昨日からはお盆休暇が一般的になってきました。
　高齢者の早朝散歩でもすこし変化があって、朝ご飯を遅めにしてふだんなかなか来られない北大構内散歩を夫婦一緒で行って参りました。ヒグマ騒動以来、札幌の真ん中にあって周囲の広大な自然林からは、幹線道路群によってほぼ孤立しているのに、太古のこの地のたたずまいが薫っている北大構内の魅力を味わっています。
　ただ、北大まではクルマで駐車場への移動になるので、ひとりのときは逆にメンドイ。
　気分的にもゆったりできる休暇日には格好と思った次第。
　案の定、北大の学生さんや教職員のみなさんも少なめで、また観光客も少なくゆったり散歩8000歩以上。
　で、休日中に「孫預かり」予定もあるのでいま話題の「こども本の森 札幌・北大」を事前チェック。あ、この施設は主に「事前予約制」であり、予定する日はすでにいっぱいなのですが、当方の孫はまだ「本を読む」ことはできない年齢なので、読書の雰囲気に馴染ませることが主目的。
　最近、日本人の本離れが指摘されますが、やはり読書は最高の「認識」向上機会。本離れが加速するほど、逆に読書習慣はその重要度が増していくのではないかと予想しています。とくに「想像力」が増進する童話や、子ども向けの本は、文化認識の基盤として重要度が増してくると思われます。
　そんな想いで、こちらの施設を参観してみた次第。もちろん早朝なので開場前でもあり、周辺のたたずまい、雰囲気を味わうのが主眼。
　思いの通り、北大構内のサクシュコトニ川のほとりで緑あふれる環境立地。周辺には大好きな川の水の「吹き出し口」があって、いのちの循環感に満ちている雰囲気。北大正門にもほど近い。
　そして緑の環境の中、正面側壁面はすべてガラス張りで、のびやかな曲面で構成されている。ガラス越しに内部空間が視認できますが、本の選択に於いてもたいへん工夫されていることがうかがわれた。一度はこの空間の中で本が醸し出す「世界観」を涵養することは成長を促してくれると勝手に想像していました。
　北大の空間は日本でダントツの雰囲気環境で、世界全体でも第７位という解説もありますが、自然と「学ばさる」（若干北海道弁）環境だと思えます。さて、孫はどういう「反応」を示すか、楽しみ。
　まぁ、ボーッとしている一択でしょうが（笑）。

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

[Children’s Book Forest, Sapporo/Hokkaido University—Thumbs Up!]
I don’t get to come here very often, but a new library for young children has opened on the Hokkaido University campus. I really resonate with this concept. My doting grandparent mode is in full swing…

　Since yesterday, the Obon holiday has generally begun.
There’s been a slight change in our early-morning walks as well; we had a late breakfast and went for a walk together as a couple on the Hokkaido University campus—a place we don’t usually get to visit. Ever since the brown bear incident, even though the campus is located right in the heart of Sapporo and is almost completely isolated from the vast natural forests surrounding it by a network of major roads, we’ve been savoring the charm of the Hokkaido University campus, which exudes the atmosphere of this land’s ancient past.
　However, since we have to drive to the parking lot at Hokkaido University, it’s actually a bit of a hassle when I’m alone.
　I figured it would be perfect for a holiday when I wanted to take it easy.
　Sure enough, there were relatively few Hokkaido University students, faculty, and staff, and few tourists as well, so we enjoyed a leisurely stroll of over 8,000 steps.
　Also, since I’m scheduled to “babysit” my grandchild over the holiday, I checked out the much-talked-about “Children’s Book Forest Sapporo・Hokkaido University” in advance. Oh, this facility operates primarily on an “advance reservation system,” and the dates I had in mind were already fully booked. However, since my grandchild isn’t yet old enough to “read books,” my main goal is simply to acclimate them to the atmosphere of reading.
　Lately, there’s been talk about Japanese people drifting away from books, but reading is still the best opportunity to enhance “cognitive development.” I predict that the more this trend accelerates, the more important the habit of reading will become. In particular, children’s books and fairy tales—which foster “imagination”—are likely to grow in importance as the foundation of cultural awareness.
　With these thoughts in mind, I decided to visit this facility. Of course, since it was early in the morning, it wasn’t open yet, so my main focus was on taking in the surroundings and atmosphere.
As I had imagined, it’s located in a lush, green setting along the Sakushkotoni River on the Hokkaido University campus. Nearby is a “spout” where water flows from the river—a feature I love—creating an atmosphere brimming with a sense of the cycle of life. It’s also quite close to the main gate of Hokkaido University.
　Set amidst this green environment, the front facade is entirely glass and features graceful, curved surfaces. While the interior space is visible through the glass, I could tell that great care had been taken in the selection of books. I couldn’t help but imagine that spending time in this space, immersing oneself in the “worldview” evoked by the books, would foster personal growth.
　Hokkaido University’s campus boasts an atmosphere that is unrivaled in Japan—some sources even rank it seventh in the world—and I feel it’s an environment where one is naturally “taught” (to use a bit of Hokkaido dialect). Now, I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of “reaction” my grandchild will have.
Well, I suppose the only option is for him to just zone out (laughs).

● Announcement
My book, *Writers and Living Spaces*, has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.

Posted on 8月 12th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類