ジャンコレ

I don’t know who invented the rubber band, but there’s probably no one who doesn’t know what one is. It’s an indispensable rubber product for tasks like bundling or securing items. It’s no exaggeration to say that the discovery of rubber—the material used to make them—changed human life. The first known encounter between humans and rubber dates back to the time of the Aztec civilization. The photo shows some playful, character-shaped rubber bands. Whenever I see products like this, I can’t help but buy them. Although their primary purpose is to secure or hold things in place, when I find one I really like, I actually find it hard to bring myself to use it. In the end, they end up sitting unused without ever fulfilling their intended purpose. So, I still haven’t figured out a use for this particular rubber band. But I can imagine that the moment I unconsciously remove it and realize it has snapped back into its character shape, I might just burst out laughing. If possible, I’d rather be the one getting a laugh out of it than the one using it.

I think I heard somewhere why they’re shaped like sea bream, but I’ve forgotten. Probably one of those “so-and-so theories” you often hear about snacks like this—it’s just perfect fodder for snack talk. Still, I think the usual assumption is that they’re simply a symbol of good fortune. Connoisseurs say that the ones baked individually are “wild-caught,” while those baked in batches are “farmed.” They say that the difference in baking method—whether wild-caught or farmed—results in variations in how the skin is browned, which in turn affects the flavor. I’d like to compare them, but I doubt I could eat that many. The taiyaki in the photo is sold by a specialty shop that’s been making red bean paste since Showa 25, and when I tried it, the filling had a wonderful flavor. I believe the red beans are from Hokkaido—Hokkaido adzuki beans are famous nationwide—so for red bean paste lovers who care about the quality of the filling, this is surely an irresistible treat. One I’d love to try someday is the “perfectly round taiyaki” from Nagato Confectionery, a shop beloved on Tsushima Island.

Ancient ruins are still being discovered here and there, but I believe they represent only a small fraction of the whole. This is because the traces of human activity eventually fade away. The ones being discovered today are likely those that have happened to survive due to specific circumstances. Some time ago, I happened to pass by a site like the one in the photo. The site was located in a quiet forest, with a clear stream flowing nearby—a place that even modern people would find pleasant. These ruins date from the Asuka period through the latter half of the Kamakura period—a time known as the Satsumon period—and are said to be approximately 1,400 to 800 years old. There were depressions where dwellings once stood, the remains of a hearth dug in the center, and a cooking stove on the south wall that was used for cooking. When I thought about how people in the past must have lived here in much the same way, I felt a strange sense of warmth and familiarity. It’s hard for me to imagine a time without electricity or cars, but precisely because of that, I believe the people of ancient times must have possessed a far keener sensitivity than we do today—an understanding of the changes in nature, knowledge of flora and fauna, and ways to protect themselves. Perhaps their lives were even more abundant and filled with a greater sense of happiness than ours are today.

Have you ever had an experience like this? Walking down a street after a rain shower, you suddenly stop at a puddle at your feet, peer inside, and see the dim sky, trees, and buildings reflected there—giving you the sensation that you might fall right into that space beneath your feet… I’ve experienced this a few times, but when you look closely—as you’d expect—it’s just a puddle left behind after the rain. This is a photo I took when I stopped to capture the moment. The sky is clearly reflected there, along with power lines and the surrounding scenery—it’s a truly mysterious space right at your feet. It almost feels like if you were to jump into the puddle, you’d glide right through it and fall into the sky on the other side. Though, to an outsider, I probably just looked like a suspicious person peering into an ordinary puddle. Science fiction stories often depict “mirror worlds,” and I find myself imagining that if there were another space mirroring reality, this might be what it looked like. Could this puddle be a portal to another dimension—a space where you can see the world on the other side through the gaping hole in the water? As I peer intently into it, my imagination runs wild, wondering what my “other self” on the other side might look like. Either way, I’m probably just a weirdo to anyone watching.

I’m not sure exactly when people started calling alcohol made from grapes “wine,” but in English, grapes, vines, and vine stems are all referred to as “vine.” It sort of sounds like “wine,” but I don’t know the details. In any case, grapes have been cultivated for thousands of years—both as fruit and as a raw material for alcohol. It seems the balance of sugar, acidity, and tannins was ideal for winemaking. In other words, the reason is likely that it’s a well-balanced beverage that offers a wide variety of flavors to enjoy. I’ve heard that over 10,000 varieties of grapes are now cultivated. Come to think of it, it seems Japanese people have more opportunities to drink wine these days. Sparkling wine has become a staple at events like Valentine’s Day and spring parties, replacing the traditional New Year’s sake, and with trends like Beaujolais Nouveau, many people are likely trying wine for the first time. There are also more imported holidays like Halloween and Christmas. Wine makes an appearance at each of these occasions, and its popularity continues to grow. Currently, global warming is creating a tailwind, as Japan is becoming more suitable for wine production.

