We can get 16 pages per side.
That's 32 pages in total that get printed at a time.
When this paper is folded in half four times,
they line up in sequence both vertically and horizontally,
meaning each sheet makes 16 pages.
Excluding the spine of the book, each pass is cut into threes.
In other words, 32 pages with each pass.
With The Great Passage being around 3,000 pages, it will take over 90 passes to make one book.
We will work hard and do everything we can in order to give shape to your hard work and dedication.
It's warm.
"Light."
The word "light" not only refers to something that enables sight, but it also means "to illuminate."
Our long battle with words was not a waste.
This clearly illuminates that fact.
The Great Passage
On a quiet dreamlike morning
The crimson sky shines through the window and reflects off my pen
In the vivid clatter of the night, I wander between cities like a cat
Deep thoughts
A flexible conception
Foreseeable aspirations
Distant memories
Unruly hair
A narrow mind
A large circle of friends
A long silence
A short greeting
Tone of voice
The light in our eyes that slightly differs
Traces of friendship that's not in the treaty
In the ocean that sweeps the sand of eternity
Swept and sunk in the waves with sparse opposites and similarities
Clashing and exact opposites become resolved and connected
Reference
Conclusion
I'll gather words
that have
scattered
over
many
months and years
With the fragrant sea breeze, the connection that rests on the seashore becomes one
Light
When his wife answered and I told her about The Great Passage's advanced copies,
Mr. Matsumoto rushed to the phone right away.
He's doing well, then?
Yes.
He sounded really happy, and he said he couldn't wait to hold one in his hands.
Matsumoto
He's just taking a little rest.
I'll go get him.
Please, I don't want to disturb him.
It's quite all right.
If I sent the two of you away now, I won't hear the end of it.
Please come in.
In that case...
Pardon us.
Welcome!
Oh, please don't get up.
Could you get us some tea?
Yes.
It feels quite warm for winter today.
Sir, please have a look.
We're still on schedule to have it out by spring.
I cannot wait.
But dictionary work only really starts once it's completed.
In order to increase its accuracy and quality,
you must still continue gathering words after publication and prepare for the revisions.
It will forever be incomplete.
I'll take that to heart.
Would you like to see our garden?
How are you, Majime?
I'm well.
The withered flora release their seeds and sprout anew.
There is nothing more encouraging to us than the circle of life.
The circle?
The circle of life...
The sun is back out again.
They've brought us some gifts.
Thank you, this is quite something.
I particularly love their Western snacks.
He would always buy more than we could eat every time on his way home from visiting Genbu Publishing.
I was wondering, Majime...
Yes?
It's common overseas to have their dictionaries edited under the guidance of those in power.
Why do you think they use public money to compile a dictionary?
Perhaps the thinking is that editing your native language's dictionary is a matter of national pride?
Exactly.
However, Japan has never produced a dictionary by a public institution.
Sea of Words was personally funded by Otsuki Fumihiko's life savings.
And he edited and published it himself.
When I learned of that,
I was appalled by the Japanese government's complete lack of appreciation of culture.
But now, I feel that it's okay that it has been that way.
Why is that?
When public funds are used, they may want to interfere with its contents.
The integrity of the words cannot be compromised by a desire for power or to use them as a tool for control.
Words and the hearts of those who use them must remain free.
Even with our scarce funding, we are individual people, not a nation.
We spend our lives editing the dictionaries.
Let us take pride in this.
That is what I believe now.
Mr. Matsumoto.
He's okay.
He likes to talk when he's in a good mood.
It seems I got a little carried away.
Sir, we should be going now.
Please rest.
Actually, there's something I need to tell you.
They found cancer in my esophagus.
Can you believe this is happening?
Well, Majime?
No...
We'll continue to make dictionaries.
Continue to build a ship to navigate an ocean of words.
Yes.
But where are we trying to head to, then?
I don't know
where we might be heading,
but when I first started editing this dictionary
it was like discovering a light inside the darkness for me.
Like I finally found the direction I should be heading in.
But...
even now, I sometimes have this dream.
I'm out in a dark ocean, not knowing which direction to take.
A dream of being lost.
Majime.
But now I know that I'm not the only one.
Everyone is trying to communicate their feelings.
Of being happy, or being hurt...
They're putting everything on the line.
What we can do
is to shine a light on those who try to cross the ocean in the darkness.
Even if we take small steps,
we don't stop moving so that one day we can pass the baton to someone else.
Would that be too sad to say?
No. I don't think it's sad at all!
Ow!
You're right, Majime.
To think the day would come when you'd remind me of that.
All right, you ready to do this?
Yes.
Teach me!
The Dictionaries!
My body is glowing!
Is this...
Kai, you're finally...
Oh, the time has come.
What's going to happen to me?
It's time to be born!
A new member of our dictionary team.
And a respected rival!
The Great Passage!
The Great Passage
But do you think I can become a good dictionary like all of you?
Of course!
You are the culmination of so many people's hard work.
You will become a unique dictionary with your own personality.
The culmination of so many people?
Unique?
Guys!
May dictionaries be available to as many people as possible!
Are you ready to go?
Yes.
Now you're good.
Thank you.
Look!
