Photo/Illutration A newspaper carrier rides up a slope on a motorcycle in Nagoya in 2016. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Probably because of my profession, I invariably zeroed in on The Asahi Shimbun’s “Kadan” tanka poetry section when I noticed Takashi Aso’s name there.

Aso is a newspaper carrier. His verse that ran on Oct. 9 went to the effect: “Gazing up at the mid-autumn full moon/ at 4 a.m./ I get off my motorcycle/ and join my hands together.”

The Southern Japan Alps loom in the distance in the city of Koshu, Yamanashi Prefecture, where Aso delivers about 170 newspapers every morning.

Awakened by two alarm clocks, he gets up at around 12:45 a.m., loads the papers on his bike, hangs a flashlight from his neck and starts winding through the dark streets.

He does not know the faces of many of his clients, but one morning last year, something happened.

About 10 centimeters of snow had fallen, and Aso had to get off his bike and run up a slope. While struggling in front of a client’s home to make sure the paper didn’t get wet, he saw a note taped to the newspaper box.

He recounted the experience in this tanka poem: “I was moved to tears/ by this message on the newspaper box/ ‘Thank you for coming this morning/ despite the snow/ and despite COVID.’”

There are people braving inclement weather to deliver newspapers. I must never forget that the industry to which I belong is supported by them, not to mention the subscribers who await their papers every day.

And being of the old breed, I am one of those readers who loves the faint smell of ink on newsprint.

That said, however, many people today read the news online. Still, be it print or digital, the importance of newspapers remains the same. It is crucial that newspapers meet their readers’ expectations without pandering to superficial trends of the times.

At the recent 75th annual National Newspaper Convention, the Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association adopted a resolution to protect peace and democracy by “living up to the responsibilities of journalism.”

As a journalist, I hope to do my share and make sure that all the hard work done by people like Aso will be well worth their while.

Here is another poem by Aso: “Rain today/ rain tomorrow/ I deliver newspapers/ no time for my poncho to dry.”

--The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 20

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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