japan– tag –

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.

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.

Logging isn't just a job; it's a winter siege. Join me as I compare the freezing reality of the forest to a famous hostage crisis, explain the logistical differences between the police and the military (from my own experience of being crushed by the GSDF), and why the "YouTuber" generation is the greatest threat to our forests.

Elsa makes it look easy, but shoveling snow at -41°C is no fairy tale. Join me as I explore the reality of life in Japan’s coldest city, the struggle of maintaining solar panels in a blizzard, and the brilliant, low-tech secret of using winter snow to air-condition our summers.

I sell furniture but don't care about "things"—unless they’re a good investment. Join me as I dive into the strange world of collecting: from the 140% returns of the luxury watch market to the profound, sightless whisky collection of Valentino Zagatti, and finally, the 1,350 masterpieces of the Oda Collection here in Hokkaido.

【Have you been to roadside stations in Japan?】 This is one of the basics to enjoy a road trip in Japan, especially in Hokkaido: Make the best use of roadside stations. This transport infrastructure was born in around 1990. It's like re...

For a child in the 90s, Asahiyama Zoo was a "hell" of boredom. Today, it is a miracle of life. Explore the revolutionary shift from "caged animals" to "flying penguins" and see how this local success story inspired CondeHouse to turn their furniture factory into a spectacle of human craftsmanship.

【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...

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.

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.