*“Yesterday, I Went to Mars ♡”*

In this episode, I reflect on the recent Starliner issues and the broader structure of human spaceflight. The investigation pointed to technical and oversight problems involving NASA and Boeing. Rather than reacting emotionally, I took a step back and looked at the history of U.S. space programs — from Mercury and Apollo to the Space Shuttle and the ISS. What becomes clear is that space exploratio...

Next week, I’ll be speaking to a middle school class for 90 minutes—my third year doing this. While preparing, I realized something simple: I’m not there to teach. I’m there to think alongside them. I’m 47 and I’ve had a winding path—running an eyewear shop, taking big risks, experiencing failure, and starting over more than once. Those experiences matter to me, but they haven’t magically given me...

In this episode, I reflect on an idea I recently came across: three goals for a successful life. The first is to generate money. The second is to build a body and mind that can actually enjoy that money. The third is to look back one day and feel that life was meaningful. Most of us focus heavily on the first goal. Especially in business, numbers matter. But what interested me most was the second...

In this episode, I reflect on a short AI-generated video that left a strong impression on me — a 15-second fight scene featuring digital versions of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, reportedly created using ByteDance’s new tool, “Seedance 2.0.” The clip raises important questions about where filmmaking — and creative work more broadly — may be heading. If AI can already produce cinematic scenes with mini...

In this episode, I share something that surprised me: the origin story of the Japanese beauty brand SHIRO. I had always seen it as a clean, modern label you’d find in places like Ginza—but I didn’t know it began as a small OEM “souvenir factory” in Hokkaido, close to shutting down. I talk about the moment a 26-year-old employee was asked to take over the company or let it end, and how that decisio...

In this episode, I reflect on how “status” is changing. It used to be about what you owned, then what you knew, and more recently what you’ve experienced. But an article I read suggested something quieter might matter most next: simply looking well-rested. We talk about why good sleep, low stress, and steady energy may become a real signal of wealth—because you can’t truly buy them. I also explore...

In this episode, I reflect on carnivorous plants and what they reveal about trade-offs. At first glance, they seem like “upgraded” plants with an extra ability. But in reality, their strength comes at a cost. The energy required to trap and digest insects makes them less competitive in fertile environments. What is an advantage in one setting becomes a disadvantage in another. That idea feels rele...

Alphabet recently issued a 100-year bond to help fund long-term AI infrastructure. On the surface, the logic is clear—data centers and physical AI investments require patient capital. But the idea of “100 years” feels striking in an era where a single year can reshape entire industries. In this episode, I reflect on historical examples like IBM and Motorola, both of which issued century bonds near...

In this episode, I reflect on a simple but powerful idea: we tend to regret what we didn’t do more than what we did. Looking back at some of the most meaningful experiences in my life, I realized that none of them were easy or comfortable. They all involved stress, uncertainty, and a bit of fear. That made me see that real enjoyment and growth often come with some level of discomfort. After severa...

In this episode, I talk about what I’ve been learning from tracking my HRV (heart rate variability), and how it has changed my daily habits. I’ve noticed that when my HRV drops below my normal range, coffee and alcohol have a much stronger negative impact. A trip to Paris last year made that especially clear — wine at night and espresso during the day quickly showed up in the numbers. Since then,...

In this episode, I reflect on approaching my fifties and a quote that stayed with me: that after a certain age, “preparation” can quietly turn into hesitation. Looking back, I realize I spent years thinking things through instead of moving. But change doesn’t come from standing still—it comes from starting, even without perfect readiness. I also touch on how money and time shift in meaning as we g...

In this episode, I talk about something I’ve been noticing through regular stretching sessions: how pain often shows up in one place, even though the real cause is somewhere else. A stiff shoulder can come from the back. Knee pain can start in the thigh. Treating only the painful spot doesn’t always help, but addressing the underlying cause often does. It made me think about how the same pattern s...

