This book received the 2020 Akutagawa Prize, one of the most prestigious awards given to new writers of Japanese literature.

An exceptionally old museum full of Okinawa’s historical archives – no visitors, hardly an existence. But this is Minako’s favorite place. She’s skipped school to sit alone and read through all the artifacts in this museum since she as little. After many years, Minako now voluntarily helps out by storing the artifacts at the museum digitally. Her paid job is an online operator that gives quiz questions to and has subtle conversations on various fields of knowledge with people in unknown, faraway places. Minako had never enjoyed the company of other people in her life, but somehow she enjoys connecting with these people and sharing knowledge. One morning after a stormy night, a Miyako horse (a protected species of horse in Okinawa) appears wandering in her backyard. This touching story illustrates the meaning of preserving information and history –the past and the present –and sends the world an important message through a quiet life of solitude and strength.