sun, are soothing to the soul. Inoue Yasushi's literary monument stands in the pine forest, as if watching this scene from behind. From the lines that appear, flickering in the thickened shadows of the trees and the setting sun, I couldn't help but feel the charm of the Suruga region, which is embraced by the sea and Mt. Fuji and has been developing its history in a gentle and relaxed manner. --- In my childhood, a thousand pieces of the sea were sandwiched between a thousand pine trees, and I grew up eating one of them every day-- Recommendation for solo travelers: ★★★★ (There are people, but not many. You can enjoy sightseeing in peace!) Visit date: Around 5pm on the second Saturday of February Access: About 15 minutes by bus from Numazu Station (to the Kojiro Serizawa Memorial Museum) #Numazu #Kojiro Serizawa Memorial Museum #RIVERBOOKS #Senbonhama #Shizuoka Trip #Shizuoka Tourism #Shizuoka Prefecture Tourism #