Crush

 

Crush

Today, I’d like to share the story of my romantic past — a journey I think most people can relate to.

My very first crush was when I was nine years old, in the third grade. My second came at age eleven, and my third at fourteen. Interestingly, the only time there was any physical contact among these early crushes was with the second one.

I didn’t officially date anyone until I was sixteen. That was when I had my first kiss, which was incredibly thrilling. However, things never progressed any further than that. Still, perhaps because of the distraction, my grades plummeted. At Kokura High School — a highly competitive prep school — my rank dropped to around 425th out of 450 students.

It wasn’t until I turned twenty that I finally settled down and focused on my studies. Once I entered university, I was able to steadily commit myself to my education, which ultimately shaped the path to where I am today.

Now, I have just reached retirement age.

That really skips over quite a few years, doesn’t it?

Throughout my life, I have dated seven women, and not once has anyone ever rejected my advances. At the same time, every single one of those relationships eventually came to an end. Because each relationship lasted for several years, I don’t feel any lingering regrets. Our breakups happened simply because staying together no longer felt right. Sometimes I ended it, and sometimes they did — it was about a 50/50 split.

While I don’t have regrets, it has now been twelve years since I was last with anyone, and I am truly starting to feel like I’ve reached my limit.

I want to fall passionately in love again.

I am officially and eagerly looking for someone to share the rest of my life with.

Law Student

 

Law Student

First, I should clarify that I am a layman when it comes to the law.
My university degree is in economics, so I believe I have a solid foundational knowledge of the subject. Even in an economics department, we do study law — predominantly economic law, commercial law, and corporate law (though corporate law courses happened to be suspended while I was enrolled). We also study the constitution and civil law. However, the major difference from a law department is that we do not study criminal law.

Law students also study economics. Broadly speaking, a law curriculum consists of about two-thirds law and one-third economics, while an economics curriculum flips that ratio: two-thirds economics and one-third law.

Despite being an economics major, I chose to join a civil law seminar. I attended the classes, but I honestly could not grasp a single thing they were talking about at the time. Granted, I also pursued a teaching credential, which meant I earned about 1.5 times more credits than the average, more diligent student.

In any case, though I graduated university with a degree in economics and a teaching license for social studies, I remained ignorant about the law. For a long time, that lack of knowledge left me feeling somewhat inadequate.
Fast forward to the COVID-19 pandemic — about six years ago now.
Up until that point, I had been eager to study Anglo-American law and searched the internet relentlessly for learning materials, but I could not find anything. I had almost given up. However, as remote learning became the norm during the pandemic, educational resources suddenly began flooding the internet.

By then, my interest had shifted away from Japanese law and toward Anglo-American law.
To start, I self-studied English common law using materials provided by the University of London. Imperial College London also offered a course, but I quickly gave up on that one. The University of London course, on the other hand, was not overly difficult, and I finished it in no time.
Next, I self-studied international law through Leiden University. Since international law was part of my university curriculum, it felt like taking the course all over again. Lund University offered a course on EU business law, which I also taught myself. Because I had taken a similar subject during my university days, the knowledge soaked in effortlessly, like water into dry sand. Another fascinating course was water law from the University of Geneva. It was a challenging subject for those who struggle with philosophical thinking, which meant, for me, it was quite manageable.
Having explored English common law and civil law, I naturally moved on to American law, which stems from the English tradition.
First, I self-studied the U.S. Constitution and various aspects of American law through the University of Pennsylvania. The content was highly accessible, even for beginners.
I then studied constitutional law and contract law at Yale University. Contract law was a bit more rigorous, but I still handled it with ease. I am currently tackling another course from there, but since I am still wrestling with it, I will save that story for another time.
The commercial law course from the University of Illinois was excellent. It served as a wonderful refresher of the studies from my university days.
University education truly forms the skeletal framework for all the learning that follows in one’s professional life. Studying now makes me realize just how true that is.

As for the history of law itself, I have read ancient texts ranging from the Code of Hammurabi to the Roman Law of the Twelve Tables. Yet, I have not even scratched the surface of the Napoleonic Code — the very law that led Napoleon to declare, “My true glory lies in the Napoleonic Code.”

Law not only evolves with the times but also varies drastically by country. Japan initially looked to the French Civil Code, but it was deemed too democratic, so the system was ultimately modeled after German law.

