To be honest, I’ve never believed that life is a vast wilderness.
But I firmly believe that while the path may have narrowed, it’s still passable. After all, as someone told us long ago, there were no paths in the world to begin with; they only became paths because so many people walked them.
This book introduces 12 people who have chosen unconventional paths, including a used bookstore owner, a waste collector, a freelance photographer, a professional tattoo artist, and others. Some were pushed in a different direction by life, while others chose to turn their own course. Reading their stories feels like living through several lifetimes. Ordinary people who have been laid off, had their salaries cut, or feel stuck in their current situation might find a glimpse of other possibilities here.
As the preface states: “Looking at the current situation, it seems the path has narrowed, but it is still passable. In their words, I hear not rousing, inspirational tales, but wisdom on how to face uncertainty and ambiguity with the abilities one already possesses.”
This statement rings true. There are no rags-to-riches stories in this book—only the act of living.
Comedian Shuichi Takizawa entertains audiences on stage, but offstage he has another profession. He connects with people through trash, using these stories to craft his comedy routines that delight his audience. Yet he also turns around and earnestly tells everyone that trash actually stems from the arrogance in our hearts—and that perhaps there is no such thing as trash in this world. He isn’t chasing a dream; he’s simply trying to stay as close as possible to what he loves while making a living. This is more practical than chasing a dream—and far more difficult.
Tomoko Uda certainly doesn’t feel her choice was a mistake; she firmly believes she chose to stay in Okinawa. Even though she doesn’t know how to drive, and even though she has to pay higher shipping fees for books than before, she is deeply gratified that she finally has the chance to truly connect with her customers—something she never dared to imagine in a large bookstore. She finally has the opportunity to have meaningful conversations with her customers, and she also has the time to ask herself: When most people turn right, can I turn left?
After reading this book Extra ordinary from cover to cover, the most immediate reaction is, “There are people who live like this” and “It’s possible to live like this.” This leads one to reflect on one’s own life and begin to ask, “How can I live?” and “What else can I do?” In an era obsessed with efficiency, outside the mainstream order, there are always people who, in their own clumsy ways, are trying to live a life that feels more like their own. Yoshii Shinobu has written down these people’s stories—not to offer any earth-shattering answers, but simply to whisper to you: the path may be narrow, but it is still passable.
