Eating, Meeting, Mighty, Money

 The Full Moon in Taurus arrives on October 25 in Los Angeles and October 26 in many other parts of the world. 🌕 Taurus represents money, possessions, financial security, good food, and a comfortable lifestyle. Love, money, and a peaceful life. Who doesn't want them all? But this Full Moon comes with an interesting cosmic twist. It's one of those "Would you like the good news or the bad news first?" situations! ✨ The Good News: A Minor Grand Trine Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto form a harmonious configuration known as a Minor Grand Trine . This aspect suggests opportunities for positive transformation, fresh ideas, and unexpected possibilities. Sometimes, embracing change rather than holding on to familiar patterns can lead us toward greater security and abundance. ⚡ The Challenging News: Two Overlapping T-Squares Meanwhile, the Moon in Taurus, Sun in Scorpio, Venus in Libra, and Pluto in Aquarius create two overlapping T-square patterns. These tense configurations highl...

 I recently received an OMRON body composition scale that measures body fat percentage, visceral fat, skeletal muscle percentage, and even body age. Naturally, I had to try it out. My old bathroom scale displayed my weight in pounds, which never really meant much to me. Even after living in the U.S. for years, kilograms still make more sense. But when I switched to kilograms... OMG! When did I get this big?! Apparently, I've been growing without even noticing. And at my age, I'm pretty sure I'm done growing! My body fat percentage was a little higher than I'd like, although my visceral fat level wasn't too bad. But here's the good news. My body age was TWO YEARS younger than my actual age! Of course, it's just an estimate calculated by the scale, but hey, I'll take it! My Very Relaxed Fitness Routine About three months ago, I joined a gym. I try to go twice a week, walking on the treadmill for about 30 minutes, followed by a few strength-training machine...

 The Libra New Moon arrives on October 10 in Los Angeles and October 11 in Japan . Libra is associated with relationships, fairness, balance, partnership, and diplomacy. This makes the New Moon a good time to reflect on how we connect with others and where more balance may be needed. However, this New Moon is not simply about peace and harmony. Saturn brings a strong reality check, while Jupiter offers some support and room for growth. At the same time, tense aspects involving Venus, Mercury, Mars, and Pluto may bring hidden frustrations to the surface. On a personal level, this could mean reviewing relationships, boundaries, communication, and agreements. Some situations may need to be restructured rather than ignored. On a broader level, themes around diplomacy, negotiations, power struggles, finance, and information may also become more noticeable. This New Moon feels less like “everything is resolved” and more like finding a realistic way forward while tension is still present...

 Around Los Angeles, overall prices are about 29% higher than in 2020 , while groceries are up roughly 32% . So if grocery shopping feels noticeably more expensive, you’re not imagining it. Rent, insurance, and gas are hard to control. Food is one of the few major household expenses where we still have some room to adjust. And right now, even a basic sandwich and drink can easily cost around $20. Cooking at home may not be glamorous, but it gives you more control over both cost and ingredients. I grew up in Japan in a household where home cooking was normal, but once I started cooking every day myself, I realized how much work it actually takes. Planning, chopping, cooking, cleaning. Still, after years of practice, it becomes a useful skill. Now I can look at a few ingredients in the refrigerator and usually turn them into a meal. And today, if you’re stuck, you can simply ask: “What can I make with these ingredients?” One thing that still surprises me about American recipes is the...

 The other day, I went to karaoke with two friends who were born in the 1970s (including me) and one friend who was born in the 1980s. Some people outside Japan may not know this, but Japanese-style karaoke is quite different from what you often see in the U.S. In Japan, you rent a small private room where only you and your friends sing together while enjoying drinks and snacks. It's less about performing in front of strangers and more about relaxing, laughing, and having fun together. In the U.S., on the other hand, karaoke is often held at bars, where people take turns singing in front of everyone. I always get a little nervous singing in public, so I definitely prefer the Japanese style! The karaoke place we visited didn't have many recent songs, so our playlist naturally became a trip down memory lane, filled with hits from the 1980s, 1990s, and the early 2000s. Song after song, we kept saying, "Oh, I remember this one!" One thing that made me smile was the genera...

 The city I live in has many Japanese people, as well as other Asian communities, Indian families, and of course, many Americans. People from different backgrounds seem to keep a comfortable distance from one another and live fairly peacefully together. There are also many Japanese people in my neighborhood, and thankfully, many of my mom friends are Japanese as well. In some ways, I could almost get by without using much English at all. But somehow, almost 30 years have passed since I came to the United States. When I first came here, I had this strong determination: “I’m going to master English.” But as life went on, I got busy with work, raising kids, and just surviving everyday life. Studying English gradually became something I kept putting off. Recently, though, even if it may be a little late, I started feeling that I really should put more effort into improving my English again. One thing that has helped a lot is how much AI has evolved. These days, we can actually practice...

 Quite a while ago, I wrote an article about trying a cardboard box composting method. To be honest, after that, I didn’t take care of it as much as I probably should have. So I can’t exactly say it was a success. There were some failures. There were also lots of tiny fruit flies. At one point, I thought, “Okay, this looks simple, but I guess composting does require some attention after all.” Still, I couldn’t quite give up on the idea. Then I started seeing Instagram posts about bucket composting and other easy home composting methods. I thought, “Maybe this version might be a little easier,” and since then, I have been trying composting again here and there in a very casual way. This Time, I’m Using a Plastic Container This time, I bought a plastic container from Home Depot. When I previously tried bucket composting, I used a large laundry mesh bag that fit nicely inside the container. It happened to fit this new container too, so I placed the mesh bag around the whole inside of ...

