February 2022– date –

【The trick to have a good conversation】 Do you know the secret to having a good conversation on the first date? At least in Japan, I believe many people know it: You must reserve seats facing the same direction first and foremost! Do y...

Why do the colorful feathers of male peacocks attract female peacocks? Some people may accept the simple explanation: "Because they are beautiful," but I never did. In all through my school days from primary to university, I was an enthu...

Eating snacks at school was once a "sweet rebellion" for Japanese children, governed by a strict 300-yen budget. But in 2026, inflation is destroying this childhood paradise. Join me as I discuss the "snack procurement treaties" of my youth, the collapse of 10-yen candies, and why the global energy crisis has forced CondeHouse to finally raise its prices after years of desperate struggle.

【We Hokkaido people reach enlightenment by clearing snow】 Nothing can stay the same. This is very famous Buddhist terminology, meaning "Life is fleeting and empty." Even on weekend, I always wake up very early and leave home before six...

I begin by sharing my "romantic secret"—that snow-lit Hokkaido nights glowed orange—a secret quickly debunked by my wife's superior knowledge. This orange glow, caused by sodium lamps, is now disappearing due to energy-saving LEDs. I lament this because the lights attracted stag beetles, which were easily collected near acorn trees (Oak)—the same wood we use for our furniture. This Hokkaido Oak shares another legacy: it provides the essential cask material for some of the world's finest Japanese Whisky. The light may be gone, but the resilience of the acorn tree quietly connects the past, fine whisky, and our furniture.

Asahikawa: Hokkaido’s second city and a former strategic military front line. Discover its unique history, its 150 rivers, and why we are turning our furniture factory into a world-class destination. Experience industrial tourism in a city where even businessmen fish like James Bond.

My wife stares at apples until they’re practically intimidated into being delicious. But is our obsession with "perfect" fruit actually a form of lookism? Discover the hidden beauty of Hokkaido's "Yukimuro" apples and why the bold knots in a wooden table are a victory for diversity over a "suspension of thought."

The Kaiju Metaphor: Godzilla is a non-negotiable force of nature that technology cannot defeat. As an ex-military person, I’m frustrated, but we Japanese simply surrender to the inevitable. Embracing a crack in the wood is a small, daily act of submitting to nature, just as the Japanese submit to Godzilla.