notice

Release date: September 28, 2026

■Name:
KK

■Faculty and Major at the University of Tokyo:
Faculty of Letters (Japanese Literature Specialization), Graduated in 2019

■Currently employed publishing company
Keiso Shobo Co., Ltd.
Website: https://www.keisoshobo.co.jp/

■How I spent my time in university
I belonged to the athletic club (archery club), so most of my memories of university life are related to club activities. I was a beginner at archery when I started in university, but I enjoyed it because my shooting was directly reflected in the score. As a result, I think I was not a good student in my undergraduate studies, lacking in study, research, and talent.

■My relationship with books and the university bookstore during my university years
It may seem strange for someone majoring in Japanese literature, but I didn't read that many books during my student days. This is because I have a habit of trying to digest everything I read to the fullest extent, which makes me an extremely slow reader, and it wasn't uncommon for it to take me more than a month to finish a single paperback. I probably bought more manga at the university bookstore.

■ How I Chose the Publishing Industry Despite
being such an unserious student, when it came to job hunting, I strangely narrowed my focus to publishing. I believe that deciding what one's profession is, in essence, a declaration of what one values ​​in this society. I suppose I found that in the publishing industry, which expands and connects knowledge... that might sound a bit pretentious, but I don't think it's entirely a lie.

■What kind of work do I do?
As an editor, I am involved in planning and editing. Primarily in the fields of philosophy and ethics, I am involved in everything from initiating the project, organizing the manuscript, arranging the layout and book design, to sending out complimentary copies after publication.

■Characteristics and appeal of the publishing company I work for:
Keisou Shobo has a long history of introducing analytical philosophy to Japan from an early stage. Many of those books have become classics, continuing to be read for decades after their publication and going through multiple reprints. Of course, not all books can achieve that, and I feel the pressure to create books that will endure for decades to come, but I think one of the attractions of working here is being involved in the process of inheriting the knowledge accumulated by our predecessors.

■Thoughts from working in the publishing industry
Publishing has two aspects: that of a "medium" that mediates and transmits information, and that of a "manufacturer" that creates books as a product. Books have played a certain role in the media due to their nature—a collection of structured texts, easy to lend and borrow, relatively high durability, etc. However, ebooks have now become widespread, and there are probably many people who only buy books electronically. Now that the physical condition of a book as a collection of ink and paper is changing, I feel that the role that publishing plays in the media is being questioned once again.

■Job Satisfaction and Enjoyment
A book exists because of its author, so the content is the author's. However, a book is made up of many other elements. For example, how many lines and characters should fit on one page? What size should the headings be? Should the notes be compiled at the end of the chapter or at the end of the book? Of course, these are decided in consultation with the author, but there is a great deal of discretion on the part of the editor. I believe that one of the editor's major roles is to consider and organize the book in the most desirable form.

■Our Recommended Product and Why:
"What It Is Like to Be a Bat" by Thomas Nagel, translated by Hitoshi Nagai (1989, revised edition 2023).
This is a collection of essays by Thomas Nagel, one of America's leading analytical philosophers. The essay that gives the book its Japanese title remains a classic in the philosophy of mind and continues to exert significant influence. This is evident in the fact that this book, originally published in 1989, was reissued in a revised edition in 2023, more than 30 years later. As the original title, "Mortal Questions,"suggests, this book contains essays on a wide range of topics, including death, the meaning of life, war, and equality, making it a recommended read for those who want to "sample" the content according to their interests.

■Message to University of Tokyo
Students: University is a very fortunate time for learning—both academically and otherwise. Every experience can be a source of learning, but because of this, you may sometimes find yourself unsure of what to rely on. The answer lies within yourself, or in the future, but perhaps you can find a hint in the writings of those who came before you. Why not buy a book to keep you company on those sleepless nights?

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