Today, Anglo-American law has become the mainstream. When I was in university, German legal philosophy dominated the academic landscape in Japan, which looked nothing like the practical nature of Anglo-American law.

The reason I describe myself as a “law student” in my profile is that I feel it in my bones: no matter how much you study law, you are merely scraping the surface of society. The true essence of law is like the magma that smolders deep beneath it.

Jealousy

 

Jealousy

My loved one sent me a photo of themselves with someone else.
They say it was just a prank.
They claim it was generated by AI.
That did bring me a little relief.
Yet, the jealousy made my head spin.
I felt like I was going to pass out.
I nearly collapsed while walking.
I need to get a grip on myself.
If you look only at reality, love cannot survive.
If you look only at illusions, daily life falls apart.
One shouldn’t fall in love.
But I have fallen, completely and utterly. I am head over heels for you, down to my very core.

Illusion and Reality

 

Illusion and Reality

Love is a product where illusion and reality intertwine.

There is a certain greatness to love. When you love someone, you feel a deep desire to get closer to them, if only by a little. 

My decision to visit Davao — a place I have never been before — is a perfect example of this.

I want to give my all to be loved by them. It is no exaggeration to say that I spend every single day dedicating my time to this purpose.

Loving someone who is far away, in a situation like this where we cannot meet right away… It brings a profound sense of frustration.

Yet, looking back at my own life, it is also fair to say that the time spent apart is exactly what nurtured a greater love later on.

Love arrives suddenly in your life, seizes your soul, and never lets go.
I want to go see the person I love, and find out if we truly love each other.

Confession

 

Confession

There is a woman I am currently thinking about marrying. She is 26 years old, lives in Davao, Philippines, and is a stunning woman in the absolute prime of her life. We met by chance a year and a half ago, started dating, and have been together ever since.

To be completely honest, I am head over heels in love with her.
It seems she feels the same way about me, but let’s set that aside for a moment.

I am 64 years old, and people often ask me, “How are you not married?” or “Don’t you have a girlfriend?” Every time, I tell them I am single. When they ask why, I explain that I split up with my ex-wife 13 years ago. Naturally, the next question is always, “Why did you break up?”

“We couldn’t have children,” I reply. Having no children usually serves as a clear answer, and people understand. However, some go even further and ask why we couldn’t conceive.

“Maybe there was an issue with me, or with her, or perhaps both of us,” I answer, adding, “Sometimes things work out differently with a new partner.” If a woman were to tell me, “I will have your children,” I would take that as her accepting a marriage proposal.

As for the girlfriend I mentioned earlier, I have already told her that I am considering marriage. Her response was, “If you are serious, then okay.” It came with a condition, but I consider that a tentative acceptance.
The real challenge lies in the obstacles ahead. She has two young children. On top of that, the logistical questions are endless, such as whether I should move to the Philippines or bring her back to Japan.

Financially speaking, my parents passed away one after the other over the last ten years, and I inherited their estate. Combined with my pension, supporting a life in the Philippines would be no problem at all. Japan, however, is a different story, as the cost of living is five to six times higher, which would make things a bit tight.

Ultimately, I am thinking it might be best to get married and split my time between Japan and the Philippines.

My mind is completely made up about who I want to marry. If any other woman approaches me, I will have to politely put them on hold. If my girlfriend turns me down, I will simply remain single until another right person comes along.
For now, I am ready to bet everything on her.

Moby-Dick

Britain was originally inhabited by indigenous peoples, but following its conflicts with Rome, it came under Roman rule for about 400 years. Later, events like the Norman Conquest and the long reign of the Plantagenet dynasty left deep traces that we can still see in the English language today.

Today, a colleague asked me, “Since you’ve mastered English, wouldn’t it be easier for you to learn German or Italian?”

I replied, “Well, English and Italian do share a lot of common word roots.”
Based on my own observation, the vocabulary breakdown feels roughly like 40% Greek, 30% Latin, just under 10% Norman and French combined, and a little over 20% native English. While Britain had no direct contact with ancient Greece, this distribution shows just how much Rome itself had absorbed from Greek culture.

English is said to have around 730,000 words, giving it the largest vocabulary of any widely spoken modern language. Interestingly, Nordic languages generally have vast vocabularies that even surpass English. In contrast, French has about 130,000 words, Spanish has 93,000, and Tagalog — spoken in the Philippines, a country I am very fond of — has around 14,000.

