*“Yesterday, I Went to Mars ♡”*

In this episode, a simple comment during a weekly morning run leads to a quiet reflection on alcohol and choice. An athlete’s phrase—“I don’t drink, not on purpose”—opens up a way of thinking about habits, priorities, and intention. Rather than arguing for or against drinking, the conversation looks at how many things we do out of routine, and how pausing to ask whether we’re choosing them deliber...

In this episode, we look at BOXABL, an American company developing foldable homes that are built in factories, transported by truck, and unfolded on site. What once felt like science fiction—something close to the Hoi-Poi Capsule from Dragon Ball —is quietly becoming part of reality. With housing costs rising sharply in the U.S. and elsewhere, BOXABL’s approach offers a different way of thinking a...

In this episode, we reflect on a recent move in the UK to ban boiling lobsters alive, following the recognition that animals can feel pain. Rather than focusing on policy alone, the conversation turns to how shifts in perspective can quietly change the way we see food, tradition, and responsibility. From everyday meals to cultural practices, we explore the uncomfortable space between what feels no...

In this episode, I reflect on a recent Financial Times article that describes our current moment as a “mask-off” era — a time when people are becoming more direct and less willing to maintain polite façades. Rather than focusing on politics, this conversation looks at what that shift means in everyday life: work, relationships, and the quiet pressure to always say “yes.” Through personal observati...

I stopped sending Japanese-style New Year’s cards years ago. The routine started to feel more formal than meaningful. Still, there is one paper letter that continues. Every December, a Christmas card arrives from a couple in Canada — people I met years ago while participating in the Ultraman Triathlon in Hawaii. They supported me through that race, and since then, we’ve exchanged handwritten cards...

When booking airline tickets for international travel, we’re often faced with many options — airline official websites, Booking.com, Trip.com, and various online agencies. At first glance, they may all seem the same. But after experiencing several real-world problems — from minor name spelling issues to missed flights due to closed support desks — I began to notice that where you buy a ticket can...

In this episode, I share a small New Year’s moment—visiting my parents with my family—and how it led me to think about “healthy life expectancy,” not just how long we live. I’m not an expert, but doing the rough math made me realize how quickly the “years we can freely do what we love” can pass. It’s a gentle reminder to start the things we care about sooner, while also taking care of our bodies s...

While traveling, I received an unexpected toll charge weeks after returning home—from a road in France I didn’t even realize was a highway. This episode reflects on how cashless, gate-free toll systems are becoming common worldwide, and how travelers often stand just outside the logic of local rules. A quiet reminder that small frictions and misunderstandings are still part of what makes travel in...

Each year, I buy the same simple notebook: Shinchosha’s My Book . After 26 years of filling its blank pages, I started wondering what it means that this quiet ritual can still exist—and whether it will still be around decades from now. This episode is a small reflection on routine, time, and how ordinary objects can quietly tell us something about peace and stability in the world.

In this episode, I reflect on the election of New York’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, while rewatching House of Cards . I’m not a political expert or reporting from the ground—just thinking out loud about what it might mean to lead a powerful city without deep elite connections. It’s a quiet look at expectations, reality, and what public support can (and can’t) change.

This episode looks at FC Barcelona’s financial struggles and the unique socio system behind the club. Rather than focusing on headlines or blame, it explores how Barcelona’s member-owned structure shapes its decisions, values, and risks. A quiet reflection on efficiency, ideals, and what it means to choose principles over profit.

Oxford’s Word of the Year for 2025 is “rage bait,” a term for online content designed to provoke anger and drive reactions. In this episode, we reflect on how the internet has shifted from curiosity to emotional manipulation—and what that means for our attention and energy. A quiet reminder to notice where our focus is being pulled, and to choose our own pace when we can.

Reading the New Year’s newspaper, I saw two contrasting headlines: small business bankruptcies at a ten-year high, and Japanet Takata’s cruise business thriving. It made me think about what really defines risk today. Stability doesn’t always mean safety, and growth doesn’t always come from staying the same. Sometimes, choosing what genuinely feels “interesting” is its own form of risk management.

A quiet reflection on how travel leaves invisible records behind us. From learning that a trip to Cuba affects U.S. entry, to noticing how past travel in places like Tibet still follows us years later, this episode explores what it means to move in an increasingly traceable world. Convenience, digital tools, and integrated systems make travel easier than ever—while gently changing what privacy and...

On a long-distance bus, a simple seatbelt announcement sparks a small reflection on risk and timing. A scene from the Bourne films comes to mind, where even the strongest characters don’t skip basic precautions. This episode is a quiet thought about saving your life for the moments that truly matter—and not losing it by accident along the way.

I read Ikusagami by Shogo Imamura, expecting something familiar—and that’s exactly what it was, in a good way. The story follows a classic structure, but the characters feel deeply alive, which makes it hard to stop reading. It reminded me that when something “standard” is done with care and honesty, it can be incredibly powerful. The same is true for novels, craftsmanship, and even a well-made pa...

In this episode, I talk about watching Avatar 3 in IMAX 3D after a long break from the series. Even without remembering much of the previous films, I was struck by how carefully the movie was made as entertainment. It led me to think about something simple: when language and emotion are shared, appearance matters less. Even characters who aren’t human can feel familiar, relatable, and surprisingly...

A brief reflection on a scam call pretending to be the police, and how easily fear and urgency can push people into trouble. Sometimes, the simplest response—pausing, or not engaging at all—is enough. A quiet reminder that many problems only exist if we choose to participate.

A quiet reflection inspired by a song from JUNNOS, a traveling singer who moved across Japan with his family, living and singing along the way. The phrase “going to the edge of the galaxy” starts to feel less like a dream of going far, and more like a question about how we keep going, day by day. This episode explores choosing continuation over expansion, and moving forward at a pace that doesn’t...

Growing up, our world often feels defined by small communities and constant comparison. As adults, we gain the freedom to choose distance—to engage deeply when it matters, and let things pass when they don’t. This episode reflects on that quiet shift, and the simple conversations that symbolize it. Sometimes, real freedom sounds like, “Nice weather today.”

It’s easy to avoid failure by staying exactly where you are—but that safety comes with a hidden cost. In this episode, I reflect on how thinking is shaped not by staying still, but by action, surprise, and occasional mistakes. Youth, creativity, and possibility aren’t about age, but about movement. Sometimes, choosing “probable failure” is healthier than accepting “certain decline.”

Why are data centers being built so urgently around the world right now? This episode looks beyond the hype around AI and explores the quieter financial reality behind it—where expensive hardware, rapid technological change, and accounting rules turn time itself into a liability. It’s a reflection on speed, capital, and what’s really being consumed in the race to build AI infrastructure. A thought...

Jared Isaacman’s return as NASA Administrator caught my attention. After his nomination was once withdrawn for political reasons, he quietly came back and was ultimately approved. It reminded me that titles come and go, but steady, honest work tends to find its place over time. In the end, the only thing we can really do is focus on the work right in front of us, day by day.

Money affects people differently. For some, it brings relief. For others, it helps happiness grow. But if you’re neither struggling nor truly happy, more money doesn’t change much. This episode reflects on why money works more like an amplifier than a solution—and what really gives it meaning.

We often dismiss our own strengths by comparing ourselves to the very best. Running an ultramarathon, running a small shop, or doing honest work may never make us number one—but that doesn’t mean it isn’t meaningful. This episode reflects on the quiet difference between being “the best” and being “needed,” and why value often exists exactly where we think it doesn’t. A gentle reminder that being s...