It’s not often that packaging draws much attention. For example, when you buy luxury watches or perfumes, the product is often ensconced in an elaborate box or package, but everyday items are usually contained in nothing more than a case with a nice printed design. However, times have changed, and excessive packaging or lavish packaging that seems impossible to recycle is now shunned for creating the opposite impression. We’ve entered an era where extravagance is no longer acceptable, even if the product inside is expensive. Packaging must now be environmentally conscious. But at the same time, packaging that looks too cheap can strike the wrong note. It’s a tricky time. The photo shows the included cable that came in an iPhone box. I unfolded it after it had been stacked inside, and it fits together beautifully. And it’s made of nothing but thick cardboard. Apple product packaging has always been designed to evoke a sense of excitement when opened. The logic behind this is likely that the thoughtful design itself reflects the product’s price.

This happened about five years ago. I upgraded my iPhone. At the time, I was using an iPhone 7, and since the camera capabilities had improved significantly, I figured I wouldn’t have to carry both a phone and a digital camera when I went on trips. So, I left my digital camera at home and took photos with my iPhone 7 instead. Just as I’d expected, I took countless photos—almost as if it were a dedicated digital camera. Since I rarely use the phone for calls anyway—it’s basically just for messaging—it had more than enough functionality as a phone. However, the speaker volume had gotten quieter, and the power button had worn out. I figure that’s just to be expected given how heavily I used it. The iPhone 13 I bought after that has an OLED display; while it looks slightly bluish when viewed from an angle, its camera capabilities had already surpassed those of compact digital cameras of that era. The biggest change was likely the concept of computational photography. While image editing and effects are commonplace today, taking photos with an iPhone has fundamentally changed the approach and techniques used in photography. Apple reinvented the iPhone as a phone, but in reality, it had also reinvented the camera.

Modern cars no longer use physical keys to start the engine or unlock the doors. Instead, they use short-range radio waves to start the engine and unlock the doors. However, I often hear that these convenient systems are frequently exploited by thieves. Since the method is invisible, it naturally leaves me feeling uneasy. The other day, I had the opportunity to drive my daughter’s car. It’s a new model equipped with a smart key, and after dropping her off, I drove straight to another location. I had been driving for about 10 minutes when I pulled over at a certain spot to run an errand. It would have been fine if I’d left the engine running, but I accidentally turned it off. When I opened the door to get out, I realized I hadn’t taken the key from my daughter. Naturally, I couldn’t start the car again, so I called my daughter to come bring me the key. Since I couldn’t move the car, I left it there, called a taxi, and went back to where I’d dropped my daughter off. My daughter said she hadn’t even noticed because she usually keeps the key in her pocket. It’s a rather embarrassing story, but it really brought home to me that this sort of thing happens precisely because we’re using a digital key instead of a traditional one.

Suppose a person lives to be 80 years old. How many times would they see a sunset in their lifetime? This might seem like a trivial question, but 365 days × 80 years equals 29,200 days—though if we exclude childhood, the number might be closer to 28,000 days. I checked websites like the Japan Meteorological Agency, and while there were several conditions required for a sunset, I couldn’t find any information on how frequently they occur. Of course, this isn’t a reliable estimate, but if we assume just one day per week, that comes to 4,000 days. Furthermore, even on those days, it’s unlikely that I’d actually be looking up at the sky at the exact moment the sunset is happening. The probability of looking up at the sky just as the sunset is taking place is even lower; if we say it happens once every three times, that comes to 1,300 days. The sunset in the photo is the one I saw, but it was visible for only 10 minutes. That means even if a sunset had been happening, I might have missed it by just 10 minutes. If that’s the case, the probability of actually seeing it is even lower; assuming the same one-in-three chance, that would amount to just over 400 days. Of course, these calculations aren’t reliable, but if a sunset occurs once a month, it would come down to a mere 100 days. I wonder how many more times I’ll get to experience a sunset like this.

Apparently, this plant has been beloved since the Edo period, and in recent years it has gained popularity for the way its leaves turn red in the fall, leading to its widespread planting across the country. This is likely due to the influence of “Instagrammability.” It’s a testament to the power of the internet, where topics once known only to locals can spread across the globe in the blink of an eye. Furthermore, people are constantly on the hunt for little-known topics. It’s as if everyone is part of a reporting team these days. The kochia in the photo hasn’t turned completely red yet, but it’s still quite beautiful in its own way. Also known as “broom grass,” this plant has long been used to make brooms. Its seeds are also edible. Akita’s “tonburi” is a processed version of these seeds and is affectionately known as “field caviar.” Since even its new shoots are edible, it’s safe to say this plant has a wide range of uses. Even though it’s been cultivated in various places for a long time, I’m not quite sure why it’s so popular right now. I suppose a major factor is that it’s now easy to share color photos with each other from anywhere. People will likely continue to search for new topics to write about for years to come.

It is said that this was originally not a Christian festival, but a Celtic one. The term “Celt” apparently meant “unknown people” during the Roman era and was not a general term for an ethnic group. So, I suppose this means it was a festival celebrated by the people who lived in central Europe… The Celts considered the end of October to be the end of the year, and they believed that at the start of winter, the spirits of the dead would visit. In other words, it was a ritual in which people would dress up as these spirits or offer sacrifices to protect themselves from the evil spirits and witches that were said to be coming. Later, even though it was a pagan custom, some regions adopted it into their Christian practices, which is said to have led to the autumn event we know today. There are many games to enjoy on Halloween, such as the “duck-apple” apple-bobbing contest, games using raisins, and “snapdragon.” In Japan, it has mainly become popular as a commercial event. Costume parades in city centers, for example, have a certain rustic charm reminiscent of the Tanabata Festival, which has helped attract young people.

