ぽこピーのゆめうつつ · Society & Culture
#78 海外では"読書ブーム"が来てるらしい
The August episode of Pokopii no Yume Utsutu (ぽこピーのゆめうつつ) opened with the news that central Tokyo had recorded 31 consecutive rainy days, then pivoted to a reading boom spreading through Korea and New York City where people gather in DJ-staffed underground clubs to read in silence. From there, topics ranged from the Cottingley Fairy case and fairy sightings at Hokkaido's Ningle Terrace to a Brad Pitt survival film, a triple lottery win, and a coming event in Ehime on October 12.
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What this episode answers
What does the reading-event trend in Korea and New York actually look like?
People gather in underground clubs where a DJ plays music and then read their own books in silence — "when everyone around you is reading, you can read too," just like a library or study hall. Korea is also reported to be installing bookshelves inside train carriages.
What is the Cottingley Fairy case, and why is the host reading a book about it?
In early 20th-century England, two girls claimed to have photographed fairies, causing such a stir that Sherlock Holmes creator Arthur Conan Doyle declared the photos genuine; they were later exposed as magazine cutouts propped on leaves. The host's motivation was curiosity about the collective psychology: "Why did so many people believe it?"
What happened during the fairy-sighting episode at Ningle Terrace in Hokkaido?
While visiting Ningle Terrace in Furano, the host spotted a small figure — roughly 15 cm tall — hiding in riverside grass and looking back at them; a YouTube video reportedly captures three fairies appearing to four visitors at the same location. They recalled an atmosphere where "you won't see them unless you stay completely quiet," while remaining half-skeptical that it was all staged.
What is Brad Pitt's film Heart of Beast about, and how was it received?
A man who begins living with a retired military dog is forced into a survival situation after an accident — the second recent man-and-dog buddy survival film the hosts had covered. Dog movies in general were said to create an intensely emotional theater atmosphere, with some audience members leaving because they cannot bear to keep watching.
What were the results of the Cream Anju ichiban-kuji lottery draws?
Drawing three times, the host won Prize B, Prize E, and Prize E; Prize B came with a plush toy accessory. Their knack for winning on the very first draw of a session was highlighted, and they announced plans to pull the Shisa-filled lottery three to five times in October.
Tokyo's 31 Consecutive Rainy Days in August
The episode opened with the hosts' usual stay-at-home update. Weather News had reported that central Tokyo recorded 31 consecutive days of rain during August — a figure that left the host based elsewhere genuinely surprised: "It's been perfectly sunny over here." The conversation touched on how virtually the whole of August had been wet, with no relief even on September 1. "Tokyo is going to sink," one host joked, comparing the situation to the anime film *Weathering With You*.
The "Club Reading" Boom in Korea and New York
The main topic was a reading trend gaining momentum in Korea and New York City. Rather than reading at home, people are gathering in underground clubs where DJs spin music — and then sitting together in complete silence with their books. When the obvious question came up — wouldn't having other people around make it hard to concentrate? — the reply was swift: "When everyone around you is reading, you can read too. It's exactly the same as a library or a study hall." Ponpoko (ポンポコ) conceded, "I think I could actually read in a place like that."
Korea was also reported to be installing bookshelves directly inside train carriages. The hosts let their imaginations run: "Manga might be a bit out of place," "You'd probably have to bring an English-language book," and "I want to sneak in some Natsume Soseki." The conclusion was that anything widening the gateway to reading is a good thing. The conversation briefly recalled a past stunt on their own channel inspired by a TikTok trend — a "butter run" in which contestants shook fresh cream while running until it turned into butter.
The Cottingley Fairy Case and Fairy Sightings at Ningle Terrace in Hokkaido
One host shared a book they had recently been reading, centered on the Cottingley Fairy incident. In early 20th-century England, two girls claimed to have photographed real fairies, triggering a sensation so large that Arthur Conan Doyle — creator of Sherlock Holmes — publicly declared the photographs genuine. The photos were later revealed to be a hoax: the "fairies" were illustrations cut from a magazine, stood upright on leaves, and then photographed. The host's reason for reading: "I'm curious about why so many people believed it collectively." The instant comeback: "Because there were always people like you back then too."
That segued naturally into a story set in Hokkaido. During a visit to Ningle Terrace in Furano, one host spotted what appeared to be a small figure — roughly 15 cm tall — hiding in the grass beside a stream, looking back at them. Ninguru (ニングル) are small fairy-like beings from Ainu folklore. A YouTube video reportedly shows three such figures appearing to four visitors at the same spot. Though skeptical — "It must be some kind of setup" — they remembered the particular atmosphere of the place: "You won't see them unless you stay completely quiet." The anecdote fed back into the Cottingley discussion, turning into a lively exchange about why humans are drawn to believe in the extraordinary.
Brad Pitt's Film and the Emotional Power of Dog Movies
This week's film was *Heart of Beast*, starring Brad Pitt alongside a dog. The story follows a man who begins living with a retired military dog and is then forced into a survival situation after an accident. The hosts noted it was the second recent film they had covered that fit the same description: a man-and-dog buddy story about survival. Brad Pitt's broader appeal also came up, with *Fight Club* named as a personal favorite.
Dog movies, they observed, charge up the entire theater. The emotional atmosphere gets so intense that some audience members simply leave because they cannot bear to keep watching.
Lottery Triple Win, Ehime Event, and Fruit Rankings
During a recent live stream, the host drew the Cream Anju (クリームアンジュ) ichiban-kuji three times and won Prize B, Prize E, and Prize E. Prize B came with a plush toy accessory and was received with obvious delight. A recurring talent for winning on the very first draw of a session was noted, and they announced plans to take on the Shisa-filled lottery three to five times in October.
The October 12 Ehime event also got a mention: a 3D-printed sign decorated with mandarin oranges was unveiled, and listeners were encouraged to grab the remaining tickets.
The episode landed softly on a fruit-ranking debate. One host's personal top pick was apple, but once popular consensus was folded in, the provisional final order settled at strawberry first, apple second, and Shine Muscat third.
Takeaways
- Club-style reading events in Korea and New York — underground venues with DJ music — show that the right social environment can make reading feel natural even for people who struggle to do it alone.
- A book on the Cottingley Fairy case sparked a wider conversation about the psychology of collective belief, which then extended to a firsthand fairy-sighting story at Ningle Terrace in Furano, Hokkaido.
- Three ichiban-kuji draws for Cream Anju landed a Prize B among the wins, and the hosts teased the upcoming Shisa-filled lottery in October as the next test of their legendary first-draw luck.
This article is edited from a machine transcript of the first 30 minutes of the episode. It is not an official summary — please listen to the episode itself.