最近、何かいい本読みましたか? (Saikin, nani ka ii hon yomimashita ka?, Have you read any good books lately?) If you have, then this is the time to share what you know. September marks the start of 読書の秋 (dokusho no aki, the autumn of reading) in Japan.
The fall probably has a literary vibe about it thanks to the fact that this is when children go back to school after the summer holidays. 今年の夏休みはコロナ禍のせいで例年より短かった (Kotoshi no natsuyasumi wa korona-ka no sei de reinen yori mijikakatta, This year’s summer holidays were shorter than usual due to the corona crisis), but many people think of reading and writing regardless.
That may be why I’ve already made my pilgrimage to the 文房具 (bunbōgu, stationery) section at my local department store. If you’re a 文房具オタク (bunbōgu otaku, stationery nerd) like I am, then these departments are your must-go destination whenever you need to stock up on new supplies. There are pens of every 色 (iro, color) and 太さ (futosa, thickness), from 0.3 millimeters to 1.0 millimeters. ノート (nōto, notebooks) come in many sizes and types such as 無地のノート (muji no nōto, a notebook with blank paper inside), 罫線入りのノート (keisen-iri no nōto, a notebook with lined paper inside) and 方眼紙のノート (hōganshi no nōto, a notebook with grid paper inside).