*“Yesterday, I Went to Mars ♡”*

There’s a version of me who was born and raised in the mountains just outside Tokyo. I’ve never met him, but I think about him whenever I go there. I went for a run there the other day, for the first time in two years. The body felt every bit of that long absence, but my mind was busy with him—the "other me" who knows these trails by heart. The one who sees people from the city, like me,...

When my nephew wanted to travel abroad for the first time, I convinced him to go to India with me. No itinerary, no backup plans—just a week of figuring things out as we went. From non-existent hotels to chance encounters with strangers, the trip became a lesson in embracing uncertainty. Now he's giving a speech about it, and his insights surprised me more than the journey itself.

Sometimes the simplest changes make the biggest difference. After feeling cooped up working in air conditioning all day, I decided to move my laptop to the balcony one evening. Just that single pane of glass between indoor and outdoor spaces, but somehow everything felt different. This episode explores why we crave natural elements even when artificial comfort is more efficient.

Village Vanguard used to be a treasure hunt—dim lighting, mountains of books, and passionate staff recommendations that led to unexpected discoveries. But recent struggles show what can happen when a unique business scales up and loses its soul. As someone running a small eyewear shop for 17 years, I found their story both cautionary and familiar. The episode reflects on balancing growth with auth...

Inspired by Montaigne’s words, “Whatever can be done someday, can be done today,” this episode reflects on how waiting for the “perfect moment” often delays or derails our dreams. Drawing on my own experience starting Makoto Megane 17 years ago without perfect preparation, I share why taking small steps today can be the greatest gift to your future self.

In this episode, I share why I believe every business should start with something you truly love. Drawing from my 17 years running Makoto Megane, I talk about the limits of focusing only on profit and loss, and how passion—not numbers—drives persistence, attracts support, and shapes long-term success.

In this episode, I talk about the idea that “Reading is like going to the gym, and the Internet is like taking a stroll.” Reading challenges and strengthens the mind over time, while the Internet offers light, casual exploration. Both are important—one builds endurance, the other refreshes.

It all started with a strange week of feeling completely drained, and a warning from a Garmin watch. In this episode, we share a personal story that begins with a low HRV score—a number from a fitness tracker—but quickly unfolds into a much bigger conversation about what we truly value. We get into a simple but powerful thought experiment: Would you trade your youth and health for one billion yen?...

When Junglia opened in Okinawa, I was excited—my family visits that area every year. But the harsh reviews got me thinking about what really happened. A business consultant's analysis helped me understand it wasn't just bad luck, but predictable problems with capacity planning. The episode connects theme park design to everyday business decisions, including reflections on running a small e...

When a child asks "Why do I have to study?" one mother used a glass of water to demonstrate how each subject we learn adds new layers of understanding to even the simplest things. Math gives us measurements, science reveals composition, history adds context, and art shows us beauty. This episode reflects on how learning doesn't just fill our heads with facts—it changes how we experie...

So I went to this old bathhouse called Inariyu yesterday, and while writing about it, I stumbled across something pretty interesting that got me curious. Turns out this place is a "National Registered Tangible Cultural Property" - which sounds fancy, right? But when I started digging into what that actually means, I found out there's this whole system I knew nothing about. Here's...

Sometimes the best discoveries are right in your own neighborhood. This episode is about a simple visit to a local, old-fashioned bathhouse ( sentō ) and a small thought that came with it. We'll chat about that feeling when something "old" suddenly feels very "new" again, and the unexpected comfort you can find in places that have chosen not to change with the times.

Today’s reflection is about jealousy — and how it can actually be proof that we “just can’t do something yet.” We usually don’t feel jealous of people who are far beyond our reach, people so distant that we can’t even imagine ourselves in their place. But when someone is on the same horizon as us, just a little ahead, and we can still see their back — that’s when jealousy creeps in. In that sense,...

I came across this news story recently that just blew me away, and I can't stop thinking about it. A 27-year-old guy in Japan dropped his phone from a bridge, tried to grab it, and ended up falling into the river. But here's the crazy part - instead of panicking and trying to swim in the dark, cold water while fully clothed and a bit drunk, he made this split-second decision: "Nope, I...

Freedom in Life? Ever wondered what happens after you achieve FIRE? This week, I'm sharing some thoughts that hit me during a visit to my wife's family in rural Japan. I've been watching two very different retirement stories unfold. My wife's 70-something father in Nagano is busier than ever - volunteering, organizing festivals, helping newcomers at the local senior center. Meanwhi...

Today, I’d like to talk about something I found really interesting in the news recently. Japan has decided to invest a large amount of money into a U.S. fund—but here's the twist: about 90% of the profits will actually go to the U.S. side. Now, at first glance, this might sound like a bad deal—like Japan is just being overly generous or even taken advantage of. But if you take a step back and...

Today, I want to share something that made me pause in wonder—something as small as a watch, yet as vast as space itself. I’ve been using a Garmin GPS watch lately, and honestly, it feels like magic. Even in the middle of the mountains, with no cell signal in sight, I can just tap “Navigate to Start,” and it’ll guide me back—turn by turn, vibration by vibration—like a silent companion who always k...

Ever hear that famous Coco Chanel quote about creating her own life because her old one wasn't making her happy? It really got me thinking. In this episode, we chat about that idea—what if feeling unhappy isn't a dead end, but actually the best place to start building something new? It's a quick take on how we can all be the designers of our own lives.

This episode explores the difference between waiting for opportunities and actively creating them. Using a famous quote from Abraham Lincoln as a starting point, we discuss why simply being patient isn't always enough. It's a short reflection on the importance of 'hustle'—taking proactive steps and making things happen for yourself—and why choosing from what's left behind isn&#...

Some thoughts on what money really means. It's easy to see it as security or just numbers in an account, but I've been thinking of it more as "possibility" - the ability to go places, meet people, make choices. The thing is, possibility only matters when you act on it. Like unused concert tickets that become worthless paper, money that never moves never becomes anything meaningfu...

What is the source of true confidence? This episode explores two different types: the kind based on external evidence, like data and past success, and another, more resilient kind that comes from within. Using a personal story about meeting a unique craftsman, we discuss the idea of living on a 'different coordinate axis' and how 'baseless' confidence is often forged by believing i...

Episode Description: Monthly trips abroad aren't just about finding new eyewear brands - they're about experiencing what the internet can't capture. The way Parisians spend 30 minutes discussing frame materials, the subtle shifts in street fashion, the atmosphere that data can't convey. In an age where everything seems accessible online, I've found that the "uneven" parts of the world - the things...

Episode Description: A personal experience with sleep apnea testing at home. After years of routine brain scans, I decided to try a comprehensive sleep study using a Philips device with multiple sensors - five electrodes on the head, oxygen monitor, breathing belts, and nasal tubes. The irony? The equipment meant to measure natural sleep made it impossible to actually sleep. Some reflections on ho...

When tech giants start building a new OS for life, what is the role for the rest of us? This episode offers a personal reflection on the overwhelming pace of AI and a path forward. We discuss moving beyond a feeling of powerlessness to find a unique, human-centric purpose in a world being reshaped by technology—and why that may be the most powerful strategy of all.

Thoughts on belonging and criticism, sparked by watching my kids navigate school life. As someone who left the corporate world to run a small eyewear shop, I've discovered something unexpected: when you're not part of a group, criticism loses its sting. While my children learn the complexities of fitting in at school, I'm learning the freedom that comes from stepping outside those circles. Some re...