Kyoto Used Book Fair

"You don't find books. They find you."

I love books. When I moved to Japan and purged almost all of my belongings, there were two categories that were the most difficult to consider parting with: meaningful items I had collected over the years from travels and people who had gifted me items, and my books. I freely let go of everything else. Although It could be argued that I had numerous books on my shelf that were half read or I was still getting around to, I would say that if my house had been on fire, after grabbing my most personal items, I would have grabbed as many books as I could save. So while I am here in Japan, I have a handful of boxes of books that are waiting for me on the other end of the journey.

So when I heard about the Kyoto Used Book Festival, I couldn’t wait to check it out. Held over the course of a week in August, the fair takes place along the forested path leading up to the Shimogamo Shrine. Being just a bike ride away, I made my way over in the 100 degree heat.

Upon arrival, one thing I could immediately tell, Japanese are readers. The pathway of tables on each side seemed to be miles long and readers were everywhere.  It was wonderful to see the small children with their parents sitting beside the river reading their books.

I lost all sense of time and place as I got immersed into the world of Japanese books, magazines, artwork, postcards, scrolls.  Then something amazing happened.  Before I came to Japan I had come across a book on Sumi-e,  which is Japanese Brush Painting.  This is something I developed an interest in along with calligraphy. 

One day I purchased the book from a used book store by a Japanese artist giving a basic overview and instruction for Sumi-e.  I thought it was such a beautiful book and when I got home I was amazed to see that the author, from Japan, had signed the inside of the book on my birthday.  Not just my birthday, but my actual birth day.  Synchronicity. The book was $5.

So here I am year later on the other side of the planet, at the Kyoto Used Book Fair, making my way through what seems like miles and miles of book tables, rummaging through stack after stack of books, all in Japanese characters.  I come across this one beautiful book that captures my interest because it has lots of beautiful sumi-e artwork in it.  After thumbing through all the way to the back of the book, I see that the author is the same artist who had signed the book I picked up a year ago back home.  Now that's synchronicity.  I was able to purchase the book for $4.

When you come across a find like that at a used book fair or used book store and walk away with a diamond you found amongst the rubble for just $4, it makes for a day you won’t soon forget.