japan– tag –

Will Smith survived a wasteland, but I’d probably starve in three days. From the terrifying "Rule of Three" to the invisible magic of modern technology, join me as I explore why the fear of a dystopian future is the best reason to visit a furniture factory and see how things are actually made.

【Asahikawa is a paradise of rivers】 The bike path along the river is one of the most comfortable road to run in Asahikawa. Most of pedestrian and bike paths laid out on the top of embankments. You can pedal along the river to your hear...

【What would you like to do on your free time in Hokkaido? 】 If you were to move to Hokkaido and start a new life, what hobbies would you like to do on your free time? Hokkaido is one of the most comfortable places in Japan for cycling....

Why are Japanese men paralyzed by the idea of buying a simple bouquet? I analyze the Richard Gere Effect: the shame of gifting flowers in a "classless" society. The paralysis is compounded by the Labyrinth of Japanese flower etiquette—from avoiding red to banning potted plants. I conclude by confessing that all this intellectual agony leads to a single point: the humble Begonia we planted in front of our factory.

In 2021, due to the epidemic, foreign tourists can't come to Japan. Otherwise, this period of the year (I'm writing this in July) is usually the peak period of tourism in Hokkaido in early summer, though flowers bloom brilliantly as usua...

What defines art? I apply The Nello Test from A Dog of Flanders: Would you crave art over food and warmth? (I fail spectacularly.) I search for this artistic soul at a Vermeer exhibition but find it instead in a restoration video. I argue that the concentration and supernatural precision of the master repairers—scrapping paint with a tiny knife—is the purest form of art. In this sense, our master furniture craftspeople are artists, embodying art defined by the perfect, focused human movement.

A train track is more than just infrastructure; it’s a concrete promise. Join me as I explore the unique psychology of Japan’s rail enthusiasts, the "ghost stations" of the Hokkaido wilderness, and why you should experience the world’s most punctual rail system before the silent beauty of the ruins takes over.

I used to work in the "living hell" of the Ministry of Finance, where one mistake could end a career. Join me as I contrast the cutthroat world of Tokyo's elite bureaucrats with the miracle of Higashikawa—a tiny Hokkaido town that banned the word "no"—and why architect Kengo Kuma chose this rebellious community for his new satellite office.

【It's safe but boring just to praise classic things】 Do you like antiques or vintage stuff? There are many classic cars that I like, but I don't like motor journalists or car critics who excessively praise classic cars. That's because ...

Why is Soba, a grain historically associated with poverty, considered Japan's most elegant noodle—the ultimate first date material? I explore the Paradox of Elegance and the Pavlovian ritual of Shin-Soba (New Soba) season. I conclude with local pride, recommending OKADA, an exquisite Soba restaurant in our buckwheat heartland of Asahikawa—a Tangible Cultural Property where the historic garden view will enhance your appreciation of the elegant grain.