Japan's annual "book week" period is underway, running for two weeks until Nov. 9. We hope to take this opportunity to reflect on the richness that books can bring to our lives.

Many people are shying away from books. In a recent survey by the Agency for Cultural Affairs on people's opinions on the Japanese language, 62.6% of respondents said they didn't read a single book in a month, making up the majority for the first time. The mail-in survey targeted those aged 16 and older. In the previous survey in fiscal 2018, when people were questioned face-to-face, the figure was 47.3%.

Almost 70% reported that they read less than they used to, with many attributing this to time spent on digital devices such as smartphones.

With society's digital shift, smartphones now provide instant access to various information, along with easy entertainment options including short videos and online games.

By contrast, reading requires turning pages, following lines of text, and pondering the deeper meaning of words. The beauty of reading lies in reflecting on the author's thoughts and the emotions of the characters.

Individuals face physical limits in time and space for their experiences, but stepping into books allows them to connect with things and events from different times and places, all from the comfort of their homes.

Books are not only a source of knowledge. Literature, such as poetry and novels, can liberate the reader's soul into a world of freedom. Encountering diverse ways of life through the pages expands one's own perspective on life.

Local bookstores serve as places to discover such encounters. Stopping by, browsing the shelves and finding unexpected titles is part of the experience.

Online bookstores are convenient, but the agency's survey found nearly 60% of respondents prefer choosing books by physically picking them up in stores.

Yet, with the decline in reading habits, bookstores are disappearing.

According to the Japan Publishing Organization for Information Infrastructure Development, as of the end of March this year, there were 10,918 bookstores across Japan, 577 fewer than the previous year -- a closure rate of more than one bookstore every day.

Bookstores, along with libraries, are essential cultural infrastructure for communities. The Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture has reported that 27.7% of municipalities in Japan lack a bookstore. When bookstores disappear, so do opportunities to encounter books.

Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani human rights activist, says that books have the power to shape the future. Open the pages, and somewhere in those lines, a sentence that will move a person awaits.