My new book, "Men Favored by the Gods," released on May 19th, is selling incredibly well! I'm wondering when we'll have to print a second copy. I've also introduced my previous books in the salon, so if there's one you haven't read yet, please check it out along with the new one!
Recently, a new customer who visited our store asked me the following question.


Customer : "Have you and Mr. Sugawara, who wrote the preface, been close friends for a long time, Mr. Shimaji?"
Mr. Sugawara is Shoji Sugawara, the owner of the jazz café "Basie" in Ichinoseki, Iwate Prefecture.

Shimaji : "Sho-chan is one year my junior from Ichinoseki First High School, but we never spoke a single word to each other while we were students. We became very close after we both turned 70. Now, when we meet, we cuddle up like lovers and talk about the profound secrets of life! I met Kyoka Suzuki, who wrote the recommendation for the book's cover, and Tamori through Sho-chan's introduction."
Basie, a jazz café that's a dream destination for any jazz fan, attracts jazz enthusiasts from all sorts of industries.


Shimaji: "Whenever I meet Sho-chan, our motto is, 'Let's both stay healthy until the Tokyo Olympics!' That year, 'Basie' will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. I want to celebrate it in a big way. Meeting Sho-chan has made me realize more than ever that life is all about luck, connections, and talent. I'm grateful for the opportunity to have met such an exceptional man!"