Japan

With regard to memory, think of it like this: From the innumerable events that have happened in a person’s past, that person chooses only those events that are compatible with their present goals, gives meaning to them, and turns them into memories. And conversely, events that run counter to the present goals are erased.

There is an old Japanese term that perfectly sums up this surfeit of content: “tsundoku.” It means the piling up of unread books. In the twenty-first century, we all live in the shadow of an enormous multimedia tsundoku.

all the habits I’ve acquired over my lifetime I’d have to say this one has been the most helpful, the most meaningful.

Now, though, I realize that all I can place in the imperfect vessel of writing are imperfect memories and imperfect thoughts. The more the memories of Naoko inside me fade, the more deeply I am able to understand her.

Human beings had created words to communicate with the dead, and with those yet unborn.

And it was the kind of thing that loses the most important nuances when reduced to words.

“I can never say what I want to say,” continued Naoko. “It’s been like this for a while now. I try to say something, but all I get are the wrong words – the wrong words or the exact opposite words from what I mean. I try to correct myself, and that only makes it worse. I lose track of what I was trying to say to begin with. It’s like I’m split in