I’m not talking about photos taken from the sky. I’m referring to what are commonly called “airplane photos.” A while back, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were days when movement restrictions prevented me from going out to take photos freely. As I carried my camera around, looking for subjects close to home, an airplane happened to fly by one day. Since I was near an airport, many passenger planes were taking off and landing. I tried taking some photos on a whim, only to discover that this genre is surprisingly complex. Since you end up looking up a lot, it’s almost like you’re just photographing the sky. Naturally, shooting into the light becomes the norm. Exposure is a hassle, and I often end up with photos where the clouds are blown out. Plus, since airplanes are usually in flight, if you don’t time it right, the shot rarely turns out well. This photo was taken as the plane was lowering its landing gear to land, so it’s a shot where I had a bit more time to work with. I tried to include the sky, the clouds, and the scenery on the ground. These days, with a smartphone in my pocket, I probably have more opportunities to take photos, but a decent telephoto lens is still a must. If you’re interested, check out my photo page. https://dukes.pics/#1

As I’ve written before, convenience often comes with hidden dangers—and this holds true even for something as small as this. USB flash drives, about the size of a pinky finger, are now available with capacities exceeding 1 terabyte. That’s enough to store as many as 6 million pages of text. We often hear news reports about people losing USB flash drives, leading to leaks of personal information—but this device could hold enough personal data to cover the entire population of a small town. It’s also said to be capable of storing 250,000 standard-resolution photos. It’s hard to grasp at first, but the amount of information it holds is simply beyond imagination. The USB drive in the photo is mine—the one I usually keep attached to my keychain—and it has a capacity of 16 gigabytes. I wouldn’t mind having one with 1 terabyte, but with such a large capacity, I tend to end up storing just about anything on it, which leaves me with unnecessary data, so I deliberately chose a smaller one. As for protecting against data leaks—the dangerous aspect of this convenient tool—the key is to delete the data immediately. My basic rule is to carry it for the shortest time possible, and once I’m done transporting it, I erase the data right away. I consider this the fundamental approach.

I’ve heard somewhere that the custom of displaying art isn’t yet common in Japan… but is that really true? It’s true that there may be few Japanese rooms where paintings or prints are stylishly displayed, but items like hanging scrolls in the tokonoma, as well as lucky charms, vases, and pots, have long been part of Japanese decor. So I don’t think it’s all that surprising. I, too, enjoy decorating. However, when it comes to what I display, I tend to choose things I like, items that suit the space, or things that catch my eye—though what catches my eye changes from time to time, and that’s only natural. The etching in the photo is a small image of a coffee cup by Joan Isaac. Since many prints are affordable, they’re easy to enjoy. Speaking of accessibility, arranging flowers is probably what I do most often. Though they aren’t paintings, fresh flowers have a special charm all their own. You can enjoy the changes they bring, and they evoke a sense of the seasons. “Even if I’m poor, I don’t want to lose the desire to display a single flower…”—those were the words my father left behind in his later years.

To those unfamiliar with it, this might sound like a foreign concept, but I think many people have heard the term in passing. It’s a computer storage medium with a long history. The world’s first hard disk drive is said to be the IBM 350 disk unit, part of the IBM 305 RAMAC released in 1956. It became widely available to the general public in the 1980s through companies like Western Digital and MacStore. The photo shows two hard drives I had on hand: the larger one on the bottom is a 5-inch drive, and the smaller one on top is a 3.5-inch drive, which is typically built into laptops and similar devices. Both are still in use today, but they’re generally considered consumables that need to be replaced over time due to wear and tear. While it’s inevitable that they’ll break eventually, what really matters is the data inside, so it’s essential to always keep a backup. Although it was once predicted that all storage devices would be replaced by solid-state drives (SSDs) and other memory-based solutions, hard drives have surprisingly managed to survive for quite a while. They’ve been widely used around the world for over 50 years—a rare phenomenon in the rapidly changing world of computing. You could even say they’re the second-longest-lasting medium after paper.

It is said that Japan’s first convenience store was opened in 1962 at Tajimi Station in Gifu Prefecture by the Railway Kosaikai. Convenience stores themselves are believed to have originated in the United States, with 7-Eleven tracing its roots back to an ice cream shop in Texas in 1927. Lawson was born in 1939 in Ohio when a store that had been selling milk began carrying daily necessities in addition to milk. That is why the Lawson logo features a milk can. In the vast expanse of the United States, the reason for selling such sundries was likely the need for people to make quick, impromptu purchases. When I traveled to Maui some time ago, there was a general store in a small town called Hana. It sold everything from groceries to daily necessities and even carpentry tools. Since there were no other places to shop besides this store, it must have been a vital part of the community. What I found particularly interesting was that the store’s entrance featured a bulletin board with notices and even local news posted on it, serving as a community center as well. Here, local information is also a valuable commodity.

