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Rediscover the charm of Kita-Senju! Kita-Senju Women-SENJO- Tour of book spots

  • 2018年10月30日
  • December 22, 2021
SENJO
Photography: Yuki Kato

Nowadays, Kita-Senju has often been featured in magazines and media.
今、そんな北千住に「SENJO」と呼ばれる女性たちの”新しいブーム”が起きていることはご存じでしょうか。
SENJO means Kita-Senju Women = commonly called Senjo
It is about the women who rediscover the new charm of Kita-Senju and enjoy Kita-Senju life to the full.
"SENJO" who push their way to the latest lifestyle.

This time, the theme is "SENJO enjoy Kita-Senju where books are close to us".
In autumn for reading, we will introduce three spots where you can read books, and welcome event information.

​ ​This time SENJO who walks around Senju is...

Senjō
PROFILE: Ms. Suzu Kobayashi is in her twenties, from Adachi city and lives here. She works at a printing company, Age Corporation (http://ag-print.com/) that has continued for generations in Adachi.

The best library in Adachi boasting about 700,000 volumes of books

SENJO
The number of collections is 693,779 volumes (as of March 31, 2018), the largest in the city.

  

Ms. Kobayashi first visited Adachi City Central Library.
The library moved to the current place in 2000 since it opened in Umeda in 1969.
I asked Ms. Naomi Iizuka, a chief librarian if she would show me around the library located in the 1st to 3rd floors of the 7-story building "Adachi Learning Center (nickname: Manabi Pier 21)" that overlooks the Arakawa River.

"The Central Library can accommodate 391 people over three floors. The first floor has magazines, newspapers, CDs and DVDs. The third floor has artistic books, various dictionaries, human documents and complete works. The second floor with a reception has literatures, arts, sports, paperbacks, children's books including picture books, books for junior high and high school students, maps, foreign books and how-to books for daily life, etc. In the building, we have set up two special sections featuring "Recommended books for women"."

SENJO
Ms. Naomi Iizuka : She was involved in efforts to enjoy reading picture books from childhood in the former pre-school education promotion section. She has worked as a chief librarian of Adachi City Central Library since 2017.

And then she took me to the special section of "Children's Book Part" set up at the entrance of Children's Book Section.​ ​
Ms. Kobayashi who saw the bookshelf was greatly impressed.

"There is a familiar book, "Kiki's Delivery Service". I remember that I had read it over and over again until I memorized the whole contents."

"Please look in at the corner of picture books too, since you came here. There are many picture books even adults can enjoy reading and besides, there are some unusual picture books here."​ ​

When I went back in the forest of picture books as I was told, there was a large picture book corner there.

"We lend it only to groups, such as reading circle, but it is immensely popular with children. We also read picture books to children putting stuffed toys associated with the story so that everyone can enjoy the story world."

Ms. Kobayashi completely seems to become a child again while turning over the page.

SENJO
The size 42cm × 58cm is almost twice as large as the usual picture book

"Next, another special section of "Recommended books for women" is General Book Part. Other 4 young people including a male staff have carefully selected the books."

"Many books catch my eye, so I want to read everything."
Apparently Ms. Kobayashi loved books as she went to the library every week when she was a schoolchild.

"I was a child who liked to read a favorite book repeatedly, but when I was a junior high school student, I rarely visit the library. I am glad that I could really come back after a long time today, I will borrow this."

A book Ms. Kobayashi picked telling so, was​ ​"Adult beauty training course for loose women"( written by Tokiyo Knowledge, published by GE Bee).
She told me that she sympathized with the recommended comments. I told that to a staff nearby who selected the book she chose."I imagined that she would be surely interested in such kind of books."said a staff.

As might be expected of a library staff! She grasps readers' mind.

SENJO
Four young members selected 22 books. Each comment is attached to every title.

