Akira Ikegami “The book that determined my professional life” When I was in 6th grade, I decided to “become a newspaper reporter working in a rural area.” | AERA dot.

It’s up to you where you read, whether it’s on a trip or leisurely at home, but please take a break from your busy daily life and spend some time with a book. We asked journalist Akira Ikegami about his recommended books and bookstores. From the combined issue of AERA April 29, 2024-May 6, 2024.

[Photo]Akira Ikegami, here are the 3 recommended books

＊ ＊ ＊

The first book is “Continued Local Reporter”. This is the book that defined my professional life. Looking at the colophon, it says “Published on August 10, 1964.” The regular price is 320 yen.

When I was in the 6th grade of elementary school, I found this book at a bookstore near my home and bought it with my pocket money. It was a sequel after “Local Reporter” came out.

I was completely fascinated by the story of newspaper reporters working in rural areas competing with other companies to find suspects before the police, and stories of love stories, and decided that in the future I would become a newspaper reporter working in rural areas. did. I ended up joining NHK, but as I had hoped, I worked in Shimane and Hiroshima prefectures.

The second book is Kunio Yanagida’s “Mach’s Terror”. Mr. Yanagita is a senior member of NHK’s Social Affairs Department and someone I admire. A document that approaches the mystery of three aircraft accidents that occurred in 1966 when he was in the social affairs department. This is a masterpiece that made me wonder, “Do reporters do such detailed research?”

Mr. Yanagita eventually left NHK mid-way and worked as a freelance journalist. I too chose the same path, albeit late.

The third book is Genzaburo Yoshino’s “How do you live?” This is a novel that his father bought for me when I was in elementary school. My experiences during my junior high school days under the old system, nicknamed “Koper-kun,” made me think about how humans should live.

Bookstores relieve stress

When I freelanced for a commercial television program, I filmed on location at Libro Ikebukuro Main Store, which was located inside Seibu Ikebukuro Main Store, and the next day, a large number of people flocked to the store, and the books I featured on the program sold out in no time. When I was told that it had happened, I realized just how powerful the influence of television was and was scared.

Going to a bookstore is a refreshing change of pace and a stress reliever. When I’m feeling stressed out, I relieve myself by impulsively buying a bunch of books at a bookstore. As a result, I am surrounded by tons of books that I can’t finish reading. (contribution)