Akutagawa Prize-winning author Akiko Itoyama’s new book “Straight and Narrow Life” is on sale. A lot of place names of Toyama and Ishikawa appear

Akutagawa Prize-winning author Akiko Itoyama’s new book “Straight and Narrow Life” (Kawade Shobo Shinsha) went on public on May 19th, 2022.

As the main stage of the book is Toyama, Ms. Itoyama and her editor had come to Toyama by car. At that time, Hokuroku also had an interview at the cafe Uchikawa Rokkakudo in Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture.

Not only Toyama but also Wajima and Hegurajima in Ishikawa, many place names familiar to Hokuriku people will appear.

She told us why Toyama was the main stage of the book. The reason was that when the author herself was walking in the city of Toyama, she impossibly but possibly passed the main character on the street.

Otsubo, the deputy editor-in-chief of Hokuroku, sympathized with the description of the eldest son living in Toyama because he is also the eldest son.

Text: Masayoshi Sakamoto
Photo: Ken Oki

(Comments from the editorial office of Hokuroku: In the book, familiar place names and words for Toyama citizens appear. These words enhance the reality of the book covering our life and the troublesomeness of Toyama. I was lucky because I could read the novel being so close to Toyama’s perspective. Otsubo, deputy editor-in-chief

I don’t usually read belles-lettres very much, but I’m interested in the book because the stage of the work is our Hokuriku region. As the second son from Saitama prefecture, I don’t know the feeling of eldest sons born in the Hokuriku region, but I think it may be a chance to understand their feelings. Takei, system development director

An online talk event was held at Cafe Uchikawa Rokkakudo to commemorate the publication. In the talk, Ms. Itoyama, the author, did not let the characters in the story act for her convenience but had the feeling that the characters decided the story. What a wonderful and creative time! Akashi, producer)