He's a shy man. Life has taught him not to show off what is most precious to him.

Any writer will be happy and good only if they know what they're doing and why they're doing it.

So you want another story?" Uhh... no. We would like to know what really happened." Doesn't the telling of something always become a story?" Uhh... perhaps in English. In Japanese a story would have an element of invention in it. We don't want any invention. We want the 'straight facts,' as you say in English." Isn't telling about something--using words, English or Japanese--already something of an invention? Isn't just looking upon this world already something of an invention?

Afterwards, when it's all over, you meet God. What do you say to God?

If literature does one thing, it makes you more empathetic by making you live other lives and feel the pain of others. Ideologues don't feel the pain of others because they haven't imaginatively got under their skins.

Words are much better at relating emotions and thoughts.

It was as unbelievable as the moon catching fire.