Although I have not read the article well enough, I learned that current Japanese people tend not to read as many books as once. In my opinion, this is a possible result. However, you shouldn't judge this as young people get more foolish than once because of YouTube and various social media. Maybe, the internet can disturb our concentration for reading books quietly (although I can't show any evidence/data, therefore this must come from my impression. I want to welcome YOUR opinions). But, as you already know, in a way modern people read a lot on the Internet, even though those letters can't be counted as any physical/material book.
As I have already written, probably this sounds like various dystopian novels (although I can't suggest good examples... For example, the ones by J. G. Ballard?), I learned from an English teacher of mine that modern people must accept too much information during their lives (some people even say that the information we have to accept as shower a day can be the same amount as the one the people at Edo period had accepted per a year). Then, even though I need more precise evidence to discuss this issue more carefully/steadily, that background seems to me to work as the main reason why modern people can start separating themselves from enjoying books a lot.
Although I can't join in the atmosphere the so-called very snob "bookworms" weave in various places (maybe I am too introverted to join actively in those to entertain myself, and also share my poor knowledge with others), I say I love reading. At least, when I was completely isolated from other classmates and therefore had to suffer from the loneliness that crept into my mind as a sort of illness, books were an important tool for me to keep on exploring this world, opening the door to the unknown phase. So, I want to keep a belief that says reading can work as a medicine. However, probably you would say I'm crazy, I say reading can work as a personal pleasure which might contain some dangerous elements primarily (oh, even now my mind can get thrilled when I open Vladimir Nabokov's "Lolita" or Haruki Murakami's "Norwegian Wood").
I won't deny how important discussing books in public can be, but also this news can work as a good opportunity for us to "review" the role of reading something. As I have written, I want to welcome YOUR opinions!