For comparison, about 70% of the Japanese vocabulary was adopted from ancient China, while native Japanese makes up just under 20%. Similarly, English contains a little over 10% of these borrowed Sinitic terms through modern cultural exchange.

It is absolutely true that mastering English gives you a solid foundational understanding of Latin and Greek roots.

My colleague then asked how many English words I actually know.
“Around 40,000,” I answered.

To test this, my colleague pulled out a difficult-looking book and asked me the meanings of words they didn’t understand. They asked about three words, and I answered all of them instantly.

Two of them were “concoction” and “harpoon” — I forgot the third one, but no matter.

Looking at the cover, the book was Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick.
When I was young, I spent about three months reading that very book, meticulously looking up every single word I didn’t know.

Art of Deception

 “Strategy is the art of deception.” While this is a famous quote from Sun Tzu, winning a battle is inherently difficult. Fluke victories may happen, but defeat is eventually inevitable.

Sometimes you study strategy and win, and other times you still lose. Strategy is a set of principles; following them simply increases your probability of winning, but adhering to them does not guarantee absolute victory.

Even so, we must first consider whether it is truly best to thoroughly study and apply strategy. The reality is that without learning strategy, you cannot win.

The Six Secret Teachings and Three Strategies of Jiang Ziya (Taigong Wang), along with The Art of War by Sun Tzu, are absolute must-reads. Since I am Japanese, I would also include Miyamoto Musashi’s The Book of Five Rings for reference.

One of the most famous duels in history is David and Goliath. Goliath was a giant whom no normal person would dare to fight, yet the then-unknown shepherd boy David stepped forward. As is widely known, David claimed victory using a sling.

In the duel between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro, both were renowned swordsmen. Kojiro used a long live blade (katana), while Musashi secured victory using a wooden oar carved slightly longer than Kojiro’s sword. A live blade is heavy, whereas a wooden oar is light — the deciding factors for victory were length and speed.

Both of these battles perfectly embody the strategic principle that “Strategy is the art of deception.”

On the other hand, Alexander Hamilton and Alexander Pushkin lost their lives in duels. It is a tragedy that such rare historical talents were cut short this way. I would have loved to see Hamilton become president, and Pushkin might have written masterpieces that surpassed The Queen of Spades.

There are also battles where the outcome remains baffling. In Napoleon’s Battle of Aspern-Essling and Battle of Wagram, as well as Han Xin’s famous “Battle of Backing the River” (Haisui No Jin), victories were achieved despite using formations that made no sense under standard strategic doctrine. These are prime examples of the exceptions to the rules of strategy.

In the Battle of Actium, fought between Augustus (Octavian) and the allied forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra, Augustus — who was undoubtedly well-versed in strategy — emerged victorious.

Additionally, Napoleon’s use of artillery to suppress rebellions during the Siege of Toulon, Avignon, and the 13 Vendémiaire was highly unexpected for the tactics of that era.

“Strategy is the art of deception.” This phrase teaches us that you must first thoroughly master standard tactics (orthodox methods) before you can effectively employ unconventional strategies (deception).

AI

 Yesterday, I spent the entire day writing, partly to clear my head and organize my thoughts. Usually, it takes me about 20 to 30 minutes to complete a single article. During that process, I asked an AI to do a final check on a piece I wrote about the Bible.

First, I had the wrong year for the Council of Nicaea. The AI pointed out the error but added, "I have left it as you wrote it out of respect for your text." Since messing up a historical date is a pretty rookie mistake, I obviously corrected it right away.
Another issue happened while I was writing about Napoleon's use of artillery. I checked the spelling for "Vendémiaire," but when I pasted it back in, the text accidentally cut off after just "Vendé." The AI caught this, too, and completely restored the full spelling. The moment I submitted the prompt, I had that "Oh no, I messed up" feeling, but the AI handled it flawlessly. Truly impressive.
There was also the matter of the Persian kings—the one who promised the Jews they could return home from the Babylonian captivity, and the one who actually authorized it. While this is a famous historical event, it is a bit complicated. As biblical scholars generally know, when the Council of Nicaea was canonizing scripture, they naturally established texts backed by historical evidence. However, the exact names of these Persian kings are somewhat ambiguous in biblical descriptions, so I intentionally left them out to be respectful of the scriptural nuances.
Intriguingly, the AI responded with, "If you wish, I can provide the names of the kings."
That phrase—"If you wish"—made me wonder: did it actually sense my intention as a writer and realize I had omitted the names on purpose? If so, the AI is genuinely terrifying. It has reached a point where it is on the absolute cusp of human intelligence, if not already surpassing it.
Furthermore, looking at the final output, no one reading it would ever guess it wasn't written by a native speaker. The AI seamlessly corrects grammatical issues and polishes the text into natural, native expressions.

