大人を嗜む。

Feature | 2026.1.24


大人の世界で人は大人になる、という話。

How maturity is cultivated within the world of adults.

Do the adults of today enjoy being adults?
It might be good to leisurely immerse oneself in music
that makes one want to listen intently,
in a place where the clamor of children does not reach,
or perhaps it might be good to have an animated conversation
about art or literature, and sometimes politics.
Of course, it is also necessary to play together with children.
However, the existence of an adult world should not be forgotten.
Occasionally, one should fully enjoy adult time in a place
where children are prohibited.
This feature selected places where such a thing is possible.
It is hoped that
more wonderful adults will increase by reading this issue.

冬至光遥拝隧道と光学硝子舞台©小田原文化財団
江之浦測候所全景 ©小田原文化財団

振る舞い、言葉の選び方、余裕、ときにはダーティーな雰囲気など、
大人が放つ知識や品格、カッコ良さは、
子どもたちに「いつか自分もああなりたい」と思わせる力を持っていた。
しかし、子どもを優先しすぎる社会のなかで、
大人がその魅力を発揮する場が少しずつ失われている。
大人を嗜む。そんな場所が今は希少になりつつあるのでは。
知性や感性を静かに研ぎ澄ませ、時間と空間の使い方に美意識が宿る。
そこに身を置くことで、私たちは改めて気づく。
成熟した大人の魅力は、子どもの憧れを育む、とても豊かな文化なのだと。

Conduct, choice of words, composure, and sometimes even a touch of grittiness—the culture,
class, and coolness that adults exude—had the power to make children think, “I want to be like that someday.”
However, in a society that overly prioritizes children,
the places that allow adults to truly express their appeal are gradually disappearing.
The cultivation of adulthood requires spaces that seem to be becoming rare these days.
Places where one can quietly hone intellect and sensibility, where one’s use of time and space is a manifestation of aesthetic consciousness.
By immersing ourselves in such spaces, we realize anew:
The appeal of the sophisticated adult is a deeply rich culture that nourishes the aspirations of children.

As the birthrate declines, a strange inversion phenomenon seems to be occurring in Japan: as children decrease, adults are becoming more childlike. In a society championing “child-first” values, simple and safe environments have become supreme, leading to the quiet loss of adult spaces. In the past, the mysterious atmosphere of adult-only locales made children long to grow up, but such places and people are now decreasing.
Seeking places where adults can enjoy being adults, Enoura Observatory in Odawara and Restaurant Dazzle in Ginza were visited.
“Enoura Observatory” is an artistic space where art and nature fuse, designed by the contemporary artist Hiroshi Sugimoto, who works across various genres. Visualizing the memory of Japanese culture and an awareness of time, it felt as though this is a place whose depth can only be truly savored when approached with adult intellect and sensibility.

“Restaurant Dazzle” in Ginza is a restaurant where modern Italian cuisine can be enjoyed in a glamorous space sparkling with Swarovski lighting. It is a space for adult dining and leisure where the sophistication and luxury characteristic of Ginza are concentrated.
While pursuing pop culture is fine, placing oneself in the “adult world” is also valuable. By pursuing intellectual curiosity and enjoying witty conversation with composure, adults mature. Through these accumulated experiences of “savoring adulthood,” adults become figures of admiration for children.

閲覧中の特集はこちら

大人を嗜む。

yoff

VOL.25

大人を嗜む。

大人の世界で人は大人になる、という話。

おすすめ記事