In this episode, I reflect on how learning environments have quietly changed. As my daughter prepares for high school, we relied on online programs like Knowledge Star and Study Sapuri, and it made me realize how little “where you study” matters anymore. With an internet connection, students can move back to basics or jump ahead, learn at their own pace, and ask questions without pressure. Combine...

In this episode, I reflect on a short passage about stars—how it’s not only the brightest ones that make the night sky beautiful, but also the faint, barely visible lights that give it depth. It led me to think about how easily we focus on what stands out, while overlooking the small, ordinary moments that often feel more real and meaningful in our own lives. This isn’t about big ideas or dramatic...

This episode reflects on a recent hazing-related death at a U.S. university and why such incidents continue to happen. Rather than focusing on blame, it looks at the atmosphere young people often find themselves in—where belonging feels essential, and exclusion can feel like the end of the world. In those moments, advice like “just walk away” rarely works, even when people know something is wrong....

In this episode, I reflect on a recent news story from Queens, New York, where a man and a dog died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning inside a van used as a mobile veterinary clinic. What began as a distant headline slowly became personal, as it reminded me of moments in my own past—winter camping, using fire or generators, and assuming that “being outdoors” meant being safe. This is not a...

In this episode, I talk about a recent winter trip to the Hakodate area in Hokkaido and the unexpected cultural gap I experienced there. Choosing trains over a rental car turned out to be far more inconvenient than expected, and simple things—like transportation hours and cash-only payments—made me realize how different regional Japan can feel compared to Tokyo or overseas cities. I also share con...

In this episode, I talk about something I hadn’t thought much about until recently: hidden cameras in hotels and short-term rentals. Cases like these aren’t limited to one country. They’ve been reported in places such as South Korea, the United States, and Canada, often involving small cameras and online streaming in spaces people assumed were private. This isn’t about creating fear or telling peo...

In this episode, I share a quiet observation that began while looking at a map. While browsing Google Maps and reading news about the reopening of the Gaza–Egypt border crossing, I noticed how close very different worlds exist to one another. Just beyond a thin line on the map, there are ordinary hotel reviews and everyday routines, while only a few kilometers away, life is defined by restriction...

In this episode, I reflect on why the phrase “regulating the nervous system” is being used more often, especially among younger people. Rather than framing stress as a matter of mindset or willpower, this episode looks at how many of today’s difficulties seem to be felt at a physical level—through constant alertness, fatigue, and an inability to fully switch off. Practices like cold exposure, brea...

In this episode, I talk through a recent news story about the United Nations facing a financial crisis due to unpaid and delayed contributions from major member states. Rather than taking a strong position, I try to understand how the UN is funded, why nonpayment and late payment have become an issue, and what this situation says about the current state of international cooperation. I also look at...

In this episode, I reflect on a growing sense of numbness when watching videos online. With so much AI-generated content circulating, even real footage can start to feel artificial, and moments that once felt moving now pass without much impact. I talk about YouTube’s plan to address low-quality AI-generated content, and how algorithms that favor speed and volume may be quietly wearing down our ab...

In this episode, I reflect on a startup called EF Polymer , which has developed a fully organic absorbent polymer made from fruit waste such as orange peels. At first glance, an “absorbent polymer” doesn’t sound especially remarkable. But when you look at how it works—absorbing water in soil, slowly releasing it to plant roots, and eventually returning to the earth—it begins to suggest a practical...

In this episode, I talk about recent reports suggesting a possible merger between SpaceX and xAI, both led by Elon Musk. If such a move were to happen, it would bring together space transportation, satellite communication, artificial intelligence, and social media under a single structure. Beyond the sheer scale of the numbers involved, what interests me is how this could quietly reshape the way t...

After reading a report about Ningbo in The New York Times , I began thinking about the different ways societies express tension and dissatisfaction. Drawing on personal experiences in Shenzhen, Germany, and Abu Dhabi, this episode reflects on the contrast between cities full of visible energy, societies that are usually quiet but speak up when necessary, and places that feel deeply calm and tightl...