Synopsis
The protagonist, Shuhei, quits his sales job to start a “school for cultivating the ability to live,” but the business struggles and he feels anxious. One day, he happens upon a mysterious candy at a convenience store and eats it. The experiences of his ancestors begin to appear in his dreams.
In his dreams, Shuhei witnesses the harsh times his grandparents and great-grandparents survived and sees them struggling to stay alive. Realizing that his existence is the result of countless miracles, Shuhei begins to wonder, “What should I convey as a person who is also a continuation of life?”
Thoughts
The story makes you realize that your existence is the result of a miracle, the cumulative choices and efforts of your ancestors.
I also felt a sense of family ties and respect for one’s roots.
It makes you think about where you come from and why you are here now.
We cannot choose the era we are born into.
The worries of today seem so small compared to those of people from the past.
I believe that the generation that experienced the war in particular survived extremely harsh times.
I believe that we are living in the present day by inheriting the baton of life from those people.
I have a daughter, and I believe that by living my own life to the fullest, I will be able to pass on the baton of life to my daughter and her grandchildren.
I also felt a renewed sense of gratitude to my family, including my parents and grandparents.
