chappy777

[chappy777]

Fashion - Haruki Murakami is Often Considered Cringeworthy

Personally, I think Haruki Murakami himself is cool, but "Fashion Haruki Murakami" (people who try to imitate his style) is often seen as cringeworthy.

Haruki Murakami himself isn't someone who tries too hard to be cool; rather, he has fleeting moments of coolness that emerge naturally. So, focusing solely on appearing cool ends up looking like an awkward act.

I Injured My Leg

Recently, I injured my leg and felt down, so I ended up reading a lot of Haruki Murakami essays—works I had read before. After finishing one:

🙂 I want to read more!

...and I kept purchasing more essays.

Since I was reading his essays, which often delve into daily life, I learned a lot about Haruki Murakami's routines.

As I took notes and thought about things like running after my leg healed, I ended up creating a checklist that makes it seem like I could become Haruki Murakami if I followed it.

Disclaimer

As you can probably guess, completing this checklist doesn't mean you can actually become Haruki Murakami. There's only one Haruki Murakami, and his history is uniquely his own.

So please understand that the "How to Become Haruki Murakami" checklist in this article is conceptual, like "how to become Superman" or "how to become the most beautiful person in the world." 🙃

Checklist for Becoming Haruki Murakami

Here is the Haruki Murakami checklist. Score 5 points for each item. Sources are indicated in parentheses.

・Routine

1. Run 10 kilometers almost every day ('Murakami Radio 2')

2. Eat a large amount of salad daily (about the size of a washbasin) ('Murakami Radio 3')

3. Go to bed early and wake up early ('How to Find the Spinning Cat')

4. Read a lot of books (estimated: about one every two days) ('The Return of Murakami Asahido')

5. Watch a lot of movies (estimated: about one every two days) ('The Return of Murakami Asahido')

6. Listen to music for about two hours every day ('The Return of Murakami Asahido')

・Skills

7. Be able to cook (e.g., make croquettes) ('Murakami Radio 1')

8. Enjoy cross-country skiing ('Murakami Radio 1')

9. Drive a manual transmission car ('Murakami Radio 2')

・Experience

10. Frequently visit factories ('The Land of the Rising Factories')

11. Spend six months to a year as a stay-at-home spouse ('The Return of Murakami Asahido')

12. Have run a full marathon ('What I Talk About When I Talk About Running')

13. Have run an ultramarathon ('What I Talk About When I Talk About Running')

14. Listen to "Your Precious Love" ('Murakami Radio 1')

Your Precious Love (Mono Version)

Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

R&B/Soul

¥255

  provided courtesy of iTunes

15. Have lived in more than two countries ('Distant Drums', 'Eventually the Saddest Foreign Language')

16. Have moved houses many times ('Murakami Asahido')

17. Have traveled extensively ('Rain or Shine', etc.)

18. Have done translation work ('Murakami Radio 3')

19. Have owned a pet ('The Return of Murakami Asahido')

20. Watched the Olympics live ('Sydney!')

The original article is published on https://wildcatreview.hatenablog.com/.　※in Japanese

[chappy777]

no logic

I played the role of a sounding board for a startup CEO and joined a new project team at a large corporation.

Both the CEO and the leader of the new project at the large corporation were amiable and talented men in their late 20s. However, as I listened to both of them, I felt that their marketing efforts were lacking and that their confidence in the success of their projects was based on

groundless belief.

So,

🤔 Isn’t having a basis important?

I shared this thought, but it seemed like their focus remained on

finding ways to make investors and management understand the rationale.

I thought this might be because they were already convinced of their projects’ success in their own minds, even without a solid foundation.

WITHOUT Basis

But honestly,

🤦‍♀��� I totally get that!

Sometimes, when you’re convinced everything will go well, you only see convenient data and use it to self-justify.

I realized I really need to be careful about that.

So, What About the Basis?

Since I’m not in a position to offer unsolicited opinions, both projects are proceeding as is (even if I personally feel the basis is a bit weak).

They’re brimming with confidence, saying, “I feel like this will succeed!”

I found it incredibly difficult to express an opinion that might go against the optimistic outlook of such radiant, confident people. It even made me doubt my own instincts.

I wish I could boldly speak my mind like Horie-san or casually say what I want with a grin like Maezawa-san. It made me reflect on such a basic dilemma.

