[No. 93] Michiko Mamuro's bookshelf "The Guardian of the Camphor Tree" by Keigo Higashino / Jitsugyo no Nihonsha
Known as the "original charismatic bookseller," DAIKANYAMA TSUTAYA BOOKS, who recommends books in a variety of media including magazines and TV.
In this series, we take a peek into the "bookshelves" in the mind of our most popular concierge.
Please enjoy it along with his comments.
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"Guardian of the Camphor Tree"
Keigo Higashino/Jitsugyo no Nihonsha
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What I found interesting was that the camphor tree guardian didn't really know what he was doing.
Usually, the protagonist of a "guardian" (?) understands the mystery or power he is guarding, and is aware that "if we neglect it, it will cause great trouble!". If he does not know the power, his enthusiasm is based on "for whom?" "I haven't been told the details, but I am doing this for the great king!" or "Beautiful princess, rest assured!", etc.
However, the young man in this book is different. Reito, in his early twenties, lives in the office of a rural shrine and is in charge of watching over the camphor tree at the back. The hollow space in the giant tree is freely accessible during the day, and is visited by a number of women who love power spots. However, there is a secret at night when the path to the sacred tree is closed to the public. Someone makes a reservation to come. That's all Reito knows. He checks their name on a strict register, hands them a candle, and says a prayer for their prayers to be successful, but he has no idea what a visitor is doing inside the camphor tree in the middle of the night, or what it means to pray to a tree!
The person who ordered the guardianship was Yanagisawa Senshu, an advisor to a large company. She was a woman of nearly 70 years old who suddenly appeared and saved Reito from a difficult situation (police involvement, no home, no work), claiming to be the half-sister of his mother who died at a young age. But even though he felt grateful, he didn't want to "protect the big tree at all costs for this person!" After all, she was just a relative who had suddenly appeared, and she told him everything he needed to do, but Reito asked, "Compared to the idyllic atmosphere during the day, the seriousness of the people at night is crazy," "Does the effect of prayer mean that your wish will come true?" and "Do they really believe that?" Senshu's answer was, "You will find out one day." No questions should be left unanswered, and it is strictly forbidden to peek into the prayer area!
What's even more different from the usual guardian stories is the reaction of the people who made reservations for the night. When Reito tries to investigate, everyone laughs or says, "Yanagisawa-san told me not to tell anyone." If the camphor tree were a god-like being, there would be anger and protests, such as "That's unreliable, let's replace him!", but they are tolerant or indifferent to Reito's ignorance. So, what is the camphor tree?
This rookie guard is involved with a number of troublemakers, including a nuisance who sneaks into the shrine at night, and a young blond man who reluctantly comes to pray, accompanied by an elderly man who is the managing director of a famous Japanese confectionery shop.
The first thing I thought about while reading was "home." His mother worked as a hostess and did her best to raise her only son, born as a result of an affair, and his grandmother, who took over for him after his mother passed away, never warned Reito about using honorific language or how to use chopsticks. They probably spoiled him because he was a pitiful child, and they were so focused on "living day to day" that they didn't notice what kind of young man he would become from the outside.
Meanwhile, Chifune, already in his late teens, had come to the position of being the one to carry the Yanagisawa family on his shoulders. His actions would affect the family. What he did now would not only affect that day, but also the future - this idea would become the belief and philosophy that propelled the Yanagisawa Group forward as a hotel company.
Another point of interest is "continuation." The continuation of a family can be due to "blood," "family precepts," or "talent." One home only needed to look inward to feel at ease, while another home strengthened itself by looking outward. How do the young nephew and elderly aunt, who had contrasting upbringings, come together through the mystery of the camphor tree? Another highlight of the story is how those who seem so far apart - the reluctant blond young man and his attendant, the elderly director, the nighttime intruder, and a certain deceased person - pass on their feelings and connect with each other.
There are plenty of interesting mystery elements to enjoy, such as the cycle and commonalities of the prayers of the nocturnal visitors that Reito discovers, as well as the secret of Senshu.
