Week 5
Intro
Itinerary to buy the newspaper:
中野坂上駅で「人が倒れている」という通報が乗客からあり、二人の重症者が運び出され（一人は死亡、もう一人は本書に登場する明石志津子さん〈仮名〉である）、サリンの袋は駅職員（本書に登場する西村住夫氏）によって拾い上げられ、除去された。
Spoiler alert, the lady never made it, she was bedridden for 25 years and died 
source:
有馬光男
さっぱりとした顔立ちや服装や物腰のせいで、第一印象として実際の年齢よりは若く見える。
有馬光男 was 41 at the time of the incident.
Since Murakami often describes the interviewes by describing how old or young they look, compared to their age, maybe it is worth nothing that Murakami himself was 45 at the time of the incident. I’m 35 and I’ve noticed than anyone younger than that looks like a baby to me, no doubt in 10 years it will be even worse! (and I still remember when I was in my twenties, how I thought that 40 is old, haha)
四〇歳前後というのはやはり人生の節目というか、ある程度人を考え込ませる年齢なのだろう。
Speaking of which! I’m sure 40 is a very nice age 
その巡り合わせは、彼の生活や意識をどのように変えていったのか？
I like how Murakami describes a bit the person first and ends his introduction with a question. I don’t remember if he did that everytime but I definitely noticed it a couple of times.
Usual commute:
Commute on the day of the incident:
大橋賢二 (part 1)
Commute:
四ッ谷駅のホームのそのあたりの見晴らしがいいからです。駅の屋根が切れて、上智大学のグラウンドが見えます[…]
The view has probably changed a bit in 30 years, but the school is still there!
大橋賢二 (part 2)
Oh no, he is not getting any better. So sad, to have a life ruined like that
Yep definitely that, I can’t imagine already how bad it must feel to be in pain every day, but not being able to perform is also a real pain and even more in his context. Especially since he also has a loan that he took the year before and that he has to pay back until he turns 70 that should be around now actually, wish we could know how he is doing now (or do we really want to know)
And with that I’m caught up with one day to spare! Good, I can use the time to go and read something happy tomorrow, I need it 