SENJO
A total of 54 books lined up, a wide range of genres from practical books to novels,

SENJO
Worth seeing the handwriting pop by staffs

"This central library is open until 8 pm, but you can return it to a book chute even after closing. In addition, you can return it to any libraries in the city. Besides libraries, there are also some book chutes in Work Welfare Hall in Ayase, Children's Future Creation Center in Nishiarai (Galaxcity) and Tokyo Denki University in Kita-Senju. Please use a nearby book chute. "

"I can return it to other libraries too! As I learned it, I will stop by a library near my house after a long time while returning it."​ ​

Books for teenagers with pops written by junior high school students
Books for teenagers with pops written by junior high school students

In addition, during the period from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday 10 November (entry until 3:30 pm on the last day), to make the efficient use of books after used at the libraries in the city, "Book of Toraba-yu" will be held at the assembly hall on the 4th floor of Learning Center, the same building as the central library.
You can take it home for free, up to 20 books per person (Up to 2 picture books), so please drop in with your own bag. "Recommended book for women"
[Adachi City Library · Booking system "Special feature section" is here]
※ "List of recommended books for women" can be seen from the special feature section for general. (You can also check the status of lending online)

Central Library

Address: 5-13-5 Senju Adachi (within Manabi Pier 21)
TEL:03-5813-3740
Opening hours: from 9am to 8pm
Book chute available time: from 6am to 9:30pm (However, unavailable from December 28 to January 4)
Closed: The end of the month / the day to arrange books, the special period to arrange books, the beginning and the end of the year

Having a relaxing time to read a book at a six tatami book café owned by a publishing company in the town.

SENJO
The café made from a renovated room in the apartment building over 40 years old.

Next I headed to "book cafe SENJU PLACE" which is about 5 min. walk from the central library. It is only 6 tatami mats size and open on the 2nd floor of a wooden apartment.​ ​
I have to admit that I took Ms. Kobayashi to the cafe in the corner of my office, Senju Publishing where I am the representative as well as a writer.​ ​
In 2015, when I launched a publisher, Senju publishing Co., Ltd. named after Senju, I thought that I would like to make a place to talk about books as well as to hand books.
Therefore, I decided to make use of the corner of the publishing company office as a book café.

"Here, I can relax."

Ms. Kobayashi who sat before a low table set on the tatami seemed to relax her shoulders.
Ms. Akane Kawaguchi, a shop clerk receives an order and makes coffee by hand drip.

Coffee using beans purchased from the roasting place "Aalto Coffee" in Tokushima, mixed coffee with seasonal syrup and handmade sweets by a shop manager, Ms. Ayano Okada are on the menu.

SENJO
The menu of this day is "steamed cake with a milk coffee flavor" (300 yen tax included).
SENJO
Ms. Akane Kawaguchi: She is from Shizuoka prefecture and currently goes to work at Senju Publishing from Chiba prefecture. She is now doing from coffee drip to proofreading. Her favorite book is "The Little Prince".
SENJO
A cup of coffee is 600 yen (tax included). Grind the beans for each cup and extract.

The bookshelf inside the shop has three kinds of roles.
"Book store shelf" where we sell books purchased from Senju publishing books and other companies,
"Collection shelf" where books can be read only inside the café shop,
And "Library shelf" where we lend out books donated by local people etc.​ ​

Ms. Kobayashi was absorbed in reading the latest publication of Senju publishing for a while.

"I couldn't believe whether it was really a café or not until I came in, but once I sit down, I forget about time."

Senju publishing book café, which values tranquility and humor, aims to create a comfortable space where people have a relaxing time to read a book quietly or to talk to a staff with humor.

"An event called Book Knight Salon is held once a month, in which people bring a themed book and share it with them. I sometimes open the shop on weekends, so please do come again."
said Ms. Kawaguchi.

SENJO
The back of the bookshelf is the office of the publishing. The book café and the place to make and deliver the book are united.