Usually, the protagonist of a "guardian" (?) understands the mystery or power he is guarding, and is aware that "if we neglect it, it will cause great trouble!". If he does not know the power, his enthusiasm is based on "for whom?" "I haven't been told the details, but I am doing this for the great king!" or "Beautiful princess, rest assured!", etc.
However, the young man in this book is different. Reito, in his early twenties, lives in the office of a rural shrine and is in charge of watching over the camphor tree at the back. The hollow space in the giant tree is freely accessible during the day, and is visited by a number of women who love power spots. However, there is a secret at night when the path to the sacred tree is closed to the public. Someone makes a reservation to come. That's all Reito knows. He checks their name on a strict register, hands them a candle, and says a prayer for their prayers to be successful, but he has no idea what a visitor is doing inside the camphor tree in the middle of the night, or what it means to pray to a tree!
The person who ordered the guardianship was Yanagisawa Senshu, an advisor to a large company. She was a woman of nearly 70 years old who suddenly appeared and saved Reito from a difficult situation (police involvement, no home, no work), claiming to be the half-sister of his mother who died at a young age. But even though he felt grateful, he didn't want to "protect the big tree at all costs for this person!" After all, she was just a relative who had suddenly appeared, and she told him everything he needed to do, but Reito asked, "Compared to the idyllic atmosphere during the day, the seriousness of the people at night is crazy," "Does the effect of prayer mean that your wish will come true?" and "Do they really believe that?" Senshu's answer was, "You will find out one day." No questions should be left unanswered, and it is strictly forbidden to peek into the prayer area!
What's even more different from the usual guardian stories is the reaction of the people who made reservations for the night. When Reito tries to investigate, everyone laughs or says, "Yanagisawa-san told me not to tell anyone." If the camphor tree were a god-like being, there would be anger and protests, such as "That's unreliable, let's replace him!", but they are tolerant or indifferent to Reito's ignorance. So, what is the camphor tree?
This rookie guard is involved with a number of troublemakers, including a nuisance who sneaks into the shrine at night, and a young blond man who reluctantly comes to pray, accompanied by an elderly man who is the managing director of a famous Japanese confectionery shop.
The first thing I thought about while reading was "home." His mother worked as a hostess and did her best to raise her only son, born as a result of an affair, and his grandmother, who took over for him after his mother passed away, never warned Reito about using honorific language or how to use chopsticks. They probably spoiled him because he was a pitiful child, and they were so focused on "living day to day" that they didn't notice what kind of young man he would become from the outside.
Meanwhile, Chifune, already in his late teens, had come to the position of being the one to carry the Yanagisawa family on his shoulders. His actions would affect the family. What he did now would not only affect that day, but also the future - this idea would become the belief and philosophy that propelled the Yanagisawa Group forward as a hotel company.
Another point of interest is "continuation." The continuation of a family can be due to "blood," "family precepts," or "talent." One home only needed to look inward to feel at ease, while another home strengthened itself by looking outward. How do the young nephew and elderly aunt, who had contrasting upbringings, come together through the mystery of the camphor tree? Another highlight of the story is how those who seem so far apart - the reluctant blond young man and his attendant, the elderly director, the nighttime intruder, and a certain deceased person - pass on their feelings and connect with each other.
There are plenty of interesting mystery elements to enjoy, such as the cycle and commonalities of the prayers of the nocturnal visitors that Reito discovers, as well as the secret of Senshu.
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DAIKANYAMA TSUTAYA BOOKS Literature Concierge
Michiko Mamuro
【profile】
She is the "original charismatic bookseller" who recommends books in various media such as magazines and TV. She has serials in magazines such as Fujingaho and Precious, and Asahi Shimbun Digital's "Honya no Hon". She is also active as a book critic, and her paperback reviews include "Tiny Stories" (Yamada Eimi/Bunshun Bunko), "Motherhood" (Minato Kanae/Shincho Bunko), "Meandering Moon" (Sakuragi Shino/Futaba Bunko), and "Staph" (Michio Shusuke/Bunshun Bunko).
