At times like this, adults need a drink

I want to write about people who dream and wait for the night to end, who long for the light so they can hold the ones they love.

Our responsibility begins with our imagination.

It's a question of attitude. If you really work at something you can do it up to a point. If you really work at being happy you can do it up to a point. But anything more than that you can't. Anything more than that is luck.

I've translated a lot of American literature into Japanese, and I think that what makes a good translator is, above all, a feel for language and also a great affection for the work you're translating. If one of those elements is missing the translation won't be worth much.

I don't really know if it's the right thing to do, making new life. Kids grow up, generations take their place. What does it all come to? More hills bulldozed and more ocean fronts filled in? Faster cars and more cats run over? Who needs it?

I want you always to remember me. Will you remember that I existed, and that I stood next to you here like this?