A book café with nearly 300 book titles has also coffee and delicious handmade sweets by a shop manager, Ms. Okada.
Please forget about time and enjoy the book while relaxing on the tatami.

book cafe SENJU PLACE

Address: 2F, 3-16 Senju Adachi
TEL: 03-6677-5649
Business hours: From 9:30 to 17:30 (Closed Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays ※ Please inquire before visiting the shop)
home page:http://senju-pub.com/shop/

Special book corner of a bar with more than 250 kinds of rum

SENJO
Opened in 2011. Caribbean music flows comfortably inside the bar.

Lastly, Ms. Kobayashi stopped by "Bar Blue Cane (rum liquor bar)" located in 3-chome Senju as the same area as SENJU PLACE.

The master, Hisatsugu Ohashi was spending his days working at a care business in the daytime and at a bar in the night, when he was in the twenties. After leaving a care business, he became independent over thirty.​ ​

He was fascinated by simple and casual sake, rum. As a result of considering the place along the railroad from his parents home in Ibaraki prefecture, he opened a bar in Kita-Senju.

"There are 40,000 kinds of rum in the world. We easily imagine the islands in the Caribbean or Cuba is a major producer of rum, but in fact the Indian domestic rum boasts its maximum consumption among rum, and also made in Minami-Daito islands in Japan. Thus, rum is popular sake made and drunk around the world."​ ​

SENJO
Mr. Hisatsugu Ohashi: He worked at the Rum Bar KingRum in Ikebukuro after working for several bars, and opened a rum bar, Blue Cane in Kita-Senju in 2011. Currently living in Senju.

Ms. Kobayashi, who first visited a rum shop after having a explanation from Mr. Ohashi, asked for recommendations.

"Do you have a menu easy for women to drink?"

"Well, the seasonal fruits pickled with rum is popular among women, but would you like to start with our mojito? In Cuba, a herb called Yerba Buena is used instead of mint, but it is more refreshing than mint."

And then seeing a glass he served, I found a brimming glass of Yerba Buena.

"This Havana Club is the most popular rum in Cuba, especially three years aged mojito is preferable. It has a good balanced flavor."

"Surely good taste!"said Ms. Kobayashi who enjoys the authentic mojito.

SENJO
It is not too sweet, but on the other hand it is not too dry, so recommended orthodox mojito for rum beginners.

Mr. Ohashi said to her,​ ​"If you would like to know a bit about rum, this book is recommended."Then he picked up, "The Complete Collection of Rum" (written by The Japan Rum Association · published by Seibundo Shinkosha) from the special corner of the bar.
It is a book like an encyclopedia, which introduces 100 classic rums.

By the way, this special book corner was actually produced by Senju Publishing.
I have wanted to create a place with books in the town before, and I found a bookshelf in a corner of my favorite bar, Blue Cane. I asked him​ ​​ ​"Can I select books a little?"​ ​​ ​at the counter and then this corner was born.

"There are many customers who come alone, so it is nice to have books."
​ ​said Mr. Ohashi.
Originally, I added five books to the place where several books were placed.
The selected books are [Magim of the Wind] (by Harada Maha · Kodansha Bunko), [Walking Cuban Music] (by Sakaguchi Toru · Sairyusha Publishing), [Comic Drawing at the End of the World 1 Cuba Edition] (by Yamazaki Mari · Shueisha Creative Comics), [Celebrity Dogs in Omotesando and Stray Dogs in Cabanha Fort] (by Wakabayashi Masayasu · KADOKAWA).
All of them are perfect books to learn about Rum and Cuba.

SENJO
I selected several books that fit the rum and arranged a corner with the books that were placed here from the beginning.
SENJO
A bottle of 100 brands is printed on a large scale, so you can also enjoy seeing "The Complete Collection of Rum".

Ms. Kobayashi, who enjoyed drinking, suddenly turned the pages of the menu,"This sweet looks delicious, doesn't it?"It seemed that she found her preference.

"Yes, we are offering homemade Nama-chocolate with rum liquor and butter sand with homemade rum raisin, both of which are popular among female customers."

​ ​So I ordered it immediately.

