hokkaido– tag –
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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... -
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. -
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." -
Japan Travel in the Know
The Sushi Paradox: Why I Hate Raw Fish But Insist You Visit Asahikawa for the Best
Why does a Japanese person who hates the smell of raw fish insist you visit his mountain-surrounded hometown for the best sushi? I explore the Sushi Paradox, noting the scientific mystery of our elusive tastes (I love fishing, but won't touch the catch!). While Hokkaido's seas are bountiful due to colliding currents, the logic is in logistics: Asahikawa, the inland distribution hub, gathers the best fish—the quality too high to stay on the coast. Come to Asahikawa for the best sushi! (I’ll order the cooked egg.) -
Japan Travel in the Know
The Unwritten Script in the Snow: Why Hokkaido’s Deer Problem is Your Dinner Ticket
What are the unwritten scripts in the snow? I decode the footprints of deer and foxes in Hokkaido, only to uncover a philosophical problem: The deer population boom is destroying our forests. I admit this fear is purely human ego. This leads to my ultimate, self-serving conclusion: We should solve the ecological problem—and the chicken-or-egg venison dilemma—by dining at one of Hokkaido's many excellent deer meat restaurants. Come and eat some of the problem. -
Japanese Culture and Traditions
The Physics of Fear: Why Jason’s Hockey Mask and Noh Masks Scare Us With Subtle Asymmetry
Jason’s mask scares us by its absence of expression. Noh masks scare us by their subtle, shifting asymmetry. We dive into the physics of fear to uncover the 600-year-old secret: how slight, intentional, left-right imperfection gives the illusion of life—a profound, subtle complexity forged by the deep Japanese woodworking tradition. The imagination is always the most effective special effect. -
Hokkaido Shreds
Hokkaido adventures: First Experience at the Biei Snow Cycle Festival
【Joining the Winter Cycling Race in Biei Town】 Last weekend, on January 22, I had the opportunity to participate in the Biei Snow Cycle Festival for the first time. The Biei town is known for its picturesque scenery, with rolling hills... -
Hokkaido Shreds
Hokkaido adventures: Exploring the skiing gems of northern Japan #2
【Discover the Simple Pleasures of Skiing at Tohma Town' Tiny Ski Area】 While large ski resorts offer an array of amenities and facilities, sometimes it's nice to take a step back and enjoy the simpler things in life. Tucked away in the...