Also known as Yamanishikigi (Mountain Spindle Tree), this plant belongs to the genus Spindle Tree in the family Spindle Tree. It is a popular garden tree for its autumn foliage, including its fruits and seeds. Although I’m not particularly knowledgeable about plants, when my old family home was demolished, I saved a small portion of this tree—which had been planted on the north side in a shady spot and had nearly snapped several times under the weight of snow—by dividing the root ball. During the bleak autumn months of the northern regions, it bears hard, pale pink fruit capsules that split into four sections, revealing red berries. I found its appearance somehow intriguing, so I’ve now potted it and placed it by the entrance to my home. This year, it has produced more fruit capsules than I expected, adding a touch of pale pink color to the landscape. As its name suggests, the wood is strong and flexible, so it was used in the past to make bows. Apparently, it’s also used today to make personal seals and combs. Since it still bears fruit around the time of the first snow, wild birds come to feed on them. For me, it is a tree that adds a touch of color to late autumn.

As I mentioned in post 061, action cameras—invented in 2004 specifically for filming surfing—have seen improvements in features such as image stabilization, water resistance, and shock resistance, becoming the flagship of wearable cameras. With the shift to 1080p high resolution, the image quality reached broadcast-level standards, and nowadays, there’s hardly a day that goes by without seeing such footage on TV. I started using one after a photographer friend showed me what he called an “interesting little gadget.” Since then, the image quality has improved, and the distortion has been corrected to provide a more natural field of view, making it one of my go-to cameras. I mainly use it for time-lapse photography, and the effect of fast-forwarding time is quite impressive. The ease with which it can be attached to the body is a major strength of wearable cameras. We’ve long been in the “age of video,” and now that these cameras are mounted on soldiers’ helmets and worn by police officers and workers alike, they’re capturing raw, vivid footage. While competition in the action camera market has increased and its popularity has waned somewhat, I believe the role this camera plays in creating immersive, “as-if-you-were-there” experiences will only grow in the future.

Although screw-top bottles have become more common, you still can’t open many crown-capped bottles without one. You’ll realize this if you try opening one with your bare hands—if you use too much force, you’ll draw blood. Once, when I was camping, I couldn’t find a bottle opener anywhere, so I ended up breaking the bottle to drink from it—which was quite dangerous. Before plastic bottles became widespread, bottle openers were found in all sorts of places: on the small tables beneath train windows, on the backs of seats in movie theaters, and even thoughtfully attached to vending machines. If you looked around, you’d find them everywhere—on kitchen shears and other items. The one in the photo is quite old; it’s made of lightweight material and fits right in your pocket. The wire one isn’t a bottle opener, but a specialized tool for winding off and opening metal lids on items like sardine cans. This, too, used to be attached to the can itself. Even today, all sorts of bottle openers are sold as souvenirs and the like, so I’m sure there are plenty of collectors out there.

Back when horses were the primary means of transportation, there were places called “horse tethers” where people would tie up their horses’ reins to let them rest. Parking lots are probably the modern-day equivalent of those horse tethers. Parking lots that appear in movies and TV shows are almost always the setting for some kind of incident. Indoor parking lots, in particular, have a somewhat mysterious atmosphere. There’s nothing special about them, but perhaps the slightly damp air and dim lighting make them perfect for creating drama. When I think of parking lots, valet parking comes to mind. Also known as “Valet Parking,” it’s a service where you hand your car keys to an employee at the facility, and they park your car in a designated spot. That way, you don’t have to search for a parking spot or remember where you parked. I remember feeling a bit uneasy about handing over my keys the first time I experienced this abroad. Later on, I learned that I was supposed to give a tip as well. Recently, systems have emerged—especially in the vast parking lots of large facilities—that use your smartphone to show you where you parked, anticipating that you might forget. Of course, you don’t need to tip your smartphone.

This, of course, refers to a “scramble.” It is not uncommon for a country’s fighter jets to scramble to intercept unidentified aircraft that have violated its airspace. Especially in recent years, with ongoing tensions in neighboring countries, such scrambles have likely become a routine occurrence. On this day as well, the jets took off amid a sudden roar. The photo captures that very moment of the F-15J fighter jet. Before I could even focus the camera, it vanished into the blue sky. Commonly known as the “Eagle,” this aircraft boasts impressive flight performance: it is 19.4 meters long, 13.1 meters wide, weighs 25 metric tons, and has a top speed of Mach 2.5. It is also capable of climbing to an altitude of 19,000 meters. Pilots of this aircraft are known as “Eagle Drivers” and are considered the cream of the crop among pilots. With a cruising range of 4,600 kilometers, they can cover the entire territory of Japan. However, even with such robust air defense, tensions remain high along the country’s borders.

There are various names for it—notebook, pocket book, and so on—but essentially, it’s a notebook for jotting down schedules and memos. For now, let’s just call it a planner. I started keeping a planner when I began working. Or rather, I had to—I simply couldn’t do my job without one. Before that, I didn’t need one. I started using a planner and schedule book because I realized I couldn’t get my work done unless I followed a schedule. Naturally, unlike a diary, I don’t write down my thoughts or personal matters in it. I used a paper planner for over 30 years, but in 2001, electronic organizers—known at the time as PDAs—were released, so I gradually switched to a digital planner. These days, few people know what a PDA is. It stands for “Personal Digital Assistant.” Apparently, it was a term coined by John Sculley of Apple. It fits in the palm of your hand and allows you to carry your schedule and address book with you as digital data. Of course, there were no smartphones in the 1990s. It actually took some courage to make the complete switch from paper to digital. I remember how, whenever I found myself reaching for a pencil to take notes, I’d remind myself that if I stuck with analog, I wouldn’t be able to reap the benefits of digit.

