© Photo by Japan Inside
Pre-Reading Questions:
- Do you like reading books? Why or why not?
- What is your ideal place to read books?
Vocabulary:
- cozy /KOH-zee/
[adjective] comfortable, pleasant, and inviting, esp. (of a room or building) because of being small and warm
My room is nice and cozy during winter.
- tradition /truh-DISH-uhn/
[noun] a belief, principle, or way of acting that people in a particular society or group have continued to follow for a long time
Each country has different traditions.
- suburb /SUHB-urb/
[noun] an area on the edge of a large town or city where people who work in the town or city often live
Ana grew up in the suburbs of Kyoto.
- architect /AHR-ki-tekt/
[noun] a person whose job is to design new buildings and make certain that they are built correctly
The architect did an excellent job in designing the library.
- impressive /im-PRES-iv/
[adjective] causing someone to feel admiration or respect
The patients showed impressive result during their tests.
- vast /vast/
[adjective] extremely big
A vast number of students attended the ceremony.
Eye-catching and a truly magnificent architectural work; that’s how Japan describes the Nakajima Library. This place provides a warm and cozy feeling especially for book enthusiasts. It brings the users to a whole new world by showing the tradition of Akita Prefecture. During Japan’s late Meiji period, the term “an Akita Beauty” was labeled in geisha by a literati who visited Akita City. Its beauty continued to shine even though the world of geisha disappeared at the beginning of the Heisei period.
In the suburbs of Akita City lies the beauty of Nakajima Library. It is named after the first president of Akita International University, Mineo Nakajima, who said, “Why can’t a library, which is the heart of a university, be open 24 hours a day like a convenience store?” The library is now known as the “library that doesn’t sleep” that sets it apart from other libraries.
During the establishing stage of Nakajima Library, the prefectural assembly of Akita demanded a cost reduction for this project. Despite this challenge, architect Mitsuri Senda used Akita’s cedar woods that resulted in an impressive two-storey wooden theme library with a concept of Japanese umbrella known as wagasa from its wooden roof down to its center base. Nakajima Library pictures a “Roman colosseum ” because of its semi-circular design and tier alignment of bookshelves.
Nakajima Library started to offer vast collections of local and international textbooks or all in 2008. It shows the union of knowledge and a wonderful learning environment that proves its title as the most beautiful library in Japan.
Comprehension Questions:
- What tradition does Nakajima Library show to its users?
- Where did the term “an Akita beauty” come from?
- Where is Nakajima Library located?
- What is the difference between Akita Library and other libraries?
- What did the prefectural assembly demand in building the library?
Discussion Questions:
- Do you agree that Nakajima Library is the most beautiful library in Japan? Why or why not?
- Why do you think Akita beauty continued to shine despite its disappearance during the beginning of the Heisei period?
- Do you think the term “book colosseum” fits the Akita library? Please explain.
- Do you think it’s a good idea for a library to be open for 24 hours? Please discuss.
- If you were given a chance to build your own library, what will your theme be and why?
[adjective] comfortable, pleasant, and inviting, esp. (of a room or building) because of being small and warm
My room is nice and cozy during winter.
[noun] a belief, principle, or way of acting that people in a particular society or group have continued to follow for a long time
Each country has different traditions.
[noun] an area on the edge of a large town or city where people who work in the town or city often live
Ana grew up in the suburbs of Kyoto.
[noun] a person whose job is to design new buildings and make certain that they are built correctly
The architect did an excellent job in designing the library.
[adjective] causing someone to feel admiration or respect
The patients showed impressive result during their tests.
[adjective] extremely big
A vast number of students attended the ceremony.
In the suburbs of Akita City lies the beauty of Nakajima Library. It is named after the first president of Akita International University, Mineo Nakajima, who said, “Why can’t a library, which is the heart of a university, be open 24 hours a day like a convenience store?” The library is now known as the “library that doesn’t sleep” that sets it apart from other libraries.
During the establishing stage of Nakajima Library, the prefectural assembly of Akita demanded a cost reduction for this project. Despite this challenge, architect Mitsuri Senda used Akita’s cedar woods that resulted in an impressive two-storey wooden theme library with a concept of Japanese umbrella known as wagasa from its wooden roof down to its center base. Nakajima Library pictures a “Roman colosseum ” because of its semi-circular design and tier alignment of bookshelves.
Nakajima Library started to offer vast collections of local and international textbooks or all in 2008. It shows the union of knowledge and a wonderful learning environment that proves its title as the most beautiful library in Japan.