nature– tag –

【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...

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...

Japan’s giant killer hornet is a fisherman’s nightmare, but it might be the only thing keeping the forest ecosystem—and our wooden furniture—safe. I explore the unsettling paradox of the giant hornet as both arch-enemy and keystone species, analyze the genius of the native bee’s "bee ball" strategy, and contrast this ecosystem with my home in Hokkaido.

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.

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.

【Real estate bubble in Niseko】 Ginza is the area in Tokyo well known as a luxury area. The above image (the thumbnail image) is Ginza 4th block's intersection. The area holds the highest land price record in Japan: about 500,000 USD/sq...