The original article is published on https://wildcatreview.hatenablog.com/.　※in Japanese

[chappy777]

I’ve left my tough workplace behind! Whew, it hasn’t sunk in yet, but here’s a report on my first day.

I spent the morning lounging around. (This wasn’t planned, but I savored the joy of doing something unplanned!)

For lunch, I went to Senkichi in Ebisu.

I indulged in toppings of mochi and chikuwa. Pure bliss.

After that, I bought a cake and went home.

I watched a bit of The Shawshank Redemption. Just the courtroom scene, so really just a snippet.

I ate a whole bag of popcorn and felt sick. I love it, though. Took a short nap.

In the evening, I ate cake with a friend. I wanted the "Congrats on Prison Break" plate, but someone ate the whole thing. Antenor’s cakes are delicious—even the plate.

The first day outside was super relaxed and lazy. I thoroughly enjoyed the happiness of being lazy. Did no work at all.

I’ve decided to forget about worries and bad things. After all, this is the free world—I need to enjoy it.

※ I stopped watching The Shawshank Redemption and ended up watching Good Will Hunting.

The original article is published on https://wildcatreview.hatenablog.com/.　※in Japanese

[chappy777]

When it comes to pottery on a wheel, the movie that immediately comes to mind is, of course, "Ghost." The story follows a banker who is murdered by a mugger and becomes a ghost to protect his lover, a ceramic artist. Whoopi Goldberg, playing the role of a psychic, won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. The film was a massive success, grossing approximately $500 million worldwide, and remains the highest-grossing romance fantasy movie to this day.

In the movie, there’s a famous scene where the ceramic artist and her lover create pottery on a wheel together. The gooey and tactile feel of the clay in that scene is oddly satisfying to watch. Set to the Righteous Brothers' "Unchained Melody," Demi Moore, with her short haircut, performs an intricate pottery-making sequence.

Unchained Melody

Righteous Brothers

Pop

¥255

  provided courtesy of iTunes

Recently, making slime has become a trend among children in Southeast Asia. It makes me wonder if the love for soft, gooey, and squishy things is universal.

This time, I had the chance to try pottery on a wheel myself. The experience cost 3,000 yen.

The lump of clay before shaping feels heavy, almost like it could be a blunt weapon. When you touch it, it’s cool and smooth, similar to the chill of potatoes stored in a winter warehouse.

By pressing my thumb to create a hole and moving my fingers outward from the center, I started to form a shape. The thickness of the clay kept becoming uneven, so I used my fingertips to adjust it. As the shape started to emerge, it also began to warp, which was surprisingly fun. I got carried away and spun the wheel too fast.

👩 "Too fast. Calm down,"

the instructor cautioned. (The speed of the wheel is adjustable with a foot pedal.) I learned that maintaining a moderate speed is key to shaping the clay properly.

Once the shape was done,

👩 "You can draw on it if you like,"

the instructor said, so I tried drawing on it. The rough tools made it hard to control the thickness of the lines.

The instructor guessed, "That's an octopus, right?" upon seeing the left drawing, which surprised me.

The pot I made was fired and is now being used on my balcony as gardening equipment. Its glossy finish is beautiful.

I experienced it here! →

Pottery Experience & Classes at Yuu Studio｜Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka

The original article is published on https://wildcatreview.hatenablog.com/.　※in Japanese

[chappy777]

I went to the Christmas market at Jingu Gaien, which is held from November 19 to December 25. Tickets cost between 1500 and 2000 yen for adults, and 500 to 1000 yen for children. If you buy tickets in advance, adults get a mug.

I thought it might be less crowded since Christmas is still over a month away, but it was busy.

I ordered cocoa, pretzels, and white sausages. There was quite a line, and it took about 30 minutes. The staff were friendly.

The couple in front of me didn’t seem to be officially together, but it felt like they were both a little aware of each other.

👨 "So, which one do you prefer: a guy who’s ridiculously clingy, or a guy who’s super dominant?"

👩 "Hmm, neither sounds great."

👨 "Imagine the clingy guy, really over the top."

👩 "If I had to choose, I guess the clingy one."

They were having a fun conversation like that.