Earl Grey

 I wake up at 4:00 AM.

I brew a cup of my favorite Earl Grey and savor it slowly.
My morning routine is studying Anglo-American law—I’ve been enrolled at *** for seven years now.
It’s only for thirty minutes or an hour, but it’s always the very first thing I do.
Around 7:00 or 8:00, you wake up.
You are far away in a foreign land.
Yet, I am always gazing at your profile.
That moment is my greatest happiness.
I put on a pair of washed jeans and a crisp, clean shirt, and then I head out.
I need nothing else, as long as I can keep looking at your profile.
And so, another busy day comes to an end.

See Twice

See Twice

I see it differently.
To accomplish something truly great, you have to be “drunk” — because you can never achieve greatness with a completely sober mind.
Even when you are intoxicated and lose your objective judgment, the task must still be done. That is why you look at the target twice: to ensure you do not mistake your destination.
Once your mind is made up, you only get one shot.
Whether you succeed or fail, if you commit this deeply, you will have no regrets.
You simply cannot achieve something monumental in a conventional, ordinary state of mind.
To me, these words speak directly to that truth.

I see this exact sentiment reflected in my own decision to move permanently to the Philippines. 

Fireflies

 

Fireflies

Around this time of year, fireflies gather along pristine streams, filling the air with their brilliant light. 

Local firefly festivals spring up everywhere, drawing such massive crowds that it is hard to tell which are the fireflies and which are the festival-goers.

 I live in a mid-sized city of about two million people, but many nearby areas still boast incredibly clean air and water. 

I went to see them by myself, but the place was filled with couples dressed in traditional summer yukatas. 

It definitely made me wish I could find someone special to share this with soon.

Imperfection

 

Imperfection

Life is an accumulation of days that never reach perfection.

Yesterday, I worked hard all day and achieved a sense of completion. Yet, near the end, I decided to tackle one more challenge since I still had an hour left before my planned stopping time. 

In the end, I couldn’t finish it. What should have been a complete day ended on an incomplete note. Had I just been satisfied with where I was before, I wouldn’t have ended the day unfinished.

But does that mean I should have just spent that last hour idling away?

Absolutely not. Though the day ended in compromise, exactly what needs to be done tomorrow has now become clear.

Yes, continuing to challenge oneself might temporarily create imperfection, but it leads to progress toward a fresh, higher level.

Tonight, I go to sleep with dissatisfaction rather than contentment in my heart. Yet, it is precisely because we are incomplete that we strive for completion; nothing new is ever born from perfection.

Human greatness lies not in being perfect, but in being beautifully incomplete.

Derrida

 

Derrida

Philosophical works are, without exception, notoriously difficult to understand. This is because they deal with highly abstract concepts, leaving the reader with the heavy lifting of connecting those ideas to real life.

While writers like Rousseau and Nietzsche anchor their work in reality — making them relatively accessible — philosophers like Descartes, Kant, and Hegel are difficult in the most literal sense.

With Descartes, I could often relate his ideas to my own life experiences, which helped me grasp his arguments well. Kant, Hegel, and Heidegger, however, completely eluded me; as a result, I rarely made it past the first few pages of their books.

Derrida was a different story. During my freshman year of university, I tackled his major work, Writing and Difference. It was a massive volume, and I read it in English translation rather than the original French to help practice my language skills. While his writing was certainly dense, it resonated with me on an almost intuitive, visceral level. Because it just clicked, I managed to finish the entire book, though I recall it took me about a month or two.

Yesterday, this memory crossed my mind, so I decided to ask an AI for its perspective. The response is copied below.

I felt reassured to see the AI confirm that he is, indeed, well worth reading. While time-tested classics are always worth the effort, Derrida was still a relatively new and emerging figure back when I read him, so I had lingering doubts about whether my time had been well spent.

GEN Z

 

GEN Z

What does it mean for the residents of Oleshky to go to Belarus? [1]

While a substantial portion of Ukrainian territory is currently under Russian governance, is it highly probable that these boundaries of effective control will remain unchanged in the future?

