Not long ago, I received a message from an old friend I hadn’t heard from in years. She had moved far away some time ago, and although we were still connected through social media, neither of us had reached out. Perhaps that quiet sense of “still being connected” had felt enough.
Then, out of the blue, came a message. She had come across our article by chance in a magazine called Sanpo no Tatsujin (The Master of Strolling). Reading it brought back memories, and that simple act moved her to get in touch. In that moment, all the time we had spent together—every conversation, every shared silence—came rushing back. My heart quietly warmed. We promised to meet again, and soon, a date was set. Sanpo no Tatsujin had carried us toward an unexpected reunion.
Today, we live in a time where information is always within reach—search engines, social media, endless feeds. (Perhaps even this column has found its way to you through such tools.) And yet, the decision to search, to read, to reach out… those first steps come from our own intent, our own will. One small action can become the beginning of connection… That’s what this experience reminded me.
The workshops at ITO BINDERY are also places where such connections quietly take shape.
“What colors shall I choose?” “How will I finish this?”
Each participant engages with their own sense of beauty, their own hands, and the quiet joy of making. Along the way, they come into gentle contact with bookbinding techniques and processes—learning, discovering, and completing something all their own. In that slow flow of time and conversation, distances naturally begin to dissolve.
Some join us alone, savoring the quiet in their own rhythm. Others come with friends or family, sharing glances, small laughter, and mutual encouragement. In that shared space, warm conversations arise naturally, and for us too, there are always new discoveries and insights.
To pick up a book. To experience something for the first time.
Each of these small acts can become the start of a new encounter—or the return of a familiar one.
“Sanpo no Tatsujin” “The ITO BINDERY workshops”
Both have shown me how unexpected moments can move the heart, gently deepening our connections with others. And it is precisely that quiet warmth of connection that I hope to continue cherishing.
