Municipal Subsidy ― 2026/04/22 17:52
A 5,000-yen Subsidy per Resident
I received a notice from the city’s welfare division.
According to the letter, the city will provide a 5,000‑yen subsidy to residents to help with living expenses.
Although I will gladly accept the subsidy, I feel there are many other ways our tax money could be used, such as maintaining aging infrastructure like the water system, roads, and garbage incinerators.
Is the subsidy a populist instrument?
E-filing ― 2026/04/21 17:53
E-filing of tax forms
I e-filed the returns for corporate tax, local tax, and consumption tax for my micro-business using the e-Tax and eLTAX systems.
It was my first time using these systems for the business, so I had some difficulties learning how they work. Still, I managed to handle it.
After all, electronic filing is much better than filling out paper forms by hand.
Art Exhibition ― 2026/04/15 22:46
Watercolor Club Art Exhibition
I submitted my watercolor paintings of swans to the Watercolor Club Art Exhibition. Forty works by club members will be on display at the Abiko Community Center in Teganuma Park until April 23.
BTOB Wins! ― 2026/04/13 15:29
Katsuta won again!
Takamoto Katsuta won the Croatia Rally in the World Rally Championship, following his first victory at the Safari Rally just a month ago.
These back‑to‑back wins have taken the Japanese driver to the top of the championship standings.
So cooooooool!!
Ludwig II ― 2026/04/12 18:56
Book Report
Ludwig II, The King of the Holy Grail – Ripple of Materia Prima - (聖杯王ルードヴィヒ ― マテリアプリマの漣 ―)
Yuichiro Sato, 2026
Yuichiro Sato, 2026
A relative of my friend wrote this narrative. It partly reads like the author’s own pilgrimage report to Neuschwanstein Castle. I especially like the image of a swan pulling Lohengrin’s boat in the story.
Street Piano ― 2026/03/31 20:55
Book Report
A Street Piano in the Sun （陽だまりのストリート・ピアノ）
Toru Kawabe, 2026
This book presents five stories centered around a street piano placed in a sunlit hall of a shopping mall. Various people—an ambitious high school boy, a lonely wife, a heartbroken elderly man, an independent young woman, and others—take turns playing the piano, each carrying their own hopes and wishes.
The piano responds to the players and the listeners with warm, uplifting tones that gently encourage everyone.
A collection of quietly moving stories.
Nude to Aikoku ― 2026/03/29 03:11
Book Review
Nude to Aikoku (Nudes and Patriotism)
Ikekawa Reiko, 2014
This book explores the representation of the nude in modern Japanese art, including painting, photography, film, and advertising posters.
Ranging from the three beauties depicted in Kuroda Seiki’s Meiji‑era oil paintings to contemporary PARCO posters directed by Ishioka Eiko, the author analyzes numerous examples from social and cultural perspectives.
The findings suggest that modern Japanese depictions of the nude often share an image of sacred femininity, exemplified by the iconic figure Chieko in Selection of Wisdom. Although regimes have attempted to use the nude for political purposes, beauty ultimately proves stronger than dogma.
Scam Call ― 2026/03/25 11:50
Why Nagoya？
It’s obviously a scam. It’s annoying, but I just ignore it.
Hokuriku Foods ― 2026/03/17 23:24
Foods on the Hokuriku Trip
One of the joys of traveling is tasting local foods.
In the Hokuriku region, I enjoyed gold‑leaf‑covered ice cream, fresh fish sushi, a fancy lunch at the museum café, and the popular oden stew in Kanazawa.
I also had a gorgeous crab dinner and an abalone steak at onsen hotels, tasty seafood dishes at an izakaya near Fukui Station, and Echizen soba noodles at the historical park.
On my way home, I stopped by Kyoto and ate venison curry at Kyoto Botanical Garden, and a beautiful tomato salad at a restaurant in the station mall.
On my way home, I stopped by Kyoto and ate venison curry at Kyoto Botanical Garden, and a beautiful tomato salad at a restaurant in the station mall.
Trip to Hokuriku ― 2026/03/17 22:46
A Round Trip to the Hokuriku Region
I took a week-long trip around the Hokuriku region, visiting Ishikawa and Fukui Prefectures.
In Kanazawa, I went to the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art and experienced its famous Swimming Pool installation. I also visited Kenrokuen Garden and a local history museum.
Along the way, I enjoyed a gorgeous crab dinner in Yamanaka Onsen resort, the folklore of the demon mask at Gankeiji Temple, the dramatic cliffs of Tojinbo, and the beautifully restored townscape of Ichijodani.
Along the way, I enjoyed a gorgeous crab dinner in Yamanaka Onsen resort, the folklore of the demon mask at Gankeiji Temple, the dramatic cliffs of Tojinbo, and the beautifully restored townscape of Ichijodani.
On my way back to Tokyo, I stopped by Kyoto to see the 1,001 Kannon statues at Sanjusangendo Temple.
Overall, it was a fantastic journey through the spirit of ancient Japan.
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