Though it was terribly hot, I went to Shimogamo Shrine by bicycle again. The reason why I sometimes visit Shimogamo Shrine is that not only there are a lot of events and festivals, but also there is calming down feelings when going there because the place where I lived first in Kyoto was nearby.



My purpose was “furuhon matsuri (secondhand book fair)” which 39 secondhand book stores from Kinki district concentrate at “Tadasu no Mori” of Shimogamo shrine, which is world heritage. Although usually “matsuri” means festival which is sponsored by the shrine and has festive mood, in this “furuhon matsuri”, it is merely that many tents that are full of secondhand books line from the edge of south of riding grounds which is used to do “Yabusame (horseback archery)” to north. Not that there are various stalls. It is “matsuri (a fair)” that is held by Kyoto Kosho Kenkyukai (Kyoto secondhand book store group), started from 19 years ago.



However I think that this “matsuri” has the most festive mood in three of large-scale “furuhon matsuri” that are held every year in Kyoto. It is called “Noryo furuhon Matsuri”, “Noryo” means cooling oneself. It is more comfortably that you spend time there than the center of city because a lot of big trees which are standing on both sides make shade even in the noon. But I think that it seems to joyful event because this season is horribly hot so neither guests nor store assistants can spend without festive mood even if you are under big trees.



As for storekeepers, work is left to part-timers, they drink the beer on the side of the brook, read a book, and are taking a nap. When I saw that scene, I could understand that this event is held not only for the guests cool themselves but also for the storekeepers do it.



Now to report about the secondhand books. There were eight-hundred-thousand books whose price are from 50 yen to one-hundred-thousand yen a book there! For example, a paperback, a magazine, a dictionary, a scientific book, a pictorial record, a map, a picture book, a foreign book, a out-of-print book, a print (ukiyo-e), and an old folding fan, a child book, and a cartoon etc.. The person who likes secondhand book was looking for his/her wanted objects as he/she choose. Old lady, old man, children, and dog too.



People are so tired. It is hot. People are bitten by mosquitoes. It might become a shower. The hands become dirty gradually whenever people touch the secondhand book. Nevertheless, the person who likes secondhand book keep looking for his/her wanted objects seriously, silently for a long time. I also look for a curious object. I cannot possibly visit all stores in few hours. Therefore, I become to want to come here for the next day too.

When just I was tired, the sales message was broadcast from the rest stand. “Wouldn’t you like to eat some shaved ice (with syrup) and a cold beer?”

When I looked toward the direction where it smelled peculiar, I saw that the store assistant was applying the medicine to stop itching again and again between the books. Naturally there were a lot of mosquitoes in these surroundings. Therefore necessity of store assistants is mosquito repellent coils. And “uchiwa (fan)”, beer, too!



I saw some foreigners who had a shopping bag. They might be the international students, or might have bought prints (ukiyo-e), or might have come here to watch “Kyoto people who are gazing to the secondhand books”.

I don’t know that I meet to what kind of book until I come here. So I have an exciting feeling! It is different from when I go to bookstores. And there is “amusingly languorous” atmosphere against the background of cicada’s voice. It is “amusingly languorous” and “curious” space. I am surprised every year that I have come to this “matsuri” yet again!

I worry whether my words can convey this feeling. All the more it might be difficult for the foreigner to understand it. And even if you are here, it might be the “culture of Japan” that you might be difficult to realizing, or the “culture of a secondhand book-lover”.



Kyoto Kosho Kenkyukai (Kyoto secondhand book store group) hold the large-scale “furuhon matsuri” three times every year in Kyoto city.
Spring: at Kyoto city Kangyo-kan from 1st to 5th May.
Summer: at Shimogamo shrine from 11th to 16th August.
Autumn: at Chion-ji temple at the beginning of November.