7 Books in 7 Areas of Focus — Step 5: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

In the fifth step of our 7 Books in 7 Areas of Focus project, under the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene area of focus, we read The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea, guided by Yukio Mishima’s powerful storytelling. As we keep collecting books for our dream library, we are also continuing an awareness-filled reading journey together.

Looking at the connection between the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene focus and our book, we see that in the novel the sea is not just a setting, but a powerful symbol of freedom, strength and life itself. The sailor Ryuji’s identity exists through the sea. From this perspective, water is a fundamental resource that shapes human existence. Today, access to clean and safe water is one of the most critical needs for the sustainability of human life.

In the novel, Ryuji’s decision to leave the sea and settle on land is portrayed as a kind of “loss of meaning”. Symbolically, this represents humanity’s drift away from nature and natural resources. In the modern world, the pollution of water sources and our growing indifference toward water reflect a similar disconnection.

The novel’s passion for the sea reminds us once again of the deep place water holds in human life. Seen from this perspective, clean water and hygiene are not only a health issue, but also part of the relationship of respect and responsibility that people build with nature.

In short, while the novel powerfully reveals what the sea means in human life, the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene focus emphasizes that water is indispensable to life. Both remind us that water is not just a resource, but a fundamental element that shapes human life.