VOX POPULI: Efficient e-books expand choice, but at a cost

When packing for a vacation trip, I usually slip a book into my bag. But once on the road, I usually become too busy being a tourist to bother with the book. I can spare little time for reading.

I had to smile when I came across this senryu poem by Sajin Omi (1908-1979): "The bookmark had moved only a little/ By the time my trip ended."

The Haidan haiku poetry section of the vernacular Asahi Shimbun recently ran this piece: "About 10 pages/ Browsed by the spring breeze."

The breeze riffles the pages of a book that lies open--perhaps a collection of short love stories, or so I imagine. If it is summer and the book has been left in the shade of a tree, I'd say it's more likely a mystery or suspense novel.

But such poetic sentiments, evoked by a bookmark or breeze, may eventually become things of the past.

The iPad, a new tablet computer designed by Apple Inc. of the United States, hit the Japanese market amid great fanfare. No bigger than a weekly magazine, the gadget is loaded with functions and potential.

Of particular interest is its application as an electronic book, content for which can be downloaded through the Internet for a price.

The United States is ahead of Japan in this field, and I understand that many Americans are now switching from conventional printed books to e-books. Some have even declared they will no longer buy printed books.

Once the lineup of available titles becomes more extensive, an e-book device will allow its owner to travel anywhere with his or her own "library." That would be revolutionary indeed, but I personally still like the idea of slipping a book into my travel bag.

And for bookworms, few things beat the pleasure of browsing in a bookstore and choosing that one book to take along on a trip.

I wonder if digital books will some day dominate the market in place of conventional books.

Still, many people have special feelings for printed books.

Recall these words of poet Daigaku Horiguchi (1892-1981): "Even at the pain of death, I would never allow a volume of Manyoshu or Kokinshu to be bound in leather." Horiguchi was a bibliophile who firmly believed that a fine book had to have an appearance matching its content. Manyoshu and Kokinshu are collections of ancient Japanese poetry.

Because of my profession, I, too, am a bibliophile of the old school. Still, I'm prepared to put my prejudices aside and welcome the digital age that will expand my choices.

--The Asahi Shimbun, May 29

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.