Books Recommended by the Concierge Vol.54-57
All Shiba Park Hotel guests are welcome to use the Library Lounge on the first floor. Omotenashi Concierges recommend books to you from Japanese and foreign books. Please enjoy a moment to read books.
All Shiba Park Hotel guests are welcome to use the Library Lounge on the first floor. Omotenashi Concierges recommend books to you from Japanese and foreign books. Please enjoy a moment to read books.
Photo: Masafumi Sanai
Publisher: TAISYO Label
This is a collection of photographs by Masafumi Sanai that captured everyday scenes and things. As you read on, it is interesting to see actors and singers suddenly appear, which he has photographed in the past. Since the photo book was published at his own expense and has no captions or descriptions, why not take a moment to look closely at each piece of photographs and accept your feelings. As the photographer said, “I choose paper that is easily damaged, so that the more deeply you look at the pages, the better the photo book gets over time, just like used jeans,” the photo book fits well in your hand and is somehow nostalgic from the moment you pick it up. My favorite is the one that captured a legendary rock star smiling on a street corner. Kiyoshiro, FOREVER.
Author: Rieko Nakagawa
Illustrator: Yuriko Omura
Publisher: Fukuinkan Shoten Publishers, Inc.,
I think you may have read this picture book “Guri and Gura” before. This is written by sisters Reiko Nakagawa and Yuriko Omura, and published in 1963. Since then, the book is very popular and it has been translated into 10 languages. This “Guri and Gura” with yellow book cover that I am introducing this time is a limited edition published in 2023 as 60th anniversary of the story. Guri and Gura are twin brothers. Can you guess which one is Guri and which one is Gura? The answer is shown on the book cover.
The story begins with Guri and Gura, field mice who love cooking, going into the forest to search for ingredients. They are so happy to find a large egg in the middle of the path. After considering whether to make a fried egg or a roll omelet, they finally decide to make a sponge cake instead. What do you think happened next? This book seems to convey the importance of flexibility, creativity, and working together with friends. Why not read the book and check out their cute songs as well.
Author: Kanyada
Editor: Studio Ghibli
Publisher: Discover
This is the first official photo book of Ghibli Museum.
It includes a wealth of photographs from inside the museum, place where photography is usually not allowed, such as Totoro’s reception desk, the big cat bus, and the robot soldier from Castle in the Sky.
My recommended photos are those of the stained glass windows scattered throughout the museum. The way the sunlight streams through the character-depicted windows, casting vibrant light, is truly beautiful. I highly recommend you take a look.
I have visited the Ghibli Museum several times, and each visit offers new discoveries and shows a different side of it. It is a very mysterious and attractive place.
No matter how many times you visit the museum, you can always discover something new, and this book is a delight for everyone.
Illustrator: Tokyo Genso
Publisher: GEIJUTSU SHINBUNSHA
“Tokyo fantasy” as its name suggests, this is the collection that has been drawn fantastical landscapes in Tokyo.
The cover draws me in, and as I turn the pages, I find the familiar streets of Tokyo transformed into unimaginable scenes. It is an exciting adventure, like exploring a city I think I know but have never seen like this before.
My favorite collection is “Shoheibashi Genso.” It feels like being in an underwater or a starry sky, making me wonder if I am swimming or flying. It is very mysterious, and I love it because there are so many different ways to interpret it.
Why not lose yourself in this strange world and find your own favorite fantasy?
From the moment you open the book, you are drawn into a world of fantasy.