This year’s NHK Taiga drama, “To the Shining You,” is set in the Heian period.

Since so many Taiga dramas are set in the final years of the shogunate or the Warring States period, I am excited by the elegant image of this particular historical setting.

However, as I was admiring the Heian-period costumes while watching the first episode, I was surprised when the story suddenly took a bloody turn.

What developments lie ahead, I wonder?

And how will The Tale of Genji come to be written?

I am very much looking forward to it.

Speaking of The Tale of Genji, “A Respectful Translation of The Tale of Genji,” published by Professor Nozomu Hayashi—known as “Professor Rimbō”—is written in modern Japanese, yet retains the flavor of the Heian period, making one feel as though one is reading the original text.

In the New Year’s card I received from him this year, he wrote that the ripple effect has kept him busy.

The fifth-generation proprietor intends to read A Respectful Translation of The Tale of Genji once again.

It is wonderful that a tale written more than a thousand years ago continues to be read today.

When an acquaintance who once worked at the Imperial Household Agency was assigned to the Board of Ceremonies, he introduced himself by saying, “Murasaki Shikibu is one of the senior predecessors in my department,” and I was struck by the fact that even occupations within the imperial court have continued unbroken through the ages.

I hope it will continue to shine for another thousand or even two thousand years.