Eating, Meeting, Mighty, Money

 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...

At brother's house after the trip to Izu, I faced reality firmly, I will write about it again if I have the opportunity. The wound has not healed yet... I'm going with my kids this time. they don't have anything to do and are just so addicted to smartphones and iPads. If you don't take them somewhere, my son won't let go of his smartphone. The only time when he's not messing with the phone is when he is with his friends. I made an excuse to visit my fathers grave with my other brother’s family. I decided to book somewhere to stay for two night and contact with the friend who went to Izu trip with us, she also came back to Japan from the U.S. with kids. I found a place says just 7000 yen per night. I booked for two nights. The place is at Shin-Okubo, near Shinjuku. It is the same area I stayed at the end of May the last time I came to Japan. The place I stayed was expensive at this time, I liked the area because it's very convenient. The price w...

The last day / third day of Izu. I woke up in the morning, took a morning bath without children with my friends (because kids were sleeping), ate breakfast buffet, and went to a place called Izu Grand Pal Park. The admission fee was once again reduced with a coupon, but I had to buy a separate voucher, so it seems a little expensive. . The weather on this day will be cloudy and it will rain. . The 13-year-old boys team ziplines while it is still not raining. In this park, there was a place where you could play without using a ticket, so I finally went there, but it started to rain. . . Even if it is noon at a nearby roadside station, it is closed on Saturdays. Is it because it was raining? ? After having bite in a crepe shop that was open, We decided to go to Revolving Sushi. I bought dried fish as a souvenir at Michi-no-Eki (roadside station). Just after this, I saw the news that dried fish were affected by the lack of sunshine due to the continuing rain. There ...

A total of 8 children and adults arrived at  the Ito Station. After arriving at Atami Station, we will do the footbath in front of the station like we three did yesterday. At this time, I bought a towel for 100 yen. Then take a bus to Atami Castle. We wanted to get on the ropeway so We got to the bottom of the ropeway station. On the way, From the bus, I saw a famous a statue of Kanichi and Omiya. (A guy kicking a woman. Will you be criticized internationally?　Don't be stiff. There is a hidden treasure house (a museum for adults) just below Atami Castle, and there are three sensitive 13-year-old boys,  they were so excited. A view from the ropeway. It is a superb view. Atami is similar to Monaco. Slopes, buildings and the sea. Ride through the ropeway and graze the hidden treasure house (there is a funny statue at the entrance) To Atami Castle. The admission fee was a little cheaper using the coupon. Take the elevator to the top, take a picture, and then ...

I arrived at Ito by train from Atami in about 20 minutes. Japan at the beginning of July this year was unusually chilly, and it rained or stopped that day. The friends who went to Mt. Omuro haven't been able to get to the inn yet, so the three of us were going by taxi. When I asked to ask something at the tourist information center in front of Ito station, the guy told me the highlight of Ito. An old inn called Tokaikan does not do business as a hotel right now, but you can visit it, or the shopping street has a hot spring of Shichifukujin (Seven Gods of Good Fortune) and a stamp rally. Get a taxi with various maps and coupons. This time we stayed at Tokyu Harvest Club Ito. (very different/luxurious to the one we stayed last night!) We waited for about 30 minutes in the lobby and joined my friend. Two sets of mother and two children and one set of mother and son. It got noisy at once. After check-in, go to the pool and hot springs. At night, the restaurant in t...

Staying at Akasaka, Tokyo Leave Akasaka around 9:30 in the morning and head for Atami. Looking at the timetable in Jordan,　 https://world.jorudan.co.jp/mln/en/ it is 4390 yen per person for the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Atami, and it takes 37 minutes for the Shinkansen from Tokyo.  2nd option is "Izu no Odoriko" (Izu Dancer) train takes 1 hour 21 minutes and costs 4000 yen per person. 3rd option is Tokaido, the local train takes 1 hour 53 minutes and 1940 yen. Other friend families go by car. Since only 5 people can ride in the car, it is already over capacity, so we talked about going by train. I decided to get to Atami around noon, so I didn't hurry and my son had to pay an adult fee this year so I decided to save and go on the Tokaido. I thought that it would be possible to sit down during the daytime on weekdays, but it seems that there are many people thinking about the same thing. By the way, there is a reserved seat on this Tokaido, and it was 780 yen p...