[Hiroki Kashiragi's Latest Book] An essay detailing the humorous yet sorrowful human patterns in a hospital ward, "13 Years in a Six-Person Room: Unforgettable People I Met in the Hospital", releasing May 26th (Tue)!

In a six-person room, everything about human beings is witnessed. It is a must-read for hospital staff, meaning all of humanity. Because we are all destined to go to the hospital.

-- Kaitoh Tohata

Human weakness, strength, foolishness, sadness, comedy, and endearment... everything is packed into "hospitalization." What is a human being, and what is society, as seen from "hospitalization"?

-- A woman who absolutely never misses the last train

[The shock of hospitalization! What breaks, and what remains?]

Since suffering from ulcerative colitis at the age of 20, the author has spent most of his 13-year struggle with the disease in six-person hospital rooms.

In the somewhat extraordinary space of a hospital room, what true feelings do people express, what different faces does life show, and how do families endure the severe shock? These 10 chapters depict such human patterns.

It is a funny yet sad piece of hospital literature that is perfect for those planning to be hospitalized, those currently hospitalized, those with hospitalized family members, and even for those visiting hospitalized people.

Author Hiroki Kashiragi

[Special Release: "Introduction - 10 things to be careful of when hospitalized"]

What exactly is hospitalization like?

What kind of place is a hospital ward, and what kind of encounters await with doctors, nurses, and fellow patients sharing the room?

Saying so makes it sound like taking a trip to some country, but of course, hospitalization and traveling are quite different.

First of all, almost no one is hospitalized because they want to be.

Moreover, it is often sudden. It begins abruptly without mental preparation.

You cannot even choose your doctors or nurses. Even for those who have been visiting the hospital regularly, the attending physician for hospitalization often changes from the outpatient doctor.

Even the patients in the same room, though they might be called "fellow patients," often vary in age, occupation, and hobbies, and even their illnesses are often different. You suddenly start communal living with people with whom you have nothing in common.

Of course, if you don't like it, you can transfer to another hospital, but it is not as easy as changing hotels.

Your everyday life up to now is suddenly cut off, and you have to adapt to the extraordinary life of hospitalization.

That alone is stressful, but furthermore, various worries swirl in your head and heart, such as worries about your illness, money, work, and family.

I continued such a life of repeated hospitalizations and discharges for thirteen years.

You would probably want to hear a little bit about the story of someone who went to an unknown country.

You would probably want to know a little bit about what it is like to enter a prison.

Even if you have no plans to enter.

In the same way, I would like people who have no plans to be hospitalized to read a little bit about what it is like to be hospitalized.

Of course, I definitely want those who are planning to be hospitalized, or those who have just been hospitalized or are currently hospitalized, to read it.

Also, for those going to visit someone in the hospital, please take this book to them.

Because when I was hospitalized, I wanted to read a book like this.

With that thought, I wrote this book.

I also hope that those who have family members in the hospital will read it.

An illness is like a major earthquake occurring only to a certain individual and their family.

There, various dramas and human patterns exist.

There is a human truth that was invisible or hard to see in everyday life.

Due to the severe shock of hospitalization, what breaks and what remains? What should you be careful of? I tried writing about it divided into 10 chapters.

I would be happy if it could be of some reference.

[Table of Contents]

Introduction: 10 things to be careful of when hospitalized

Chapter 1: Be careful of life's blanks! - The mysterious world of a six-person room
Chapter 2: Be careful of a two-person room! - Loincloths, tattoos, and the natto uncle
Chapter 3: Be careful of the sense of inequality in the early stages of hospitalization! - Until you start talking in a six-person room
Chapter 4: Be careful with money! - Rich dad, poor dad
Chapter 5: Be careful of family collapse! - Hospitalization severely shakes families
Chapter 6: Be careful of patient-only time! - The six-person room unknown to doctors and nurses
Chapter 7: Be careful of visitors! - Eight views of hospital visits
Chapter 8: Be careful of doctors and nurses! - Memorable doctors and nurses
Chapter 9: Be careful of outpatient visits and socializing outside the hospital! - Outpatient visits are tough
Extra Chapter: Be careful of painful examinations! - The world looks different
Afterword: Be careful of returning to society!

[Author Profile]

Hiroki Kashiragi

Literature introducer. Graduated from Tsukuba University. Developed an intractable disease (ulcerative colitis) at the age of 20 and spent 13 years fighting the disease. From his experience of being saved by Kafka's words at that time, he edited and translated "Despair Master Kafka's Philosophy of Life" (Shincho Bunko). Since then, he has written books in various genres. His books include "Despair Reading" (Kawade Bunko), "Eating and Putting Out" (Igaku-Shoin), and "Self-Exhaustion" (Sogensha).