My partner and I watched a movie over the holiday.

The title was “The Yellow Handkerchief” (幸福の黄色いハンカチ). It’s a classic Japanese film released in 1977, which means it was filmed nearly 50 years ago! My partner really likes old movies, by the way.

The story was simple and light yet heartwarming, and it left us with such a wonderful feeling. The characters’ charm, openness and warmth really touched our hearts. I was also surprised by how beautiful and vibrant the streets of rural Hokkaido were at that time.

After watching it, we talked about wanting to watch more Japanese movies together. I’d highly recommend this movie to my friends.

I visited a temple last weekend with my partner because she wanted to buy a omamori charm for her friend.

The temple was so huge that it even had a spacious rest area inside, so we decided to take a rest and relax there.

There was exceptionally calm. The building was old, but we could tell it was well-maintained. Everywhere was so clean that it seemed impossible to find even a speck of dust. I even felt like the air itself was cleaner.

We felt as if our minds were being cleared. It was an interesting experience for us. After that, I started thinking about our own place and tried to clean more than usual.

If I keep this up every day, will our place also become a more calming space like the temple one day?

Do you know the three most famous Wagyu brands in Japan?
To be honest, I wasn’t fully aware of them it.

However, I became interested after we had the opportunity to try one, so I looked them up. The “Big Three” are:

• Kobe beef: Raised in Hyogo prefecture.
• Matsusaka beef: Raised in Mie prefecture.
• Omi beef: Raised in Shiga prefecture.

Most of these are produced in central Japan.

My partner and I tried Omi beef just recently.
It was the first time in my life I’ve ever had such high-end Wagyu.

At first, I was a little disappointed because the meat was sliced so thin.
But after trying it, I understood why. It was so tender and incredibly rich. Even just one slice was satisfying!
By the time I finished, I was completely full. It was definitely delicious.

That experience is what sparked my interest.
I hope to try the other brands someday as well.

My partner is still on a two-week business trip.
This time, she is staying in San Francisco, in the US.

There is a 17-hour time difference between San Francisco and Japan.
Since San Francisco is so far behind, it is still the previous day there.

We talk on the phone twice a day. Once before she goes to sleep and once after she wakes up.

When she goes to bed at 12 a.m. in San Francisco (PST), it is 5 p.m. here in Japan (JST).
After our evening call, I wait for her morning to come. When she wakes up at 7 a.m., it is 12 a.m. for me, right before I go to bed.

I cherish our calls every evening and again before I sleep.
It is a unique lifestyle, but I am enjoying this routine!

My partner left for a two-week business trip this morning.
We are always together, even at work, so it feels really unusual.

I suddenly have a lot of time alone, and I feel a little bored.
So I started cleaning our room, even though she had already cleaned it before she left, and I also took a long bath.

But I am still bored… I didn’t realize how boring it would be without her.

Then I started thinking about how I usually spend my time.
When I thought about it, I realized that I usually just relax and don’t use my time very well when I am with her.

I want to be better for her. I want to use my time more wisely, both when I am with her and when I am alone.

Life is short, so I am going to try.

In 2026, the first book I read this year was “Running” (疾走) by Kiyoshi Shigematsu.
Actually, I’ve already read it more than 3 times, but I still want to read it again.

The story is deeply sad—even depressing.
Yet looking back, I felt hopeful because of Shuji, the main character.
His life was tragic, but it was also meaningful because he brought hope to the people around him.

Our lives aren’t always happy, but if we can bring something good to others, I think that’s worthwhile enough.

"Running" (疾走) by Kiyoshi Shigematsu

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