Cutting through the white-capped waves of the Seto Inland Sea is a one-of-kind “floating library”. This is Hon no Mori-go (ほんのもり号) created to give children living on remote islands the opportunity to discover books and nurture their creativity.
Inside the ship are shelves lined with 2000 books including picture books, fairytales and illustrated guidebooks for young readers. The ship, which began operating last year, was designed and donated to Kagawa prefecture by renowned architect Tadao Ando, who previously designed another children’s library in Osaka and then donated it to the ward.
The ship carries children throughout the prefecture as part of school activities, and also operates family events during the summer holidays. Life jackets are mandatory before boarding and children receive special safety instructions.
We created reading spaces throughout the ship. A large circular bench was placed on the rear deck, and children can even lie under the sun. We tried to give them as much freedom as possible to choose both what they read and where.By enjoying books while feeling close to the sea, I hope the time they spend in the Seto Inland Sea will become an irreplaceable memory, eventually fostering pride and affection for their hometown.
ANDO TADAO
In a letter to the children, Ando writes: “I hope they will travel around the world aboard a ship of hope, equipped with the knowledge and imagination to do so. I hope that, by reading many books aboard the Children’s Library: Hon no Mori-go, children will discover a special book of their own, cultivate the ‘strength to live,’ and joyfully spread their wings from the Seto Inland Sea toward the great ocean of the wider world.”
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