An experimental journal
After a hiatus of about three years, I’ve resumed attending meetups. The pandemic and subsequent family hardships led me to withdraw from socializing. I’m uncertain if I’ve fully recovered from the trauma. Nonetheless, I’ve noticed a significant change in my mindset recently – I now crave real in-person interactions, moving away from exclusively online ones. …
“Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” ― C.S. Lewis We’re already in 2021. Still, the pandemic shows no signs of slowing in every corner of the world. The same is true in my neighborhood, and I can’t travel across Tokyo, Yokohama, and Shonan, to enjoy urban photography to document our daily lives. Since we’re in a second covid state of emergency, our lives are restricted. And this current circumstance brought a significant change in my blogging style. Fewer photos from Tokyo/Yokohama and more photos from my neighboring areas/my room. And I’ve had enough of them. So, I need something I can get my …
“What we wait around a lifetime for with one person, we can find in a moment with someone else.” ― Stephanie Klein, Straight Up and Dirty Son of a bitch. Motherfucker. Womanish. There are a lot of phrases and words that disrespect women in the English language. Even in my native language, Japanese, you can find a certain number of phrases that ridicule them. But when it o comes to men, there are many phrases that praise being a man. You’re the man. Men’s man. And this trend is especially true among baby boomers who grew up without any notions of gender equality. Although I’m a man, I feel sick …
“War is what happens when language fails.” ― Margaret Atwood I do believe learning a language is a life-changing experience. According to a Google search, roughly 6,500 languages are spoken in the world today. It’s an astonishing number! So, there are 6,500 opportunities to view the world differently and 6,500 chances to understand those who have different backgrounds. They may have different perspectives and beliefs than yours, but it doesn’t mean you have to disagree with them. We, humans, can understand each other through words. That’s what apart us from other types of animals. Languages could be as harmful as a knife and hurt our feelings, at the same time …
“My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.” ― Abraham Lincoln If you are an enthusiastic Trump supporter and are going to vote for him in the upcoming presidential election, please think twice… I know I’m not an American citizen and don’t have any right to participate in the upcoming election in November, but I want to share my thoughts here. And this post is especially dedicated to my international friends in North America, because the White House’s directions heavily influence its allies, including my country, Japan. When I was a kid, I grew …
“It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.” ― Andre Gide, Autumn Leaves This world unnecessarily makes us unhappy. It seems that our generation is more likely to experience stress and pressure than previous generations. That’s because there are so many reasons why we’re likely to be depressed: pressures at home, school, and work, worry about financial issues, global warming, and pandemic. In particular, social pressures we face every day likely to cause emotional instability. Our world keeps asking us who we are: What’s your job? What’s your educational background? Where are you from? They keep asking us to …
“It was only a sunny smile, and little it cost in the giving, but like morning light it scattered the night and made the day worth living.” ― F. Scott Fitzgerald When it comes to the Kansai region, Kobe is sometimes overlooked, but the city is one of the major cities of Japan, offering many amusing places that are worth your visit. Meriken Park is one of the most famous sightseeing spots in Kobe. It is kinda a counterpart of Yokohama’s Minato Mirai 21. A district with a western feel to it. Enjoy the view, have some drinks, and spend a fantastic evening. Since Kobe is only 30 minutes ride …
“A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.” ― John A. Shedd Built in Japan, owned by a British-American cruise, Diamond Princess travels across Asia in the summer and Australia in the winter. When I went to the downtown of Yokohama on a Sunday in July, the giant ship moored at Yokohama Osanbashi Pier. Since she was so gigantic, I was able to recognize her size even from far away. Here are some snapshots of Diamond Princess and people on the pier. Someday, I’d like to be a passenger of the ship to travel across the Asia-Pacific ocean.
“Don’t pack up your camera until you’ve left the location.” ― Joe McNally Along with Shimokitazawa, which was featured in the last post, the anime Someday’s Dreamers Natsu No Sora set in Enoshima Island as well. This island has been one of my favorite weekend destinations outside of Tokyo. The iconic Enoden trains were featured in the opening theme of the anime with the sunset in background. The island offers all sorts of attractions, including shrines, park, observation tower, and caves. Additionally, you can enjoy authentic seafood cooked with local ingredients.