 Today, I made miso. I've actually been making homemade miso for about seven or eight years now. A friend from my neighborhood taught me how to make it, and I've been doing it ever since. One of the things I love about miso is how simple the ingredients are: Soybeans (dry) 250 g Rice koji 250 g Natural sea salt 125 g That's it. The process is surprisingly simple too. The most time-consuming part is cooking the soybeans until they become very soft. How I Make Miso 1. Soak the Soybeans First, I soak the soybeans in plenty of water. I usually leave them for at least eight hours. Every time I do this, I'm amazed by how much the beans expand after absorbing water. 2. Cook Until Soft Next, I cook the soybeans until they are soft enough to mash easily. I use a pressure cooker, so after it reaches pressure, I reduce the heat and cook them for about 25 minutes. 3. Mix the Rice Koji and Salt While the beans are cooking, I mix the rice koji and salt together in a separate bowl. 4....

  Just yesterday, we had the Gemini New Moon. A little before that, Venus and Jupiter appeared close together in the sky in a conjunction. I think I actually saw them. There were two bright stars, or planets, shining near each other, and I thought, “Maybe that’s them?” In astrology, both Venus and Jupiter are considered lucky planets. Venus represents love, beauty, and abundance. Jupiter represents expansion, growth, and good fortune. When those two come close together, it feels like nothing but a good sign. Or… wait. Is the lucky period already over? Because honestly, I’m not sure anything especially lucky has happened to me lately. Still, the sky this year feels unusually busy. Neptune has moved into Aries, and Saturn is also involved around the beginning of Aries. In astrology, this is considered a major shift. It may not be just about personal luck, but more about the atmosphere of the times changing. 2026 has already felt noisy and intense in many ways, and one of the topics p...

  These days, with tensions continuing in parts of the Middle East, the word “peace” can feel very big. As of June 8, 2026, unstable news is still coming from the region, including conflict between Israel and Iran, the situation in Lebanon, and ongoing concerns in Gaza. Even when we hear words like “ceasefire,” there is still a sense that things could change at any moment. Even from far away, the news can make the heart feel unsettled. World peace. A world without war. A society without violence or conflict. Of course, all of that matters deeply. But I also think there is a more personal meaning of peace. Waking up in the morning. Drinking coffee. Going to work. Eating dinner. Taking a bath. Going to sleep. Even if nothing special happens, being able to think, “Today was mostly okay,” is also a kind of peace. Having your family and loved ones safe. Being able to go to the usual grocery store. Sleeping at night without fear. Making ordinary plans for tomorrow. These simple, everyday...

 Recently, my daughter asked me, “Can I rent Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind on Amazon?” So we ended up watching it together. It’s a 2004 movie starring Jim Carrey (famous for comedy films like The Mask ) and Kate Winslet (well known for Titanic ). I couldn’t believe it was made 22 years ago. I’m not sure if I had heard the title back then, but I vaguely remember seeing the movie poster. On Valentine’s Day, Joel (Jim Carrey) suddenly feels compelled to take an impulsive trip to a cold seaside town. There, he meets Clementine, an eccentric woman who strangely keeps talking to him. They end up taking the train back together and promise to see each other again… The movie explores an intriguing idea: What if there were a technology that could erase specific memories? It’s one of those films that leaves you wondering at the end: “So… what do you think will happen to these two?” The timeline jumps back and forth, which may have felt unusual at the time. Nowadays, though, we’re mor...

  If you have ever taken a yoga class, watched a meditation video, or read anything about spiritual wellness, you have probably heard the word “chakra.” Chakras are often described as energy centers in the body, connected with emotions, balance, awareness, and personal growth. Whether you see them as spiritual symbols, cultural concepts, or a way to reflect on your own inner state, they are an interesting topic to explore. I wrote a simple introduction to chakras on Peacewings.com. Read the full article here: https://peacewings.com/chakra-meanings/

  The “third eye” is one of those terms that sounds mysterious at first. It is often connected to intuition, inner wisdom, meditation, and spiritual awareness. But what I find interesting is that the third eye is also often discussed alongside the pineal gland, sleep rhythms, and melatonin. It sits somewhere between spirituality and the body, between ancient symbolism and modern curiosity. I wrote a longer article on Peacewings.com about the third eye, the pineal gland, and why this idea continues to fascinate people. Read the full article here: https://peacewings.com/third-eye-opening_pineal-gland-ajna/ Open you third eye mug

  Trip Back to Japan (Summer 2022) It’s been about four years now, but this is a story from my trip back to Japan in July 2022, right after COVID restrictions were lifted. Arrival in Tokyo & First Visit to DisneySea After arriving at Narita, we stayed at a hotel near Urawa (just a regular hotel, not one of the Disney-themed ones). From there, we headed to Tokyo DisneySea for the first time. It was a blazing hot summer day in Japan. Unfortunately, my kids had already lost interest in Disney, and the heat didn’t help either. We ended up staying only from 10 AM to 3 PM before heading back to the hotel. Honestly… not sure if we got our money’s worth. Culture Shock at an Izakaya For dinner, we took the hotel shuttle to the nearest station and went to an izakaya. What surprised me most was that all orders were done on a tablet . It felt like a bit of a culture shock. Staying at a Minpaku (Apartment-Style Rental) After that, we stayed for about a week at what you’d c...