Resting with a Good Audiobook
After a vaccine weekend and some much-needed rest, I slowed things down and let myself enjoy an audiobook I've been meaning to try: Kokuhou.
This past weekend, I got both my COVID and flu vaccines just in case, and I’ve been taking things slow since then. Today was another day of rest—partly precautionary, but also necessary. I’ve got quite a few things piling up, like final checks for my Fire Horse submission to RISO POP and preparing the horse fortunes for the upcoming DePaul Zine Fest. But I figured it’s better to rest well now and be fully charged when the time comes to hustle.
That said, I didn’t want the day to pass by in a complete blur, so I finally tried something a friend recommended: listening to an audiobook with good headphones, doing absolutely nothing else. I chose the novel Kokuhou ("National Treasure"), the original story behind the Japanese film that was a big hit last year.
The story follows a boy from Nagasaki, the son of a yakuza, who ends up staying with a kabuki family in Osaka due to complicated circumstances. Eventually, he finds himself entering the world of kabuki. I'm only halfway through, but wow—his life is full of dramatic ups and downs. Despite being an outsider in a world that values bloodlines above all, his natural beauty, presence, and deep love for the art push him forward. Even when he’s repeatedly beaten down by the harshness of the world around him, he keeps climbing back up. His passion for kabuki and the sheer will to perform are inspiring.
Only finished the first half so far, but it’s been nonstop emotional tension! I heard the movie version is coming to the U.S. next month—it’s a long one (about 3 hours), but I’m definitely going to see it in theaters!