2021– date –
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Do You Know How Neo Came Back in the Matrix?
【The long awaited release of The Matrix Ressurections!】 "The Matrix Ressurections" was just released in Japan on 17th December, first in the world. Dodge this? No way! I will go to a theater this Sunday, the very first day of my year-e... -
Fun Ways to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Japan
【What we do for Christmas in Japan】 Almost all the cities are filled with Christmas decorations in this season, though the percentage of the Christian population is only 1% in Japan. As I wrote before, we are good at cream-skimming oth... -
How to Survive the World in the Era of Magic
【Many things are black-boxed to us】 Once upon a time, fortune-tellers, exorcists, or shaman offered prayers to forecast the weather, cure diseases, etc. That would look primitive, idyllic, and non-scientific to people today including m... -
The Zen of the Scoured Pot: Why Hard Work Still Tastes Better
Modern logic says anyone can be a chef with a good recipe, but the story of Kiyomi Mikuni proves otherwise. From scrubbing pots at the Imperial Hotel to becoming a global icon, join me as I explore the "illogical" beauty of hard work and the extraordinary Hokkaido restaurant where his philosophy—and our chairs—come together. -
The Sculptors in Uniform: Why Hokkaido’s Winter is a Fortress of Craftsmanship
What happens when you give a military unit a mountain of snow and a Disney manual? You get a miracle that defies market logic. Explore the deep connection between Hokkaido's vanishing railways, the "military-grade" snow art of Asahikawa, and why true craftsmanship can never be "rebuilt" once it's lost. -
The Prius Paradox: Why the Future Doesn’t Need Flying Cars
The 21st century didn't bring us flying cars or Hogwarts adventures, but it did bring us the Prius. Join me as I reflect on the emotional legacy of Osamu Tezuka, the day Hollywood stars rejected limos, and why I believe the furniture industry is heading for its own "Prius moment." -
Smart Ways to Use Your Money Better
【I'm sure the king of shoes is John Lobb】 The king of beasts is a lion. The king of fruits is a durian. What do you think the king of shoes is? I believe it would be John Lobb. It may have not yet become common sense like the rankings ... -
Hokkaido vs. Other Ski Destinations: What Makes It Special?
【Real estate bubble in Niseko】 Ginza is the area in Tokyo well known as a luxury area. The above image (the thumbnail image) is Ginza 4th block's intersection. The area holds the highest land price record in Japan: about 500,000 USD/sq... -
From Soaked T-Shirts to Cosmic Latte: Why the Universe is Beige (and Why Our Showroom Matches It)
I begin with the humiliating question my 10-year-old sister posed: "Why do clothes look darker when wet?" (Answer: low optical reflectance.) This leads to the ultimate color question: What is the color of the universe? The answer, discovered 20 years ago, is beige—scientifically dubbed Cosmic Latte. Our shop coordinator recommended "greige" for our walls, but I have a superior, if useless, idea: "Grayish Cosmic Latte." After all, if the universe is beige, then our wooden furniture must be astronomically good. -
How to Perform the Strength Test for Chairs
The movement of tilting back chairs just like students do in a classroom is most severe structurally for chairs, and it is highly likely to give heavy damage to chairs. This is the reason why the same movement is adopted in the standard strength test of chairs as shown in the contained movie. Chairs are jerked in the backrest with the weight of 60 kg on the seat.