With the increasing variety of media we watch and read, radio—which relies solely on listening—has become a unique medium. I feel this trend has accelerated even further since the era when Walkmans first became popular. When I think of radio, I’m reminded of the part-time job I had at a radio station back in my college days. There were many shows where listeners would send in postcards to request their favorite songs to be played on the radio. The hosts would select a few from the mountain of postcards they received, introduce them, and play the songs. When I say “songs,” I mean records back then. They’d pick a few songs in advance, run to the record room, and fetch the right records. The so-called “disc jockeys,” or “personalities,” would read the postcards while introducing the songs. I’m sure it was a wonderful memory for anyone whose postcard happened to be read on air. Since popular songs received a flood of postcards, people went to great lengths to get theirs read—drawing pictures or coloring their postcards to stand out from the crowd. Nowadays, we live in an era where you can listen to the radio online, but I wonder if devices designed solely for listening to audio will survive. I find myself pondering this as I gaze at my old radio.

When I’m stuck for something to write about, I take another look around my room and see if I can find anything. Then, I realize there are all sorts of things hidden among the familiar objects, and it feels just like I’m exploring my own room. It sounds strange, but it’s like I’m wandering through the things I’ve collected myself. I’ve been using an Apple Watch for several years now, so I rarely wear what you might call a “regular” watch anymore. Of course, the Apple Watch has a time-telling function too, but by “regular watch,” I mean a mechanical analog watch. As you can see in the photo, I do own a few of them, but ever since I started using the Apple Watch, these regular watches haven’t seen much use. With that in mind, yesterday I decided to go out wearing an analog watch for the first time in a while. The solid feel and weight of the metal are somehow comforting. The steady movement of the second hand also felt refreshing. Although it has only a single function—telling time—the mechanism designed solely for that purpose gave it a mysterious presence. While the Apple Watch’s multifunctionality is great, this experience made me want to use a regular watch as often as possible.

Japanese kitchenware is renowned worldwide for its exceptional quality. From knives to copper and iron cookware, there is an endless array of superb yet simple tools, including delicate cooking utensils and tableware. But what about overseas? Of course, due to differences in ingredients and cooking methods, there are many distinctive items, but what I tend to notice most about them is their color and unique shapes. It may be presumptuous of me—someone who is no culinary expert—to say this, but when viewed from a different angle, a distinct character emerges. For example, the clip in the photo is a foreign-made product designed to seal the openings of food bags and containers; its soft-to-the-touch texture and colorful design are truly unique. Just looking at it, you can sense a truly carefree atmosphere. It feels as though even such a small tool embodies the joy of eating and the lively chatter that accompanies a meal.

Among those who are familiar with it, root beer is a drink that clearly divides people’s tastes. Although it has “beer” in its name, it’s non-alcoholic. “Root” apparently refers to plant roots, and according to Wikipedia, it was first released in the United States in 1866. It’s said that it originally contained a small amount of alcohol, but as pharmacists and others contributed their expertise, medicinal properties were gradually added, giving it its unique flavor. I’m sure you’ve seen A&W cans in stores. My first encounter with it was also with A&W. I remember drinking it from a mug at the airport in Okinawa. Later, when I visited the U.S. mainland, I was surprised to see quite a variety lined up on store shelves. I tried a few different kinds, and each had a slightly different, subtle flavor. Upon looking into it, I discovered that some are homemade and that there are many different varieties. Part of the appeal of root beer is its somewhat earthy aroma. It’s also something that lets you sense the regional character and the history of how it’s been enjoyed over time. The bottle in the photo is a fairly popular brand I came across in Hawaii. It has a faint scent reminiscent of Salonpas. I’ve heard that the Mizume tree has the same scent.

Choosing a suitcase can be quite difficult. After traveling abroad a few times, you’ll naturally come to understand what kind of suitcase you need. While your predictions about what you’ll need are usually pretty accurate, there’s actually a slight discrepancy between what you expect and what you actually need. For example, you might think a lightweight bag is comfortable and convenient, only to find that once packed, it’s surprisingly unstable and wobbles. Or you might assume a smaller bag will suffice, only to find that your luggage often ends up increasing on the return trip. It’s through these experiences that you eventually discover the bag that’s right for you. There are also countless stories about luggage—like when a bag goes missing or when you lose the key… There are just as many stories about bag mishaps as there are about travel itself. The suitcase in the photo is the one I use, and as you can see, it’s all dented and battered. That’s because it’s common for luggage to get tossed around during loading at airports and such. I’ve been using it with that in mind from the start. I just accept it as part of the deal. Every now and then, I straighten out the dents and keep using it. It’s a reliable partner that protects the travel gear I pack inside.