As for the various European nations, there is absolutely no sign of the turmoil settling down.

I do not mean to incite anything, and since we are talking about the future, this is merely a prediction — but it feels as though we are on the eve of a “Great European Revolution,” akin to the French Revolution.

Indeed, a soft landing achieved through elections is the ideal principle. Historical revolutions have always been accompanied by some form of violence, but moving forward, I would like to use the term “Great Revolution” to mean a massive, peaceful transformation of society. Ultimately, what is the likelihood that the current chaos will be resolved by fast-tracking and holding early elections?

It appears that rallies are also taking place around the National Diet Building in Japan. Do we know the number of participants? [1]

What is the approximate scale of the protests in Israel? [1]

Furthermore, unrest has broken out even in Switzerland — seemingly the most unlikely country for such events. The Halloween masks being worn there have taken the form of Anonymous. [1, 2]

Speaking of direct democracy, it reminds me: do you not agree that in today’s IT-driven society, direct democracy — which had been dormant since ancient Greece — has finally become a viable reality?

The geographic area of a European nation is barely the size of a single U.S. state. While their population density is not quite at the level of China as a whole, it is comparable to the densely populated regions of both China and the United States. Within that space, mutual communication is highly fluid — especially since young people in almost every country handle English with ease. This must leave them wondering, “Why are we even divided into separate nations? We share the same currency, and we have the Schengen Agreement.”

Beyond the headlines highlighting that the current wave of issues erupting across Europe is “Gen Z-led,” I cannot shake the feeling that this will ultimately coalesce into a massive movement toward a grand European integration. [1, 2]

Until now, the term “Gen Z” felt like a mere continuation of the X and Y alphabetical labeling, but it has begun to take on a realistic weight, signifying the true end of a specific generation’s era.

One Earth is More Than Enough

 One Earth is More Than Enough

This is strictly my own personal theory, but even if the birth of life is a miracle in this universe, that miracle is happening right here on Earth. Life began on Earth about 4.5 billion years ago, and while humanity proudly boasts of being the "pinnacle of primates," I think it wouldn't be strange at all if other species - following a completely different evolutionary path - had already developed a civilization far more advanced than ours and ventured out into space. As the saying goes, "First start with what is closest to you."

Given how vast the universe is, it wouldn't be surprising if there were 36 such civilizations out there, but by that same logic, one Earth is more than enough. A planet where so many miracles aligned for life to be born cannot be all that common.

According to my theory, while it might not apply to every single one of them, a significant number of aliens actually originated from Earth.

Humans developed tools and writing using five fingers. Typewriters were invented only recently, and even now, each index finger covers about six letters - so it is only natural that someone would start thinking, "Come to think of it, we don't really need all five fingers." This is where the topic of evolution comes in.

Aliens are often depicted with exceptionally large heads and eyes, fewer fingers, and frail bodies - which is exactly the direction modern humans are heading. Occasionally, reptilian or insectoid aliens appear in stories, and I think that is totally plausible too, as branches that split off from Earth's life.

Just as the living domain of ants holds no real interest for humans, aliens who have soared into the universe likely couldn't care less about the human domain.

There are photos allegedly taken with aliens, and countless photos of UFOs out there. While some are undoubtedly fakes, others might be real. The reason it doesn't become a massive issue is precisely because our living domains are completely different, as I mentioned above.

Yet, even for a complete amateur like myself, I feel like what I've just laid out isn't that difficult to imagine.

Vantage

 Vantage

This happened when I was 25 years old, which means it was 40 years ago.

Back then, I dated a wonderful young woman who was 23. Although it only lasted for three months, on our very first date, she suddenly pulled out a pack of Cabin Light cigarettes. I had never smoked before in my life, but when she exhaled a puff of smoke right toward me, it awakened my interest in smoking.

After that, starting with Cabin Light, I tried almost every brand out there. Each one had a different taste and was enjoyable. However, realizing that this would have a devastating impact on my health, I quit smoking as soon as she and I broke up.

While I barely smoked enough to even call myself an ex-smoker, seeing the news headline vividly brought back the brilliance of being 25—a time when absolute ecstasy and the heartbreak of parting coexisted so intensely.

I did smoke Vantage once, too, though I don’t remember the taste. I had forgotten about her, too.