SENJO
French rum with gorgeous smell, chocolate and fresh cream are carefully kneaded and chilled. Thus Nama-chocolate (Japanese ganache) is made.​ ​

Mr. Ohashi talked to Ms. Kobayashi who was searching for other brands in "The Complete Collection of Rum " with the flavor of rum spreading in the mouth and slowly matching sake.

"Harada Maha is actually my favorite book and I had it all the time, but it had gone since I lent it to someone. It was good the same book was brought here through this collaboration project. I also have rums which appear in this book."

While saying that, he showed me two kinds of bottles of green and red written as "COR COR".

"Two types of materials are used for brewing, one is a discarded treacle made in the process of refining sugar from sugar cane and the other is a squeezed juice out of sugar cane. The latter takes a lot of time and can only be made once a year, so the rarity value is high. Such a story is written in this book."

This novel is written based on the true story of a woman who launched a brewery called Grace rum on Minami-Daito Island. The rum itself has a very unique presence, and it seems to be especially good to drink such a rum while reading the story about it.​ ​

SENJO
The bottle in Mr. Ohashi's hands is "Clement Rum · Cannes · Blue 2010".

"COR COR" of the green bottle was made on the basis of this sake making method.

Mr. Ohashi who talked about his visit of Martinique island with brewery of rum.
The story of the book and sake continued a lot after this.

Bar Blue Cane

Address: 2F, 3-58-36 Senju Adachi
TEL: 03-6806-1325
Business hours: From 19:00 to 26:00 (Sundays are irregularly closed, if it's open until 24:00)

In conclusion

"The number of bookstores has decreased recently, and I also had few opportunities to read books, so when I met books in the town, each book was very interesting and I wanted to read each of them. I also have friendly feelings toward library's books with comments from selected people.
It would be nice to be able to talk about books with a bar master at the counter. Today I enjoyed meeting a book at a place where people were together. "
​ ​said Ms. Kobayashi.
Please visit book spots in Senju and enjoy it.

Well, lastly, this autumn event information guide.

The writer is also involved as one of the organizers "The 3rd Senju Paper's Festival ~ People and Towns Connected by Paper".
This time, we will hold an event on the theme of Play with books.
The event has many enjoyable booths such as a food booth of delicious restaurant inside and outside Senju, a sales booth for unique books, miscellaneous goods and stationeries, and an exhibition booth where you can enjoy workshops by artists.
This year, popular novelists will gather at Senju. There are also booths of Central library and Blue Cane, introduced on this page.

"The 3rd Senju Paper's Festival ~ People and Towns Connected by Paper" Theme "Play with Books"

【Date and time】4 November 2018 (Sun) 10:00 ~ 16:00
【Place】 Senju 4-chome Hikawa-jinja Shrine (4-31-2 Senju, Adachi)
【Entry fee】 Junior high school student or over 300 yen (When you eat and drink, entry workshop and buy goods after entering, they cost you separately. )
【Organizer】 Adachi Paper Lab​ ​
【Contact Us】
Adachi Paper Lab office in Senju publishing
Tel: 03-6337-3926 / Email: info@senju-pub.com
【Event website】
https://kami-mono-fest.localinfo.jp/

This article written by ... Ms. Akiko Yoshimitsu​ ​

Editor of "Senju publishing" which is located in 3-chome Senju near her house, and owner of a book cafe in six-mat room.
Living in Senju-Okawacho, mother of one child. In 2015, Senju Publishing Co., Ltd. was established in 3-chome Senju.
She runs a book cafe, "SENJU PLACE" with a low table in six-mat Japanese room in the corner of the office.​ ​
She has also produced a lot of events in town such as "Senju Paper's Festival" and "Senju School", and now she is a member of Adachi City Culture, Reading and Sports Comprehensive Promotion Committee.
"Adachi no Ohacho" (Adachi City Tourism and Exchange Association) "Adachi-no-Monozukuri Story" (Adachi City Industry Federation) for editing cooperation.
【Senju Publishing】http://senju-pub.com/

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