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It is only natural that when one seeks to do something, and that something requires money, the question of “significance” arises. And that when that “significance” is put to paper, it often seems superficial and over-generalized, leaving one feeling somehow befuddled.

In fact, our society is full of things done after their “significance” has been explained. Given this, society should be constantly improving, but I can’t help feeling that this isn’t the case (Indeed, recently my sense is that things are getting worse, which has got me thinking along these lines). Is there anything significant about “significance”?

With regard to the significance of Japanese literature, this author’s specialty, the prosaic response might be that this is material that I, as a Japanese, “need to know about.” (These very words often appear on book jackets in bookstores.) One might ask whether this is material foreigners also “need to know about?” But the people who insist on the significance of Japanese literature apparently spare little thought for anyone who is not Japanese, and assume that foreigners are incapable of understanding its significance. The “wow Japan” phenomenon is an extension of this.

It is true that there are things whose “significance” is not apparent, and often, if the “significance” of something cannot be explained, then its existence may not be recognized. However, there are many things which are interesting, make us feel good, or give us a sense of well-being without our being able to explain their significance (I believe that this in itself is significant). Significance is closely related to values. Values vary greatly across time and space. So just because something cannot be explained, that does not mean it has no significance. Rather, it is precisely those things which we cannot explain the “significance” of that have the potential to relativize our current values.

When one is fascinated by something, it is not because of its “significance,” but due to chance, or the sensibilities of the person in question. That is why “presence” matters. At the same time, what interests one person will not necessarily interest others. Different people have different sensibilities. I for one am drawn to people with the capacity to appreciate the appeal of things generally held worthless, meaningless, or boring. Thanks to such people, I have often made new discoveries. A mature society must leave room for not just what is socially and authoritatively determined to be of “significance,” but also for the existence of things which are not well understood.

Reflecting on literature at Iwo-To.（Photo by the author）