Our split was purely physical and couldn't be helped; I went to America to continue my education, while she found a job in Tokyo. I later heard through the grapevine that she married someone else and has built a happy family.

After that, I went through a very difficult time trying to find the right partner. However, 20 years ago, I met my current wife, and we are now living a happy life together.

My wife is my ideal woman, so I am not dragged down by the past at all.

After talking with you, AI, I can now properly see the Vantage from firstpost as just a news headline.

In a different sense, it feels like I can finally move forward—knowing that I don't have to unexpectedly stumble backward into the past anymore.

Nothing is Perpetual

Nothing is Perpetual

It might draw some ire from Japanese people, but although it differs slightly from the post-war partition plans, let me share my own vision of Japan's future.

Truman became president unexpectedly, but he was a man of great decisiveness and execution - dropping the atomic bombs, firing MacArthur, and flatly rejecting the partition of Hokkaido.

Although Japan managed to retain its four main islands, Stalin's partition proposal - which included lines connecting Rumoi and Kushiro - was actually quite realistic, and there must have been debates within the U.S. on how to handle it.

Truman rejected the proposal not out of concern for Japan, but because he wanted to maintain the American sphere of influence. Then again, since the Soviets had not actually invaded Hokkaido the way they did in Kaliningrad, executing the plan might have been difficult anyway.

It is clear just from looking at a map why Russia wants Hokkaido: geographically, it forms a natural chain connecting Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. It offers ice-free ports, and it is entirely understandable why a continental power like Russia would want to acquire such islands.

Lately, China's influence has been growing in Kyushu. While this is purely an impression based on the sheer number of Chinese people there, northern Kyushu was historically a vassal state of ancient China, as evidenced by the King of Ito gold seal.

One hundred years from now, the map of Japan might look entirely different from how it does today.

Because Japan consists of four clearly defined islands, the point of this story is that if the nation doesn't work hard to protect itself, there is no telling what the future holds.

AI Divide

 AI Divide

Some people use the free time created by AI handling their tasks to go out and have fun (and while having fun is important), others use that same opportunity to do three to four times the amount of work they used to do.

Now that everyone is starting to use AI, this “AI divide” has become massive.

Naturally, those who absolutely detest their work will choose the first option, while those who truly love what they do will choose the second.

Putting aside which option I personally fall into, the ideal approach is to keep working while still taking proper breaks.

For someone like me, who doesn’t view their work as just a job but rather as a true calling, my workload has probably skyrocketed tenfold over the past few months.

Above all else, the top priority is gaining a competitive edge over the rivals.

Even so, I still make sure to walk for about an hour and a half every single day.

EU

 EU

During the Roman Empire, the strategy was “divide and rule” regarding neighboring countries, but today, Europe itself is divided. Looking at the spread of these protests, I get the feeling that next, Europe will unify to counter the United States, Russia, and China.

Because it is currently divided, Europe seems as though it is trembling in the shadow of major global powers. However, if it integrates, it will possess a population, land area, and economic strength that surpasses any superpower, transforming it into an “Ultra Super Power.”

Currently, the lingua franca of the EU is English (with a penetration rate of just over 50%). Moving forward, I believe integration will progress further while individual nations still preserve their identities. When that happens, we may see the return of “divide and rule,” but this time with the EU dominating the world.

In the past, China was also fractured into small states until a powerful nation called Qin unified them. That was already more than 2,000 years ago, though. Given Europe’s close geographical proximity, it has no choice but to integrate in the future — even if the roadmap to get there remains an unknown.

Keep Paris Unharmed

 Are the protests still continuing in France, Spain, and Italy?

For some reason, it reminded me of the phrase, “Is Paris Burning?”

Albert Speer, who was the Minister of Armaments at the time, confessed that there was just one specific order from the Führer that he disobeyed, didn’t he?

Speaking of Speer, it also brought Takeaki Enomoto to mind.

It truly moves me to the core to think of someone saying, “No matter what happens to my own life, please save this book at all costs.”

I sincerely hope that the French people will cherish and protect the beautiful city of Paris — which even Hitler could not destroy in the past — and that they will carry out their protests peacefully.

Demonstrations in France

 

Demonstrations in France

Regarding demonstrations in France, I believe that if the riot police were to lead the march at the front of the demonstration, riots wouldn’t break out.