The theme of the moon might be both ordinary and a bit too weighty. That’s because I feel its significance has been growing over time. The Full Moon Festival is coming up soon. While there are times when I gaze at the moon in a contemplative mood, hearing that development is underway on tires capable of traveling across its surface makes it feel strangely tangible. Will it transform from something we simply gaze at into a place where we might one day settle? I gazed at it while pondering such things. This photo was taken some time ago, but since I shot it handheld, it’s a little blurry. I wonder how many times I’ve photographed the moon so far. I’d love to go there if I could, but that’s probably impossible. It’s the quintessential example of a place you can see but can’t reach. I’ll just say, with a touch of resignation, that it’s precisely because I can’t go there that it sparks all sorts of fantasies. It’s long been said that the moon’s gravitational pull influences events on Earth, and the most obvious example of this is the ebb and flow of the tides. As something we can actually feel, it’s quite convincing. That gravitational pull, though slight, probably affects our bodies as well. When I think about how the moon, orbiting the Earth in an elliptical path, continues to bestow a force upon us that we can’t even see, it might even serve as some kind of excuse.

I’ve been wondering lately: when did older people start wearing hats? As your hair thins, you can’t help but feel a bit self-conscious about the top of your head. My own hair is already less than half of what it was when I was young. This is just the natural course of things. While there are some older people with enviably thick hair, for most of us, hair thins as we age. It can’t be helped, but once that happens, people often start wearing hats right away—partly to protect their heads. It’s even more common because it’s harder to style their hair. Women, perhaps concerned about sunburn, often wear hats with wide brims, while men tend to wear simple baseball caps with a brim at the front. By the way, why baseball caps? I’ve always wondered—there are so many different kinds of hats, yet for some reason, it’s always baseball caps. Is it because they’re easy to get and convenient? It does seem a bit odd to wear a baseball cap when you don’t even play baseball. Unless you’re a baseball fan, of course… Looking at old photos, you see older men wearing elegant hats and walking around in kimonos. Could the shift to Western-style clothing be the reason Japanese people’s hat preferences have changed?

At some point, we entered an era where people buy water. While tap water has always been subject to a fee, it has become commonplace to buy bottled water to drink when we’re out and about. But it wasn’t always like that. In Japan, where we’ve always been blessed with an abundance of drinking water, various public facilities used to have free drinking fountains, and in most cases, you could get a drink of water. Also, if you asked, you could usually get a free drink of water just about anywhere. However—whether due to a growing health consciousness or simply because it wasn’t sold—drinking water has now become something we buy. Even when carrying water with me, I used to fill a water bottle and drink from it on the go. It really makes me realize how much things have changed. I’ve been drinking the water shown in the photo for quite some time now. At first, I’d buy a few bottles at convenience stores, but now I buy them by the case. The reason I drink this water is simple: it’s rich in minerals that tap water lacks. At first, the taste of hard water was so strong that it even made my meals taste different afterward, but now, on the contrary, I even pair my food with sparkling water. Most water in Japan is soft, which is perfect for Japanese cuisine, but with the recent trend toward Western-style dining, carbonated hard water is becoming more common. The great thing about this water is that if you mix whiskey with it as is, it becomes a highball.

Candles—or “ro-soku,” as they’re called in Japanese—go by many names, but I believe they possess a mysterious power. Of course, their basic function is to provide light, but no matter how small or dim that light may be, it has a profound effect on the heart. With the recent camping boom, lamps and lanterns have apparently become quite popular. In today’s world, where multicolored LEDs are the norm, why do we turn to lamps and campfires? It’s often said that seeing fire awakens our innate, primal instincts. Is that really the case? I’m not sure if a primal switch is hidden in our genes, but when I gaze at the light, I certainly feel as though there’s some kind of power at work. The candle in the photo is meant for use on the table during meals. It’s made of crystal glass, and the light source is an LED. The patterns in the glass mimic the flickering of a flame, creating a variety of effects. It’s designed to cast a soft glow on the table, much like light shimmering on the surface of water. You could say this candle is a collaboration between glass—a material with a long history—and the light produced by LEDs, a modern electronic technology.

’d heard before that commercial airliners follow fixed flight paths, but I never imagined I’d be right underneath one of those routes. On a clear day, two contrails stretched up into the sky from the northern horizon. In the blink of an eye, they reached directly overhead, and this is the photo I took. They appear to overlap, but they’re actually at different altitudes. The one on the right is Atlas Air Flight 5Y515, a Boeing 747 nicknamed the “Jumbo,” flying from Anchorage to Seoul. This model is no longer in service in Japan. The one on the left is American Airlines Flight AA127, also bound for Seoul from Dallas. This is a Boeing 787, nicknamed the “Dreamliner.” You might wonder how I know such precise details, but nowadays there are smartphone apps that can even tell you exactly which planes are flying where. At that moment, the Boeing 747 was flying at 40,000 feet, while the Boeing 787 next to it was at 38,000 feet—a surprisingly small difference in altitude. Their speeds were different, too. Shortly after, the 787 on the left overtook the 747. Scenes like this play out every day in the skies somewhere.

