Interview with staff members Kazuhiko Sasaoka and Hitomi Okura
We spoke with staff members Kazuhiko Sasaoka and Hitomi Okura.
What kind of work goes on in the Music Library?
What kind of work do the staff members at the Music Library do?
Sasaoka (surname only)
The Music Library is a facility within Kurashiki Community Center, and it currently has two dedicated staff members.
Our main duties include reference services; selecting and maintaining books and audiovisual materials; lending books; and planning and running music-related courses and events hosted by Kurashiki Community Center.
Have you both worked at the Music Library for a long time? What did you do before?
Sasaoka
I’m now in my fourth year here. Before that, I taught music at a university.
The university often received job openings for the Music Library, but none of the students applied...
So, on a whim, I said, “Shall I go?” and things moved ahead smoothly from there, bringing me to where I am today (laughs).
Okura (surname only)
I’m in my fifth year.
Before that, I also worked in a music-related field.
Many visitors to the Music Library are tourists
What kinds of people use the Music Library?
Sasaoka
I hear that there were many high school students when it first opened.
That was in 1969, so perhaps it was also because buying records was expensive for middle and high school students.
These days, many people come in saying, “I used to come here a lot when I was a student” or “This brings back memories.”
Along with local residents, we also get many tourists.
It seems that guides in the Bikan Historical Area also recommend the Music Library.
I got to listen to an SP record on a gramophone, and it felt like an indulgent experience—especially in this day and age.
Sasaoka
These days, it’s easy to listen to music on smartphones and other devices.
That’s exactly why the act of lowering a needle onto a record in the quiet space of the library feels incredibly luxurious.
It’s also hard to play music loudly through speakers at home these days.
Okura
This may sound abstract, but I think there’s a way of experiencing music with your whole body, not just your ears.
The rewards of working at the Music Library
Listening to you both, I get the sense that you’re very attached to the Music Library. What do you find rewarding about your work?
Sasaoka
The Music Library is a very comfortable place for me.
When I retired from teaching at the university, I thought it would be nice to spend my time at home reading books, playing records, and playing the piano. I’m very grateful to be able to do much the same thing as part of my job.
Also, since I was a teacher, teaching was my job. I’m grateful to be able to lead several courses here. Teaching something means learning it twice.
Many of the people who come to my courses are older than I am, but they all look at me and listen intently. That makes me happy.
It’s rewarding.
There is just one thing I find tough.
I work five days a week, and I don’t even get public holidays off (laughs).
Kurashiki Community Center is closed every Monday, except on public holidays.
Okura
I’m also very grateful to be able to put my past experience to use in my work.
Thanks to the Music Library, I’ve gained new knowledge I didn’t have before, and I feel like I’m studying music all over again.
A message to visitors
Finally, what message would you like to share with people who use the Music Library?
Sasaoka
Of course, local residents are welcome, and I hope tourists will feel free to visit as well.
However, it is a “library,” so we don’t actively approach visitors, but we do provide careful reference services.
If you’d like to listen to music or are looking for a particular song, please ask us. We’ll be happy to help, so feel free to speak to us.
We have a considerable number of records, so please do come and visit.
From the Writer
“Have you heard of the Music Library? It’s fascinating, so you should definitely do a story on it.”
I was born and raised in Kurashiki and often visit the Bikan Historical Area, but I had never heard of the Music Library until an acquaintance mentioned it to me.
The Music Library is on the “third floor” of Kurashiki Community Center.
You wouldn’t come across it unless you knew it was there.
Listening to music at the Music Library felt like a “rare experience,” much like going to a live performance.
- The sound of SP records playing on a gramophone
- Listening through headphones or speakers to a variety of recordings that are now rare
- Conversations with knowledgeable staff
Please come by and give it a listen.
Music Library information
| Name | Music Library |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-21 Honmachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-423-2135 |
| Parking | Available Kurashiki Community Center parking lot available |
| Opening hours | 9:00 a.m.–5:15 p.m. ※Visitors should enter by 5:00 p.m. |
| Closed | Monday ・Open if Monday is a public holiday ・The next weekday if Monday is a public holiday ・Year-end and New Year holidays (December 28–January 4) ・May also close for shelf organization (announcements posted on the website) |
| Admission (tax included) | Free |
| Reservations | Not available |
| Smoking | Entire facility is non-smoking |
| Restrooms | Western-style toilets |
| Accessibility | Accessible restroom |
| Website | Kurashiki City Kurashiki Community Center Music Library |
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