It seemed like the majority of people were in groups of girls who probably thought something like, "I want to spend Christmas with my boyfriend, so I’ll hang out with my girlfriends now" (just a guess).

There weren’t many couples walking around all lovey-dovey, obviously.

The food I got was disappointing. The pretzels were quite cold, and the white sausages were squishy and lacked firmness, like the fingers of an old man who never goes outside.

Live performances were frequent, and there seemed to be a lot of gospel-like concerts.

There was also a kids’ corner, where Thomas the Tank Engine was running around with wide eyes. It cost 300 yen for one ride, and a short line had formed.

There was a free kids' corner with several Rody (the inflatable horses).

After wandering around a bit, I decided to leave. Judging by the amount of crowd control barriers at the entrance, it seemed like it could get really crowded during peak times. Honestly, it felt quite full already today.

Right outside, the ginkgo tree-lined path was also crowded with people. Many girls and couples were taking pictures with the ginkgo trees. A lot of high school girls in uniforms were taking pictures holding the ginkgo branches together. It was a bit unexpected, but kind of cute and cool at the same time.

The original article is published on https://wildcatreview.hatenablog.com/.　※in Japanese

[chappy777]

This is a report on my visit to LEGOLAND in Nagoya! (It was a year ago...)

LEGOLAND is located in the Minato Ward of Nagoya. The Minato Ward in Nagoya feels quite different from Tokyo's Minato Ward, a bit more spacious and open, though it's hard to explain exactly.

First of all, seeing the gate to LEGOLAND JAPAN made me happy. There's a dream in Lego!

Since I had an appointment in the morning, I went around in the afternoon. Tickets cost about 5000 yen. It's a bit of a shame that I couldn’t stay the whole day, but since I don’t come to Nagoya often, I had no choice. The ticket check was a bit complicated, and two large families (with a mild, blonde "yankee" dad, a flashy mom, and lots of kids) took a very long time to enter.

First, I saw the usual Lego diorama corner. It must have been tough to build.

I watched the stage performance with Lego characters. I wonder why Lego is so into ninjas?

I then went to the food court, which had been talked about for its high prices.

The Lego-style fries and churros were delicious! They were hot and not bland. I’ll forgive the high prices.

I went to the submarine attraction and waited about 20 minutes in line.

I enjoyed the performance of real fish and Lego fish. It was an attraction that made good use of the nearby port.

Before I knew it, it was evening as I watched kids playing freely with Legos.

I had to head home due to time constraints. I wish I could have stayed longer!

Since I love Lego, I personally enjoyed it more than Disneyland. I went with a 7-year-old, 5-year-old, and 1-year-old, and each of them found plenty of areas to enjoy.

The original article is published on https://wildcatreview.hatenablog.com/.　※in Japanese

[chappy777]

This is a record of my relaxed trip to Ibaraki. Adults need to enjoy these laid-back, mellow trips.

Aqua World Ibaraki Prefecture Oarai Aquarium

The aquarium was huge, starting right from the parking lot.

The photo below is probably from the jellyfish section, but looking back at the photo, I honestly can't tell anything. But it was fantastically beautiful.

There was also a shark acting like a grumpy boss.

There was a fish section where the fish looked like they had no motivation.

At the aquarium's food area, there was an impressive sushi lineup. It was a bit of a thought-provoking combination, like having steak at a zoo. The photo made it look delicious, though.

The stuffed toy lottery seemed popular, with many people holding dolphin and otter plush toys.

The person who came up with the catchphrase "No matter how much you struggle, you’ll definitely get one!!" on the flag deserves a thumbs up.

Many people were taking photos in front of the statue of a dolphin almost kissing and a bell that seems perfect for love.

Kairakuen

It’s one of the three major gardens in Japan. I got lost at the entrance, and I wasn’t sure how to pay the admission fee, so I got pretty tired.

Maybe because I was so exhausted or because my heart felt dry, I wasn’t that impressed (I’m not even sure if I properly entered the garden).

Tengu Natto

I ate natto for the first time that comes wrapped in straw.

The texture was firm, and what was interesting was that the beans came out of the straw like little chicks.

Ushiku Daibutsu

I visited again because the last time I came early in the morning and didn’t go inside. This time, I wanted to enter the inside of the statue. It’s huge and immediately stands out in the open area.

When I entered, they were doing acrobatics.

