2023– date –
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Hokkaido Shreds
Hidden gems in Hokkaido : Hell Valley in Noboribetsu Onsen
There are so many hidden gems in Hokkaido. You can see beautiful scenery e.g.; lakes, mountains, forest, sea and so on. I would like to share some gems in Hokkaido. 【Hell Valley in Hokkaido】 Hokkaido is like a heaven but there is the H... -
Japanese Culture and Traditions
The Logic of Lunch: What India’s Dabba and Japan’s Bento Say About Culture
What do India’s Dabba delivery system and Japan’s Bento art tell us about culture? I explore the unseen human greatness of Mumbai’s analog logistics and the miniature artistry of the Japanese lunchbox. This leads to the structural difference of Tiffin tins vs. magewappa (bent wood boxes)—and the surprising fact that the technology that perfected your traditional Bento now perfects our Hokkaido wooden chairs. -
Hokkaido Shreds
Hidden gems in Hokkaido : Pink! Pink! Pink! Moss phlox
There are so many hidden gems in Hokkaido. You can see beautiful scenery e.g.; lakes, mountains, forest, sea and so on. I would like to share some gems in Hokkaido. 【Pink! Pink! Pink!】 Takinoue Town is the small town, located in the th... -
Hokkaido Shreds
Hidden gem in Hokkaido: One of the clearest lake “Lake Kuttara”
There are so many hidden gems in Hokkaido. You can see beautiful sceneries, like lakes, mountains, forests, sea, and so on. I would like to share some of them. 【Unique characteristics】 Lake Kuttara is a crater lake located near the fam... -
Must-Visit in Japan
The Efficiency Trap: Why I Keep Buying the Same Book Twice on Kindle
Why do I, a rationalist, keep buying the same book twice on Kindle? I explore the Efficiency Trap, where the pursuit of digital convenience leads to lost memory and diminished experience. The problem is not nostalgia, but the value of inefficiency. I argue that life is notoriously poor in cost performance, and that the modern search for meaning requires us to reject pure efficiency. Join us at Asahikawa Design Week to experience the value of real, inefficient communication. -
Japanese Culture and Traditions
The Kaizen Noodle: What 81 Meals a Year Taught the World About Instant Ramen
How did a post-war necessity become a global staple eaten 81 times a year in Korea? I explore the Japanese invention of instant noodles, tracing Momofuku Ando's five-point philosophy and the continuous innovation (Kaizen) that produced non-fried and raw-type noodles. The article concludes with the utterly anticlimactic truth: I cannot bring specialty instant noodles as a souvenir to our Bangkok staff because global logistics always loses to carry-on baggage limits. -
Must-Visit in Japan
The 52-Minute Secret: Why Gossiping Is the Human Habit You Should Be Proud of
You spend 52 minutes a day gossiping. Is that a bad thing? I analyze the social genetics of gossip through the lens of Yuval Noah Harari's theories, arguing it is a necessary human survival mechanism. Discover why online chat fails to satisfy this deep need, and why June in Hokkaido—outside the rainy season—is the best place to reconnect and engage in genuine, face-to-face "gossip." -
Japanese Culture and Traditions
The Genius of Gacha: How Leftover Coins Transformed a Japanese Craze into a Global Design Success
I trace the origin of Japan's Galápagos Syndrome to a chocolate snack craze from my childhood, fueled by the hit-or-miss system for rare hologram stickers. This mentality evolved into Gacha (capsule toys). I analyze the genius marketing move that transformed this local craze into a global success: installing machines at airports to solve the universal problem of leftover JPY coins. This is the power of design—solving a logistics headache with empathy and turning a local habit into a global solution. -
Japanese Culture and Traditions
Tips for Enjoying Cherry Blossoms Like a Local in Japan in Spring
In the popular places for cherry blossoms in the peak season, you can see many blue ground sheets spreading all over under cherry trees. Even though a good spot is secured somehow, most people just enjoy drinking and eating, and only few people look up cherry blossoms. This is the reality of cherry blossom viewing parties in contemporary Japan. -
Must-Visit in Japan
The Simulacra Paradox: Why Japan’s Best Art Museum is Full of Fake Masterpieces
I must confess, I don't understand art at all. We argue the true value of a museum is not authenticity, but the quiet, surreal experience. Discover the Simulacra Paradox: The Otsuka Museum displays every masterpiece as a durable ceramic replica, allowing you to see the Mona Lisa without the mob. This is the true, subtle luxury: processing the surreal world of art in quiet, deliberate comfort.
