Land and Library

One of the best public facilities is a library. A library of outstanding aesthetic beauty is even better.A few years ago we travelled to Toyama. One spot we visited was the Toyama City Library, a Kengo Kuma-designed glass-and-wood-heavy edifice. It was a highlight of the trip. We talked about how nice it would be if Hachioji were to replace its functional but aged Chuo Library with that kind of facility.On October 3, Hachioji will open a new park / multipurpose complex called 桑都の杜 / Sōto no Mori. The large property will include a fancy library element. It is just south of JR Hachioji Station. The large plot of land used to be a hospital prison that closed. The Boss got the national government to cede the prime land to the city. (“Sōto no Mori” means approximately “mulberry city forest.” Hachioji was a longtime place of sericulture and producer of textiles. Mulberry leaves are what silkworms eat.)I hope the new library is nice. It is advertised as nice. I’ll use it to lounge and read…