There was an exhibit about the Buddha’s hair. A cheerful woman in her 50s said happily:

👩 "Poop, poop. I thought it was poop."

And her thin husband-like companion replied:

👨 "I get it, let’s go."

The beautiful garden was very soothing. It was quite spacious.

The Ushiku Daibutsu was massive, and just the feet had a strong impact. It was exciting to get closer and closer to it.

However, there was a more than one-hour wait to enter the statue, so I gave up. I didn’t realize that Ushiku Daibutsu was so popular!

The original article is published on https://wildcatreview.hatenablog.com/.　※in Japanese

[chappy777]

"Futsal is so much fun, but it’s a team sport—how can I possibly gather that many friends?" Some of you might feel this way. (For reference: futsal requires at least 5 players per team.)

For those people, there’s a system that allows you to join futsal games solo!

In many places, beginners and experienced players are separated into different matches, which is a great point—it allows both groups to play comfortably without any pressure.

I joined as a complete beginner, and it was absolutely amazing. The ball didn’t stick to my feet as much as I’d hoped, and I hilariously missed some critical shots in front of the goal, like something out of a comic. But even so, I was excited the entire time.

During the game, you run a lot. But it’s so much fun! I couldn’t help but wonder, “Is it even okay for something to be this enjoyable?” It was genuinely that good. Even during breaks, I was so tired yet itching to get back on the field and move again.

A single futsal match, played in two 20-minute halves, is said to burn approximately 500–700 calories. Over the course of an hour, depending on your weight and intensity level, futsal can burn between 400–600 calories.

While it’s not the easiest sport to casually get into, I found it to be an incredibly rewarding activity overall.

The original article is published on https://wildcatreview.hatenablog.com/.　※in Japanese

[chappy777]

I Experienced an Ikebana Lesson！

I tried ikebana (Japanese flower arranging). While ikebana has various schools, the one I experienced, Sogetsu-ryu, values free expression rather than being bound by traditional forms. The instructor showed us many examples in photos, and it definitely changed my perception of ikebana.

Ikebana mainly involves sticking flowers into a kenzan (spiked holder), but since it’s an art form meant to be appreciated from all angles\u2014top, bottom, sides, and diagonal\u2014I found myself being quite mindful of every detail.

That said, I finished my arrangement surprisingly quickly, and the instructor commented, “You’re very decisive.” (I hope that wasn’t sarcasm.)

Personally, I was quite pleased with my arrangement, but I realized that I don’t really know what makes an ikebana piece "good" or "bad," especially when it doesn’t rely on advanced techniques.

You can find plenty of ikebana experiences on some platforms ！

Example of an ikebana lesson ☞

「生け花」のオンラインレッスン | ストアカ

The original article is published on https://wildcatreview.hatenablog.com/.　※in Japanese

[chappy777]

I ran a full marathon all by myself!

I used an app to measure the distance and ran 42.19 kilometers around my neighborhood. (The official marathon distance is 42.195 kilometers, so I ran an extra 5 meters, just for good measure.) I ran more than 70 laps on a 600-meter course, going round and round. It was a spot with almost no cars and very few pedestrians, making it an easy place to run.

It was freezing, and my ears hurt and itched at the same time. Since I was running the same loop, taxi drivers and security guards occasionally talked to me and cheered me on. That was heartwarming.

I got really hungry, so I stopped by a convenience store mid-run to buy some sweet bread and ate it while running. I usually don’t buy sweet bread, but because I was cold and tired, the bread’s slight warmth was such a blessing.

After passing the 30-kilometer mark, I thought: 😐 I’ve come this far, so I absolutely don’t want to quit now.

My back and legs ached, but more than anything, the cold was unbearable. I felt chilled to the core. At some point, I stopped by home to grab more layers for warmth. Once I put on ear warmers, I felt much better. Moving forward meant the goal was ahead, and even though it was tough, I liked how simple that was.

When I reached the goal, I was truly happy. I couldn’t stop myself from grinning, no matter how hard I tried. But I was completely exhausted. My legs hurt for a while after. The next day, I visited a friend’s house, but climbing the stairs was brutal. (Even so, I still felt a little happy the day after.)

The original article is published on https://wildcatreview.hatenablog.com/.　※in Japanese