While translating, the author unexpectedly saw J. M. G. Le Clézio appear on NHK News. His expression and atmosphere immediately revived the revelation the author experienced at age twenty, when reading Le Clézio’s works—especially L’Extase matérielle—and realizing that “another version of myself exists in this world.” Despite a life filled with hardship rather than ease, the author has overcome it all. This chapter reflects on a profound sense of kinship and spiritual resonance with Le Clézio.

2016-01-06

While I was doing an English translation and watching NHK News, Le Clézio appeared.
Apparently the people at NHK have stopped reading only Asahi and similar outlets, and have begun listening to my commentaries.

But let me return to the main topic.
It was the first time I saw Le Clézio being interviewed, so to speak, in real time.
Anyone who has spent long hours talking with me—my close friends—must have thought the same thing.
His atmosphere is exactly like mine.

When I said, “There exists another version of myself in this world,”
and when I realized that Le Clézio was that other self,
it was when I was around twenty years old, reading his books one after another,
and finally, when I reached L’Extase matérielle.
I have already written about how great my shock was at that moment.

Because he had written it, I no longer needed to write it myself.
Good.
I could simply live my own life.

That life was not smooth sailing, nor anything predetermined or promised—quite the opposite.
It was full of suffering.
But as you know, I managed to overcome that suffering, one way or another.

I was surprised, too.
All of my close friends must also have been surprised.
He truly resembled me.
The atmosphere he exuded was utterly identical.