July 31, 2021 都内の書店が恋しい（Miss Bookstores in Tokyo）

 　Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I use a train far less frequently now, and only used a train five times or less during a period from January, 2020 to now. I could not have imagined my using a train very few times in the pre-COVID-19 period.
 　As I have worked at home, I have had few chances to commute to work since before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I had occasionally visited Tokyo at weekend. In particular, one of my favorite is to visit Maruzen, a major bookstore, which is located around the Tokyo Station. The store has a wider variety of Japanese books and foreign books. It does not bother me to spend half a day at the store. In addition, stationery such as fountain pens at store attracts me.
 　I often buys books via the Internet. But the online shopping does not provide me with the enjoyment of finding new books that I have not known at the store. The COVIUD-19 pandemic deprived me of such pleasure. I hate the COVID-19 infections.

　コロナの影響で、昨年から電車に乗る機会がめっきり減りました。昨年の1月から現在までの間に乗った電車の回数を数えてみましたが、5回以下でした。コロナ前では考えられないくらい電車を使っていません。コロナ前から在宅勤務だったので、電車で通勤することはなかったのですが、週末は頻繁に都内を訪れていました。特に、東京駅前にある書店・丸善がお気に入りです。この店の魅力は、扱っている本の種類が多い点と洋書を扱っている点です。ここにいくと、半日は過ごせます。また、文房具（特に万年筆）も魅了です。
　ネットで検索して本を買うことも多いですが、書店で自分の知らない本に出会える楽しさは、ネットでは味わえません。コロナはボクのこのわずかな楽しみを奪ってしまいました。悔しい！