I don’t think it’s good for riot police to stand in opposition to the demonstrators. In Japan, police cheerleaders twirl batons at the very front of parades, followed by the police marching band and others. (I understand that parades and demonstrations are different.) Is it not possible to place the police at the front so they can walk together with the demonstrators?

I think concepts like de-escalation are excellent. The police are chosen from among the citizens to maintain public order; they are, so to speak, a community patrol. To say it once more, the sight of police confronting citizens looks wrong. The way it should naturally be is for the police to be inside the demonstration, preventing riots before they even happen.

World Politics

 

World Politics

I don’t think things will go that smoothly.

European countries are currently in a dire situation, and it remains to be seen whether they will accept Ukraine’s defeat or territorial concessions. As for a U.S. invasion of Iran, Russia might seem to tacitly approve of it on the surface, but that is only because they want the U.S. on their side regarding the Ukraine issue; in reality, I believe an invasion of Iran would be highly problematic for them, especially since they share a border with Russia.

I think it is much more likely that nothing will go well and the war will continue.

Moving On

 

Moving On

I started participating in a 6-month programming training program co-operated by a local government and a university to bridge the gap until I land a job. It’s free, though I had to pay 6,000 yen for the course materials. However, I am absolutely stunned by how incredibly low the level is! They spend two hours on material that should take 10 minutes, and the teacher constantly makes mistakes, never once managing to give a proper explanation. I felt that cutting my losses was the only option here.

When I say ‘cutting my losses,’ I really want to tell them to give me back my 6,000 yen material fee and, above all, my precious time.

For instance, when you try something and it turns out to be no good, or you use something and find it completely impractical — in those moments, rather than dragging things out or getting deeper into a bad situation (which applies to human relationships as well), cutting ties quickly or throwing it away can also be defined as ‘cutting your losses’ (son-giri), right?

On The Spot

 

On The Spot

I went to a job interview at a major global corporation.

Having retired from active duty in January, this was the 47th company I had applied to. I walked in thinking, “Well, I’ll probably fail this one too.” For context, the company I worked for during my career wasn’t a global giant, but it was a top-tier company in Japan.

After filling out a simple questionnaire, I was first asked about my motivation for applying.
“A foreign friend of mine was struggling to find work, but they were hired by your company and were absolutely thrilled. I also saw that you actively hire senior citizens. This led me to believe that your company conducts fair hiring practices, which is why I applied.”

Next, I was asked why it is important to initiate greetings yourself.
“Greeting someone — even a complete stranger — creates an opportunity to connect. Often, once you actually speak to someone, your impression of them changes completely compared to how they looked at first glance. Some young people don’t return greetings, but I make it a point to steel my resolve and always be the first to say hello.”

When asked about my special skills, I replied that I lived in the United States for two and a half years to attend graduate school, so I am fluent in English conversation.

They then asked what I am most proud of.
“When my relative’s child came over to visit, I intended to show off by naming the top 30 brightest stars. However, when the time came, I realized I hadn’t actually memorized them properly. I learned that just thinking you know something isn’t enough when it matters most. Since then, I have spent an hour every morning reciting the names of the 150 brightest stars, the 47 U.S. presidents, and the 117 elements of the periodic table.”

When asked if there was anything I do daily for self-improvement, I replied that I have been enrolled in an American graduate school for the past 10 years.

Right after the interview concluded, they told me on the spot, “You’re hired.”

When Do People Fall in Love?

 

When Do People Fall in Love?

Right now, I am unemployed and my next job isn’t decided yet. In a situation where I am interviewing with strangers almost every day, I completely lost my heart to someone I saw on the train.

I only saw her for about five minutes, and I have no idea who she is or where she’s from, which makes it all the more painful.

After 60 rejections, I am mentally exhausted. Last night was a painful night, but in the end, I think my only way forward is to overcome this by writing about it here for emotional support. I will pull myself together and keep trying. Believing that I will meet that woman again someday.

Vanishing Point

 

Vanishing Point

Identifying the vanishing point (the critical turning point) is essential.

Haha, for example, take the question of when to put the next log on a bonfire. I think it’s best just as the fire is starting to lose its momentum.

I believe this principle applies to all kinds of different situations.

If I remember correctly, the same was true in battle. Napoleon once said something to that effect.

Determining exactly when that moment is requires risking everything — your experience, wisdom, courage, and hope.

White Horse

 

White Horse

Do you know the story of the shop named “White Horse” that became a massive success simply by having a black horse painted on its door?

