This 12th installment of the "Book of the Day" series, featuring books selected by WAITER-U, introduces "If Others Seem Happy, Go Eat a Gyudon at Matsuya Late at Night" from Tetsujin Bunko.
This book is exactly what its title suggests. It compiles advice from "ossan" (middle-aged men) who are life seniors at bars in Tokyo and Osaka, answering the question: "What advice would you give your younger self?"
When it comes to giving advice to younger generations, it tends to be the proud voices of celebrities or those who have achieved great things. However, this is a wonderful book that compiles the honest, heartfelt voices of people who have worked diligently. It's full of passages that provide a refreshing perspective on life, which seems both short and long.
One such piece of advice is found in the title: "If Others Seem Happy, Go Eat a Gyudon at Matsuya Late at Night."
Originally, this was a feature in Uramono Japan, a fascinating magazine that investigates the hidden side of society.
After discovering this book on X (formerly Twitter), I immediately bought it, then learned about Uramono Japan and started reading it on Kindle Unlimited. It's quite interesting.
Here are a few quotes from the book that resonated with me:
