The Worst and Best Bookstore | By Yataro Matsuura, Translated by A.P.

The Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong) edition of the Japanese original "最低で最高の本屋" (The Worst and Best Bookstore)! Brand New Translation! [Authorized Hong Kong Traditional Chinese Edition | First Publication] Yataro Matsuura's Six-City Free Journey 〈GO! The Map is Paved by Walking Itself〉{London. New York. Los Angeles. Paris. Taiwan. Nakameguro} Book Title: The Worst and Best Bookstore Author: Yataro Matsuura Translator: A. P. Category: Urban Culture, Spiritual Growth, Biography Retail Price: HK$148 Dimensions: 130 mm (w) x 200 mm (h) Binding: Paperback Page Count: 232 pages ISBN: 978-988-75725-1-0 Publisher: gezi workstation Yataro Matsuura's autobiographical essay collection. Realizing a life without a 9-to-5 job! ~About Freedom and Independence!~ Answers that adults wouldn't tell us as children, A way of life where you don't have to go to work as an adult! Yataro Matsuura uses his own experiences to prove, That there is more than one path to a happy life! From street vending, to opening Japan's first mobile bookstore, and then founding COW BOOKS in Tokyo's Nakameguro, Yataro Matsuura recounts in this book the lingering melancholy and confusion of his growth, his doubts and misconceptions about contemporary society, and shares how his encounters with and passion for books shaped and laid the foundation for his subsequent career in opening bookstores, writing, and editing. When faced with a bottleneck in life, how did he find his "Second Birthday" for rebirth and stride forward with confidence? Using the examples of opening bookstores, writing, and editing, Yataro Matsuura lives a "worst and best" free life; through this book, he inspires the younger generation to also find their strengths, pursue and realize their ideals in ways that suit them, and thus possess their own unique paths to happiness, freedom, and independence. *** What is "Life Happiness"? Besides studying hard, passing exams, and entering the doors of big companies to work, what else can we do with our lives? At eighteen, he abruptly dropped out of high school and ventured to America alone, transforming from a marginalized youth with nothing into someone who discovered his "second life" and understood the "worst and best" way of survival. Discovering his greatest personal interests and outstanding talents through secondhand books and publications, from street vending to opening Japan's first mobile bookstore, and then founding COW BOOKS in Tokyo's Nakameguro, Yataro Matsuura tells everyone through his own real-life experiences— There is more than one path to a happy life, beyond the one conventionally defined by society. ------- [Selected Quotes] "Life isn't about being number one, it's about finding the one thing you truly want to do. As long as you're working step by step each day to make yourself happier, I believe it's a viable way of life, no matter what." "Everyone has their own concerns, and there are many paths ahead, each with its own merits from which to choose. If you don't find what you want, you can create it anew. If you fail, you can start over, or you can stop at any time to reflect, and return to the origin when needed. This is all personal freedom." "What is this 'living without a 9-to-5 job' method? It's about never giving up on finding your strongest area. There are various paths within this; one path might be very long and painful, and life might become difficult. But there will be a moment during the day when you feel happy, and that choice is the right one. There will be moments that only you can achieve, that no one else can replace. If you must work a job, don't lose this belief. What feels difficult today can definitely be overcome. Even if you can't escape it immediately, you will eventually find a way." ------- {About the Author} Yataro Matsuura Born in Tokyo in 1965. Dropped out of high school at 18 and traveled alone to the United States to explore, developing a deep interest in American bookstore culture. Upon returning to Japan, he gradually built his own bookstore business driven by his passion for books, and also engaged in column writing and editing. In 1992, he established the book sales company "m&co. booksellers." In 2000, he founded Japan's first mobile bookstore. In 2002, he partnered with Setsumasa Kobayashi, founder and designer of "GENERAL RESEARCH," to open the COW BOOKS bookstore in Nakameguro. From 2006 to 2015, he served as the Editor-in-Chief of "Kurashi No Techo" (生活手帖). In 2017, he became the site manager of the "Basic for Living" (生活的基本) website and served as an executive director of "Delicious Healthy Co., Ltd." (美味健康股份有限公司). He is the author of: "The Worst and Best Bookstore," "If Life Were a Journey," "Yataro Matsuura's 100 Basics," "Yataro Matsuura's 100 Work Basics + 100 Life Basics," "Yataro Matsuura Says: 50 Things I'd Want to Do If I Were 25 Now," "Yataro Matsuura's Hello, Bonjour, Ni Hao," "Yataro Matsuura's Instant Response Skills," "A Fresh Start for Those Turning 40," "Light Living Exercises to Let Go of Burdens," "100 Days," "Thank You," "Find Your Good Work Vibe," "The New Normal," and "Live Each Day with Intention," among others. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ {About the Translator} A.P. A Hong Kong native currently residing in the UK. Previously worked in a Japanese company for eleven years. Has had a strong interest in Japanese culture since childhood and is self-taught in Japanese. Enjoys painting, music, and film appreciation. Translator of: "The Worst and Best Bookstore," "If Life Were a Journey." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ {About the Illustrator} April Yip A Hong Kong native currently residing in Malaysia. Works as a freelance illustrator, enjoys doodling, and loves watercolor the most. Her artwork draws inspiration from daily life; she always carries a sketchbook to record life's moments with her brush.