Memorandum of a journey around the world.

The theme for 2022 was ‘Experience‘.
In retrospect, it could be paraphrased as ‘journey’.

‘If it’s boring after a week, we’ll quit.’
That’s how I started.

The coincidences that happen in the area, the joy of connecting with people.
I feel that most of my trips were nothing.
But is there really nothing there?
I now think that everything I did was meaningful, so that something would happen, so that the future would be triggered.

Travelling makes a virtuous circle for both you and the world.
In one year, I travelled 70,000 kilometres.
I write down various events as a reminder.

I started my journey.

First workcation while freezing in Ibaraki. I couldn’t do a workcation because my hands were too numb.
One in Kanazawa, who took me sightseeing in Kanazawa when I tweeted. Round the Noto Peninsula. Nature, delicious food and a hot spring bath afterwards.
Learn about Ainu culture in Tokushima. On the way back, I received a lot of oranges.
Hear from the president about the relationship between work and people in Mima.
Stayed at a guesthouse in Okayama and was invited for a company tour. Saw an owl and a tortoise.
Camping in Karadomari. Baked marshmallows, bonfires and music. Drinking and laughing with strangers. One meeting at a time.
Cycling round Yakushima. Tankan picking and radio exercises. Listening to tofu producers and making tofu sweets.
Camera camp in Wakayama. Touching all kinds of cameras and lenses.
Tuna, hot spring and nature experience in Nachikatsuura. I have fond memories of talking about things from the staff’s point of view.
I went to a co-working space in Mie that I had been told about. It was closed.
DIY in a house in the middle of nowhere in Shizuoka, learning how to cut wood. I grew as much as I was scolded.
Yatsugatake at night. It was pitch black, we couldn’t see anything, we couldn’t see the road because of the snow, and we walked on ice. I felt my life was in danger.
Encountering goats.
Invited to a local bar in Tono. It was thick. I remember the radio playing in the whole town at night.
After touring the disaster area in Ishinomaki, I experienced an earthquake of intensity 6+. Sirens blaring at night. All public transport stopped. The next day, I walked about 20 km to Sendai.
Went to Okinawa for a training camp. Met a top salesman. I only wanted to meet him, but even an hour before the meeting, no meeting time or place had been arranged. I was inconvenienced.
Breathed the air of Ishigaki Island. Wanted to go to Hateruma Island, but the flight was cancelled due to waves.
I went to my hometown Hiroshima with a stopover. I’m glad my parents are doing well.
Onsen tour in Atami.
Work in Izu Shimoda.
Onsen in Minakami. Recommend the café in front of the station – if you go three times, you get a recommended snack for the day.
Drinks with friends who have moved to Sapporo. Invite friends from Tokyo to join you for a drink.
Get in touch with nature, such as Lake Shikotsu and Cape Kamui. Hokkaido is bigger than I imagined. You need a car to get around.
Helped clean and paint a guesthouse in Saga. I remember going out at night.
Participated in a camping festival in Karatsu, where I stayed as a VIP.
I travelled around Kyushu on the way.
A cat greeted me at the inn in Nagasaki. It was very moving. Meeting the people who make Miyako Island so exciting.
Worked at the top of Mt Aso, WiFi works. The wind was too strong to work.
Came to Kagoshima. Nothing special.
We met an IT president in Miyazaki. We had a good time talking about cow poo.
Usuki is a good town with old townscape such as old houses. We made a mistake in the number of nights we stayed and were kicked out of the inn.
Drinking in Fukuoka Tagawa. The person I was talking to next to me was a Fukuoka Prefecture councillor. The next day, he took me sightseeing. Thanks.
Went to a remote island in Fukuoka. You can experience the city and the countryside.
Creators’ camp in Izu Shimoda. All kinds of creators gather. Organised a tuna dismantling show. I held tuna for the first time. It was heavy.
Went to Minakami with friends. I was surprised at the connections between people there. This is why life is so interesting.

First time abroad.

At Haneda Airport, the CA told me I was light.
Happy to have WiFi and power available about Doha International Airport. I guess it wasn’t a matter of course.
I arrived in the Czech Republic. Excited. The first word I spoke was “Nedved”. They looked at me like I was Japanese.
I didn’t know how to get on public transport, but everyone else was getting on, so I got on too. I was riding without paying.
I drank Pilsner Urquell. It was really good.
The word I learnt was Dobryden.
Prague’s old town is spectacular.
I stayed at an inn run by Japanese people. Hearing Japanese made me a little moist.
Listened to stories about the current situation in the Czech Republic, visa acquisition and the ryokan industry while eating wieners.
On the long-distance train, I get tangled up with people. I don’t understand what they are saying.
We went to Knajatla, which was recommended by the Czech Tourism Ambassador. All I see are skeletons.
Meet a famous illustrator in Germany. Love the way he thinks. Would love to meet him again.
Witnessing diversity in Berlin.
Work in the mecca of digital nomads.
Trash everywhere.
Sightseeing in Germany with a friend – tears of joy because I couldn’t get into a restaurant on my own.
The word I learnt is dankeschen.
People in Germany, everyone seems to be doing what they love.
I ask a stranger to show me around the city. I think it would have been more fun if I could have understood the language.
My regret in Germany is that I didn’t get to go to the sauna.
Beautiful lakes in Austria.
To Zermatt, Switzerland. Riding the Glacier Express. I wasn’t as impressed as I thought I would be.
Dog owner said, “Isn’t he cute? They’re sheep, you know?” He said. Yes, it’s fuzzy.
Prices are very high. Fanta cost 500 yen.
In Zurich, I befriended a young man who jumped into the river. He said, “Watch me!” I cheered him on.
It was a rare sight to see so many people in swimming costumes around the river.
Checking in three times at Zurich airport.
At the last minute of boarding the plane, I was told that I would not be allowed to board unless I printed the Corona results on a piece of paper specified by Japan, and I was at a loss. Cried.

Return to Japan.

I came back to Japan and went to my home in the Holy Land of Nowhere.
The return trip was to Tokyo, but we decided to get off at the 37th highway IC. I arrived in Nara Prefecture. It was the other side.
We visited four inns in Nara. All were refused. Moved to Kyoto to look for one. When I went outside, it was raining. I decided to go back to Tokyo.
Had dinner with a great writer in Okayama. We talked about married life. Significant.
A wedding ceremony of a senior university student in Shimane. My first comment after a long time was “You’ve gained weight”.
Workcation festival in Fukuoka.
Met a university student from medical school at a guesthouse in Tenjin. I see they have all sorts of problems.
I go to the Okinawa Prefectural Government. Listened to them talking about the remote island DX project. Amazing. Fun.
Attended a meeting of the biggest names in travel in Kanazawa. Heart-sweating experience. I can’t get enough of it.
Had an evening drink with someone I spoke to for a minute a year ago. I felt like it was fate.