They're budding.
Why don't we go flower gazing when you get some downtime from work?
We can take some tea and sandwiches.
We'll walk, take a break when we're tired, and then walk again.
Let's really take our time.
That sounds nice.
Daddy!
Hurry up!
All right, my princesses, are you ready to go?
I thought I was your princess too.
You're the queen, Mommy!
Only the princesses get to be carried.
Yeah!
Unfortunately, if I have to carry the queen as well, your king will be flattened like a pancake!
Hm?
What?
What do you mean by that?!
Oh no! Let's get out of here, girls!
Thank you for your call.
Yes.
Good morning.
I understand.
Good morning.
Yes, thank you.
Morning.
Good morning.
Have a nice day.
The printer just said that they've finished the last printing.
It's almost here.
I'm just filled with emotion.
When The Great Passage is finally finished, I think I might just cry.
I can't imagine you crying.
That's mean.
Yes, that was very mean, Araki.
You're right, I'm sorry.
Still, I can't wait.
Me neither.
Hello, this is Genbu Publishing's Dictionary Editorial Department.
Even I can't wait!
Oh, yes. It was good to see you again.
Thank you very much.
What?!
I've just heard
that Mr. Matsumoto...
Mr. Matsumoto...
had passed away.
Majime Mitsuya
Nishioka Masashi
Mr. Matsumoto's wife called me to say that he has passed away.
Vice chief!
The meeting is about to start.
Vice chief?
Nishioka?
The Great Passage is our new dictionary that will bring about a new age this spring.
With the final hour approaching,
I'd like to touch base and confirm what all our roles will be.
But before that...
I know you might not believe this,
but I used to be in the dictionary-editing game.
And there's something I learned during that time.
Dictionaries are tools to help people understand one another and create a better society for the world.
The Great Passage was born from the desire for it to be a guiding light for the present and the future.
Our task is to ensure that this new dictionary can find its way to as many readers as possible.
I couldn't be more proud.
Micchan, dinner's ready.
The nights are still chilly.
I couldn't make it in time.
Chief Majime.
Congratulations on the publication of The Great Passage.
It has been a long road, Majime.
Thank you for all of your hard work.
This still doesn't feel real to me.
I don't know what to say.
I'm just the same!
You too, Sasaki?
You too, Araki?
Oh, me too.
Let's all go out and celebrate!
For Mr. Matsumoto too.
I've already made a reservation at Far Side of the Moon.
We've also invited Nishioka.
Nishioka, huh?
Who else would come up with that mascot, right?
He's so cute.
Apparently he's pretty popular at the book stores.
I suppose I can tell him he's done a good job.
Shall we go then?
Yes!
Let's go.
I'd like to organize some things here before I go.
I can do the organizing for you.
I think he means his thoughts.
I'm sorry. I'll be right there.
Yo.
Nishioka?
So my name is listed at the end of The Great Passage?
Yes.
Oh no.
Was your name misspelled?!
No, it's not that.
It's that I didn't really do much.
Honestly, you're so...
Do you remember talking about the entry for Saigyou with me here?
I do.
I remember what Mr. Matsumoto said to us then.
That we respected our strengths and complemented each other.
Yes.
I think I better understand what he meant now.
It's not just us.
People have to support each other in order to make it across the ocean.
I feel the same way.
And...
The Great Passage can help with that.
Great work.
Congratulations on finishing.
You too, Nishioka.
But don't think you're done.
My work has just begun.
I know.
Our work will never be finished.
What? Never?
Please, you gotta give me a break here.
Why's that?
You're starting to become just like Mr. Matsumoto.
So are you.
Me? No way.
Really?
Shall we go, then?
Everyone's waiting for us.
All right, I guess we can go.
Genbu Publishing's "The Great Passage" Launch Party
"Hey, it's a full moon tonight"
I tell you softly as you sleep
Your gestures, attitude, and way of life
Mean so much more to me than any word
So please stay the way you are
To everyone on the Editorial team
I & I = You & I feel it
Matsumoto Tomosuke
Here with you, forever by your side
I've loved you
Since the day we met
I apologize to everyone on the Editorial team that I was unable to see this through to the very end.
I will most likely no longer be here when The Great Passage is finally finished.
But I have neither worry nor regret.
...neither worry nor regret.
That is because I can vividly see our The Great Passage crossing the great ocean of words.
Araki, there is one thing I would like to amend.
I once told you that I would never meet another editor like you.
But I was mistaken.
Thanks to you bringing Majime aboard,
I was able to push forward on this path of dictionaries once again.
I am truly glad to have met editors like you and Majime.
Thanks to you, I was able to live a truly fulfilling and accomplished life.
If there is an afterlife, I plan to continue collecting my words and see if there is a word that goes beyond gratitude.
How fun it has been editing The Great Passage.
I pray for a long and happy voyage to all of you and to The Great Passage.
Sometimes I imagine that we are all travelers,
and dictionaries are guiding lights to show us travelers the way.
As long as people continue to travel,
they will be inherited, repeatedly rewritten,
and continue to show travelers the way.
That is what I believe.
Light
And we will build another ship once again.
a source of illumination, such as a small fire or a torch "A light shows us the way."