This is about a youth hostel I’ve never actually stayed at—I wonder if I can even write about this topic. Unfortunately, I have no personal experience with it. So I’ll have to write based on my imagination. Some time ago, an article like this appeared in Chitose City’s public relations newsletter. It reported that the building that served as Japan’s very first directly operated youth hostel was set to be demolished. The building was constructed on the site of a former elementary school by Lake Shikotsu and was later renovated with the help of architects. In the fall of 2021—66 years later—it was decided that the building would be demolished. Before it was gone, I visited the actual building the other day. The photo was taken during that visit; the historic building stood quietly amidst the lush greenery of the national park. In just a few months, this building will no longer be visible. Although I’ve never stayed there and have no personal memories of it, for those who stayed at this facility in their youth and cherish fond memories of Lake Shikotsu, there may be many emotions stirred by this sight. I gazed at it while pondering these thoughts. It’s said that youth hostels across the country have changed with the times, and many have closed or been converted into other facilities.

When I was young, I didn’t have a passport. Or rather, I didn’t need one. I imagine many people were in the same boat. It wasn’t until I had to travel abroad for work that I had one issued for the first time. I emphasize “issued” because it is, after all, something officially issued by the Japanese government. That was the first time I truly felt like a Japanese citizen. That was around 1992. I believe my current passport is my second one. It has an embedded IC chip and a new design. Back when I used to travel abroad, there were times when the pages were completely filled with entry stamps, but in recent years, they’ve remained blank. Lately, the government has been trying to lower the cost of obtaining a passport to increase the ownership rate even slightly, but as of the end of 2025, the passport ownership rate as a percentage of Japan’s total population stands at about 17.8%—roughly one in six people. While this is a slight increase from the previous year, it remains low compared to other countries. You could say it’s not necessary, but as physical AI robots become more sophisticated and virtually indistinguishable from humans, we might need to carry a passport to prove that we are, in fact, analog humans. I’m not joking—I feel like that era is just around the corner.

I think it was the late 1960s. There was a boom in electric guitars. I think anyone who was a teenager back then still remembers it. In any case, no matter what the new thing was, you could immediately tell whether it was “the real deal” or something “shady.” The electric guitar fell into the latter category. It sounds strange now, but I remember that’s how it was perceived back then. It was just a musical instrument, but amplified through a speaker and processed with effects, its sound was unlike anything heard before and took people by surprise. Young people jumped at the chance to play it. But those around them looked on with disdain, as if the youths had gotten their hands on weapons, and turned away in annoyance. That’s how this unprecedented sound was received. Furthermore, if you formed a band with an electric guitar, the cold stares would escalate even further; electric bands were banned, and members were even labeled as delinquents, causing many young people to suffer. It might be hard to imagine now, but anyone who lived through that era—especially those who were young at the time and played an electric guitar—will understand. I was one of them.

A landing is when an airplane or other aircraft touches down. While it’s common to watch takeoffs from a rooftop when seeing someone off at the airport, it’s actually quite rare to catch a plane coming in to land—it usually happens only by chance. It’s rare to get a clear view of a plane landing. The reason for this becomes immediately clear when you think about it. It’s because it’s difficult to spot an aircraft entering its landing approach from high in the sky. Even air traffic controllers monitoring radar screens have to use binoculars to locate them, so spotting an airplane—smaller than a pea—in the vast expanse of the sky is nearly impossible. I’ve tried it myself a few times, but I’ve only ever managed to spot an aircraft flying along the landing path by chance; it’s quite difficult to spot one as it’s circling. The key is to look for the landing lights. The photo is one I took at dusk of an aircraft beginning its landing approach; it was flying at an altitude of just 980 feet. It’s a tense moment as the plane extends its landing gear from a height of about 300 meters and heads for the runway. Because the aircraft is flying so low, the setting sun isn’t hitting it, but the cumulonimbus clouds in the background are still bathed in sunlight and glowing white. It’s a landing scene that really brings home the difference in altitude. Aviation photography often relies on a stroke of luck.

Sixteen years ago, NTT Docomo released a 3G cell phone called the “BlackBerry Bold 9700.” Few people may remember it. The photo shows the device I still have in my possession; it was developed by the Canadian mobile phone manufacturer Research In Motion (RIM). It was widely used in the United States and throughout Europe. With its historic QWERTY keyboard, this phone’s distinctive appearance makes it instantly recognizable as a unique model. While it was popular among businesspeople in the West, it never really caught on in Japan. This was likely due to the rise of smartphones, as well as fundamental differences in language and keyboard culture. I think the small keys might actually be well-suited to the size of Japanese fingers, but for other reasons, it never gained much popularity. Personally, I feel a certain affinity for this model with its somewhat distinctive look, rather than the expressionless latest smartphones. Perhaps it’s the atmosphere often found in retro devices lined with numerous switches that makes me feel that way. NTT Docomo discontinued its 3G network service as of March 31, 2026. Mobile devices with physical keyboards like this may never be released again.

