VOL.8
Yoshii Shinobu: Starting from an 8m² World
Yoshii Shinobu is a Chinese-language writer and translator. After living in China for many years, she returned from Beijing to Tokyo and began rebuilding her life in a mere eight-square-meter room. Through her works, we witness how she vividly portrays the lives of diverse individuals with her unique perspective and profound insight.
"Tokyo's Eight-Square-Meter Room," a work that has sparked significant popularity and resonance, reveals how a woman starts from a confined space to pursue an unconstrained lifestyle. Within standardized urban living, it shows us the courage to break away from predetermined paths.
The stories penned by Yoshii Shinobu resonate deeply precisely because they are not a romanticized escape from reality, but rather a lucid and warm-hearted choice of freedom.
Starting from the confined physical space of eight square meters, one actually gains a broader perspective - the neighborhood sentō, kissaten, independent bookstores, and conversations with diverse members of society become windows through which to observe the city and connect with the community. This practice of "discovering the vast within the small" is not only a reflection on material desires but also offers insights into how we might balance social conventions with personal freedom in this highly mobile modern society. The richness of life never depends on the size of our space, but on the breadth of our perspective.
Q&A
Q1. Many young people often find themselves in a state of uncertainty about what to do with their lives after graduation or starting work. How can one coexist with this aimless phase and find a path toward greater freedom?
I also experienced this state for quite a long time. After graduation, I only knew what I didn't want to do, but it took me a long time to figure out what I truly wanted to pursue.
Later, I went abroad to places like Taipei, Manila, and southern France. During that period, it seemed like I was constantly seeking a life of wandering and drifting.
So I truly understand the younger generation struggling to find their direction in their twenties. I think it's completely normal - they can take their time to figure things out. I also understand how this situation can lead to feelings of unease or anxiety.
I went to France on a working holiday visa for a year because I heard the French really know how to enjoy life. I wanted to see it for myself. After going there, I gradually observed their approach to life - they truly never rush and are masters of living in the present.
Q2. Have you ever had experience working as a regular employee? What were your thoughts and feelings about it at the time?
At that time, I worked for a Japanese media company. My days started very early and ended late, often working overtime until 11 pm or midnight. This kind of work continued on and off for about three to five years.
Having a fixed income, a fixed workplace, and a fixed position actually had a significant impact on me. It allowed me to focus on absorbing knowledge without constant worry - because when you're constantly living a transient life, having to think about survival and where to live next, your attention becomes fragmented.
Since I was still young then, I was very willing to put in effort for something. But the problem was, I couldn't find my direction. I didn't know where to channel my energy, and this lack of direction was quite distressing. I clearly knew I had the perseverance, but just didn't know where to apply it.
Q3. If you could have a conversation with yourself in your twenties, what would you want to say to her?
If there's something you want to do, try your best to do it without overthinking.
The things you want to do now might not even cross your mind next year or in a couple of years, and that would be such a pity.
So if there's something you want to do now, do your best to make it happen. Looking back at the things I’ve done and tried, even if some felt like failures or didn’t turn out well, I’ve never truly regretted any of them.
Q4. What does true freedom mean to you?
Forget yourself - I think that's what makes you feel truly free. You'll find yourself thinking, "Wow, this scenery is so beautiful," or while chatting with friends, you'll feel, "Ah, life is truly wonderful." In those moments, you're hardly focused on yourself. Letting go of self-consciousness is, I believe, the essence of freedom.
During our growth, school education encourages you to express your individuality, which helps you understand who you are and what your strengths are. But sometimes, you need to let go of this self-focused mindset.
Q5. Does "A Different Way of Living" describe a free way of existence?
The word "GE WAI" has several meanings. For example, it can mean "exceptionally good," or in Japanese contexts, it can refer to produce that doesn't meet standard specifications - often used to describe vegetables or fruits that are non-standard.
After farmers harvest their vegetables or fruits, they send them to the agricultural association. They submit these agricultural products to the association, which then sorts them according to specific standards - for example, checking whether a cucumber is straight enough or meets certain appearance criteria. Those that don’t meet the standards are sold to others at a lower price. We ordinary consumers really like buying these “imperfect” produce. They might look a bit unusual or not as pretty, but they’re just as delicious, and the quality isn’t affected at all.
Sometimes I feel the same about people. Perhaps the path they've chosen isn't quite mainstream, but their way of being is truly interesting, and there's still something we can learn from them. The phrase "beyond standards" carries this dual meaning - it speaks both to what falls outside conventions and to what holds something extraordinary. That's why we used it in the book title, to evoke these layered interpretations.
"I wish to quietly dedicate this book to those who are going to create a new life.
Your 'smallness' is not a problem, because the world outside is large enough."