Interview with Akashi Yuka
Why did you start a bookstore in this location?
Akashi
I have been good friends with the denim brothers who run DENIM HOSTEL float, and I visited them several times since they opened the hotel.
Last summer, I stayed at float for two weeks, and during that time, I fell in love with this town again.
Then, I was invited by Shimada from the denim brothers, who said, "There is an empty property right next to float, so let's do something," and that was the trigger for me to check out the property.
There is a large cherry tree at the entrance, and I thought it must be really beautiful in spring.
I thought I would like to run a bookstore in this calm place with a view of the sea.
Can you tell us the origin of the store name "aru"?
Akashi
The purpose of this store is to aim for a state of "just being there," hoping that the visitors will find their own meaning in it.
What criteria do you use to select the books you handle at aru?
Akashi
Basically, I choose books that I think people would want to read in a calm place by the Seto Inland Sea.
I feel that many people come to the Seto Inland Sea to rest and to feel calm.
I myself always feel that way when I come to the Seto Inland Sea.
So, rather than business books or self-help books, I want to have books like photo books, poetry collections, essays, and novels that help to relax the heart.
As of August 2021, new books are limited to those created by my acquaintances.
I want to have books that are made by visible people and that I can truly recommend as "good."
After four months since opening, I feel that the store is gradually changing along with the customers.
When I am sourcing books, I think of the faces of regular customers.
For example, "That person liked food essays, so I should stock more food essays."
I find it enjoyable that while I keep my own preferences, the store changes based on the visitors.
Since it is a small store, I have many opportunities to talk with customers, and sometimes I choose books based on the flow of the conversation.
Do you have any favorite authors?
Akashi
For me, books are something that broaden my world, so I read books by various people of all ages and genders.
I especially love the writings of Nakajima Ramo, Atsuko Suga, and Kaori Ekuni.
What does a book mean to you?
Akashi
Having grown up in a relatively strict household and lived my life along the rails of society, books have taught me that "it's okay to live more freely."
Now, they might be more like a dialogue partner for me.
I often seek solace when I think about things I don't understand.
What do you find appealing about living in two locations?
Akashi
Life in Kojima, Kurashiki City and Tokyo is truly the opposite.
Tokyo is crowded with people, cars are everywhere, buildings are tall, and the sky feels narrow.
I live alone and work in interviews and editing, so I am the one going to meet people.
Life in Kojima is spacious with fewer people, I live communally, and I wait for people at the store.
Though they are opposites, both are part of my daily life and also extraordinary.
There are various ways to live, and I feel that "it's okay not to be bound."
Time spent with books is enriching
The author has loved books since childhood and was a child who often visited the school library.
I was excited by the dreamlike dishes depicted in picture books, moved by the memoir of a man protecting cranes in Hokkaido, and cried imagining separations I had not yet experienced.
In one lifetime, there are only a few things I can experience myself, but I have learned many times more from books.
However, in recent years, I have been reading more for the purpose of "efficiently gathering information," and I haven't been able to enjoy reading slowly and savoring the words.
When I felt frustrated, I first visited aru and was captivated by a lifestyle essay by a stylist published in 1998.
Even if I think to "look for it," it was a book I would not have encountered.
However, there were words throughout that made me think, "How wonderful it would be to live like that."
After purchasing it, I placed it next to my desk and occasionally flip through it, feeling my heart flutter.
Books can teach us new worlds, provide words that resonate, and help us reaffirm what we want to cherish.
I believe that books are truly wonderful.
At aru, you might encounter books that soothe your heart.
While looking at the sea, take your time to immerse yourself in the world of books.
Data on aru
| Name | aru |
|---|---|
| Address | 1421-18 Karakoto-cho, Kojima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Parking | Available There is a free municipal parking lot nearby that can accommodate about 40 cars. |
| Business Hours | Irregular hours, business hours vary *Please check the official Instagram for confirmation |
| Regular Holidays | Irregular holidays |
| Payment Methods |
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| Website | Official Instagram |