Sixteen years ago, NTT Docomo released a 3G cell phone called the “BlackBerry Bold 9700.” Few people may remember it. The photo shows the device I still have in my possession; it was developed by the Canadian mobile phone manufacturer Research In Motion (RIM). It was widely used in the United States and throughout Europe. With its historic QWERTY keyboard, this phone’s distinctive appearance makes it instantly recognizable as a unique model. While it was popular among businesspeople in the West, it never really caught on in Japan. This was likely due to the rise of smartphones, as well as fundamental differences in language and keyboard culture. I think the small keys might actually be well-suited to the size of Japanese fingers, but for other reasons, it never gained much popularity. Personally, I feel a certain affinity for this model with its somewhat distinctive look, rather than the expressionless latest smartphones. Perhaps it’s the atmosphere often found in retro devices lined with numerous switches that makes me feel that way. NTT Docomo discontinued its 3G network service as of March 31, 2026. Mobile devices with physical keyboards like this may never be released again.

Cameras known as “real-time cameras” or “live cameras”—which no one considers particularly special these days—are one of the devices inextricably linked to the history of the Internet. That is why they are called “network cameras” and are treated differently from still cameras. This is a well-known story, but most people probably don’t know about it anymore. In 1991, there was a coffee pot in the Trojan Room at the University of Cambridge’s Faculty of Engineering. The camera filming that pot is said to be the world’s first live camera. What was it doing? It was capturing footage of the coffee in the pot gradually decreasing each time someone drank some, and occasionally being refilled. It continuously streamed this footage. In today’s terms, it was a “coffee pot monitoring camera.” Whether there was any real significance to this is beside the point. It was also the world’s first experiment in real-time streaming. Reportedly, this camera remained in place until August 2001. While this was a live stream that lasted about 10 years, when you consider that it happened 25 years ago, perhaps we haven’t made much progress since then. The photo shows part of an early webcam that I own.

This is about magnifying glasses, which most people probably don’t use very often. While they’re likely used by professionals and in research settings, they rarely come in handy in everyday life. That’s why they’re usually tucked away somewhere—and yet, when you really need one, they’re often hard to find. The magnifying glass in the upper right of the photo is a common type used mainly for checking photos or inspecting objects. The thin magnifying glass in the foreground is a portable one that I carry around in a red case. I use it when I need it while traveling or elsewhere. Everyone knows that a magnifying glass lets you see things greatly enlarged, but actually, the appearance of objects when magnified can be surprisingly fresh. It’s truly a bug’s-eye view. You start by noticing things like, “Oh, it has this shape and color,” and then realize, “Oh, this part is like this,” or “It’s actually surprisingly poorly made”—there are many discoveries to be made. That said, I can’t go about my daily life relying solely on a magnifying glass. People might accuse me of being short-sighted, but there’s undoubtedly a whole other world in the realm of tiny things.

The other day, I noticed a lump in my lower abdomen, so I went to see a urologist. At the hospital, a “urinalysis” was waiting for me right away. Apparently, just a small amount of urine can reveal all sorts of things about what’s going on inside the body. I hear it provides an incredible amount of information. From the food we eat and the substances our bodies produce to waste products we no longer need—it seems we can measure the body’s current condition in real time. While numbers alone probably aren’t the only basis for a diagnosis, the doctor was checking the various figures from my urine displayed on the computer screen. According to recent reports, research is underway to install measurement sensors in toilets that can provide real-time health data. But if that happens, I’d be so scared and anxious about going to the bathroom that I might not even be able to go. Of course, just like blood, this information remains a vital indicator of the body’s condition. Perhaps in the future, we’ll see a second or even a third major revolution in the world of toilets.

It’s been a while since the stationery boom began, but interest in everyday items seems to be holding strong. Especially as digital devices become more prevalent, analog stationery—quietly surviving in the shadows—may actually be gaining a stronger sense of presence. Could it be that a newfound appreciation for quality has now taken root in each of these remaining analog stationery items? I hear fountain pens are popular, too. The scent of ink on rough paper must hold a charm that digital stationery simply cannot match. The photo shows a stapler—a simple, analog office tool that has been in use for a long time, also known by the brand name “Hochikisu.” It’s one of those items that has no place in the world of email, but it’s an indispensable piece of stationery when paper is called upon. While there are likely many ways to be particular about staplers, one unexpected feature of the stapler in this photo is that it’s what’s called a “flat-clinch” type, meaning the staples lie flat when the papers are bound. With ordinary staplers, the staples form a V-shape, and when many sheets are stacked, only the stapled section bulges out. The advantage of flat staples is that the stack of stapled papers doesn’t become bulky. It may seem like a minor detail, but it’s an important little trick. Analog stationery often hides thoughtful features like this—ones that aren’t immediately obvious.

How many times a day do we actually see “numbers”? Of course, I don’t think anyone has actually counted them, but we know for sure that it happens quite often. For example, there are numbers written in this column as well. Money is a prime example of numbers, but surprisingly, we often use it based on its shape or color rather than the actual figures displayed. We know that numbers are concepts. Some numbers hold meaning for us, while others do not. There are also numbers that serve merely as markers. The numbers in the photo are room numbers. So, while they aren’t numbers you’d add or subtract, they’re important as markers. We also know that there are numbers that are exactly the same. However, even when the numbers are the same, their meanings are often completely different. Or rather, perhaps we don’t actually encounter the same numbers that often. If the license plate number of the car in front of you happens to match a number that holds special meaning for you, it can give you a somewhat strange feeling. Even though you know it’s just a coincidence, you can’t help but imagine some other “meaning” behind it—even though that number has nothing to do with it…