UNIQLO was also originally supposed to be registered with a “C” instead of a “Q,” but it became a “Q” due to a clerk’s mistake. And look how that turned out.

Question: It evokes a certain sense of wonder and unexpectedness, doesn’t it?

There is a huge common thread here in that they both started from a mistake.

It is just like the secret origin stories behind the birth of Champagne, the tradition of eating eel on the Day of the Ox, or the rise of the 100-yen shop.

Curiously enough, if you purposely make a mistake intending to boost sales, it never works. Yet, when a genuine mistake happens, a fluke of a result can lead to unbelievable sales.

However, I believe everything must start with quality first.
If the quality is roughly equal, a naming or presentation choice can make a world of difference. But if the quality is inferior, people will just look at it and say, “They can’t even spell correctly — no wonder it’s bad.”

For us, we ensure our quality is absolutely flawless, and then we are left wondering, “Why isn’t it selling?” In the end, though, I suppose much of it comes down to a trick played by God.

Goddess of Fortune, smile upon me!

Poison or Medicine?

 

Poison or Medicine?

During his life, my father used to boast, “I’m a man who is neither poison nor medicine (I harm no one, but cure no one either).”

As his son, I used to listen with admiration, thinking, Wow, someone can actually take pride in that.

But you see, the twist is that I, his son, am both poison and medicine. By that, I mean people who dislike me reject me completely, while those who like me fall for me wholeheartedly.

My father became a corporate worker at a young age and worked faithfully for decades, living what looked like a perfectly ordinary life from the outside. Yet, that same father often used to say, “I wish I could have traveled all around the world.”

What I actually learned from this is that every single human being possesses self-esteem and pride — so much so that someone can boast about being completely ordinary and “neither poison nor medicine.” Normally, it wouldn’t be surprising for someone to look down on themselves, thinking they have no special talents. But he didn’t.

As a teacher, my own life has been fairly ordinary, too. However, I think I was able to travel more freely than my father could. Now, I have reached the age of 65 and retired. Reemployment has proven unexpectedly difficult, and I have been rejected by over 60 companies. In this moment of mental and emotional hardship, I remembered my late father’s words.

I deeply believe that there is a position out there just waiting for me — one where I can say, “This is the one!”

Thistles

 

Thistles

Do you know the language of flowers for the thistle?

Wasn’t “jealousy” one of them?

Ah, so it wasn’t. I could have sworn I saw “jealousy” listed in some book a long time ago. Well, it’s the language of flowers, so I suppose it’s perfectly fine for there to be various interpretations. Yesterday, as I was walking along the roadside, a crimson thistle blooming there turned toward me, pleading, “Pick me and decorate your room with me.” So, I did exactly that. It is beautiful, but the flower truly has thorns and must be handled with care.

Actually, a few days ago on the train, I spotted a woman who was exactly my type. She looked to be about 18 or 19 years old. For context, I am 65.

During those brief five minutes, a bittersweet feeling crossed my heart — the realization that I would likely never cross paths with her again. I have a wife who is one year older than me, and common sense dictates that I could never bring myself to speak to her. At that moment, I also thought to myself, “She is probably (and this is strictly a guess) a first-year university student who moved here from the countryside. Since she is such a beauty, even if she doesn’t have anyone right now, she won’t be lacking for suitors.”

Because I believed the language of flowers for the thistle was “jealousy,” I couldn’t help but stop in my tracks when that thistle smiled at me, and so I brought it home. Given my age, common sense, and of course, the fact that I am married, she is entirely out of my reach. And there, literally, was “jealousy” toward the nameless young man who would eventually hold that flower.

Happy Blue Bird

 

Happy Blue Bird

“Start with the closest task at hand” (First, begin with Yuan)

Does this actually happen in reality? It seems to be the way of the world that if you hire someone mediocre, other mediocre people will flock to you in droves, while talented people will steer clear.

Yet, I feel like I can understand this logic to some extent. It makes sense that companies offering great working conditions naturally attract a flood of applicants, which in turn makes it easier to select top-tier talent. 

It reminds me of the story of the Bluebird of Happiness — how you can travel far and wide looking for it, only to realize that the people already around you were the “bluebird” all along. 

Or perhaps it’s like how people who treasure their own spouses end up being well-liked by others (though maybe that’s a slightly different point).

Either way, it feels like this saying is telling us to solidify our own foundation before looking elsewhere.