Work, housework, things you have to get done…….
In the midst of your busy days, do you find time to take a breather?
When I want time to reset, I read a book at a cafe.
But when I’m busy, I tend to put my own time off.
Just when I was thinking I wanted some time to calm my mind, I heard that 26-go Reading Room, a private library, was holding “Shosha Club,” an event where people can read and write freely.
26-go Reading Room is a quiet space lined with books.
An event held there seemed like a chance to spend some relaxing time.
With high hopes, I joined the Shosha Club held on Sunday, March 9, 2025.
The information provided was accurate when this article was published in April 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the Shosha Club at 26-go Reading Room?
The “Shosha Club” is a casual event where you can read books, write in a diary, or write letters in Tamashima, where old-fashioned scenery remains.
The Shosha Club is held irregularly, and no reservation is needed; you can join empty-handed.
The venue is “26-go Reading Room” in Tamashima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture.
It is a private library run by Yasuhara, who also hosts the Shosha Club.
The Shosha Club began with the host’s wish that people would “make time for reading and writing part of their everyday lives.”
As someone who loves taking my time to read, I find this event very appealing.
I joined the Shosha Club
An announcement on 26-go Reading Room’s Instagram said it would be held on Sunday, March 9, 2025, so I went along.
The atmosphere at 26-go Reading Room, the venue
In early March, beneath the warming sunshine, I made my way to 26-go Reading Room while taking in the streetscape of Tamashima.
As I walked, following the address, I spotted a sign that served as a landmark.
When I stepped inside, I found a quiet room with the feel of a traditional Japanese house, one table, and two counter seats.
The bookshelves hold books about the local area and Yasuhara’s personal collection.
Apparently, books with price tags are also available for purchase.
Am I the only one who feels instantly at ease when surrounded by books?
I told the host I was there to join the Shosha Club, and they briefly explained the event’s purpose.
Introducing the paper set
The Shosha Club is an event where participants can read and write freely.
You can bring your favorite notebook, or buy a paper set on the day for 300 yen, tax included.
You can borrow a ballpoint pen, fountain pen, or brush pen, so you can join empty-handed.
I wanted to spend some time writing, so I bought a paper set.
Here is the paper set I bought.
The paper set includes washi, sheets resembling free papers, sheet music, and manuscript paper for tracing.
The item in the paper set that particularly caught my eye was the manuscript paper for tracing.
A passage from a novel is printed in faint lettering on the manuscript paper.
Apparently, it is called manuscript paper for tracing because you trace over the printed text.
Even if someone tells you to write whatever you like, you may not know what to write…….
Even if you have that concern, tracing seems like an easy way to get started.
The printed text is “A Landscape with Peaches” by Kanoko Okamoto.
When choosing a work, they apparently value the feeling of the season, and scenery and sentiments that resonate with the present.
This time, the work depicts peach blossoms, and I was told that there is a similar scene nearby.
Perhaps the scenery we see was much the same in the past as it is now.
Thinking about that makes the work feel closer to home.
After hearing about the paper set, it was time to start writing.
Trying it out
I decided to use the manuscript paper for tracing with a ballpoint pen I had brought.
I wonder if this was the first time I’d traced a model text since elementary school.
If I let my guard down, my writing would stray from the lines, so it required more concentration than I expected.
As I wrote, I could hear quiet music playing and steam escaping from the kettle on top of the heater.
There was little traffic on the road in front of the reading room, so I was able to write in peace.
Yasuhara was also writing a sign on the blackboard and tracing a passage from The Tale of Genji with a brush pen.
The name “26-go Reading Room” apparently comes from the name of the storehouse visible from the reading room.
Tamashima, where the reading room is located, flourished as a port town, and apparently there were once many storehouses there.
Every so often, a casual conversation would start, then we’d go back to writing quietly…… By the time I finished the manuscript paper for tracing, an hour had passed.
Could the fact that I hadn’t noticed an hour go by be proof that I was concentrating?
Stepping away from the hectic pace of everyday life and taking my time to write let me enjoy a peaceful moment.
I also felt a sense of accomplishment from finishing the tracing, and thought it had been a lovely way to spend my time.
After writing, time for reading and chatting
After finishing the tracing practice sheets, I read books in the 26-go Reading Room while Yasuhara told me about the history of Tamashima, Kurashiki City.
At calligraphy clubs held in the past, it seems that people also read and chatted after writing for about an hour.
Partway through, a neighbor dropped by and chatted warmly with Yasuhara.
It’s lovely to have a place where you can drop in and talk, even without making plans to meet.
Even on days when the calligraphy club is not held, you can drop by freely while the 26-go Reading Room is open.
The reading room’s opening days are irregular, so check for announcements on Instagram.
From the Writer
At the Calligraphy Club, I was able to step away from the hectic pace of everyday life and enjoy some unhurried time.
It felt good to spend time in a quiet space, focusing solely on writing the characters in front of me.
Also, with tracing paper templates, even people who aren’t sure what to write can take part with confidence.
26-go Reading Room will continue to hold Calligraphy Club sessions and events related to books.
If you enjoy writing or reading, be sure to join in.
“Calligraphy Club” hosted by 26-go Reading Room Information
| Name | “Calligraphy Club” hosted by 26-go Reading Room |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, March 9, 2025, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. |
| Location | 1-15-11 Tamashima Chuo-cho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation fee (tax included) | Free |
| Website | 26-go Reading Room Instagram |
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