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This week's posts took me from questions of belonging, to the California-Japan business community, and finally to one of Japan's more unusual hidden attractions. Different topics on the surface, but each one left me thinking about the connections that shape our lives and the places that stay with us long after we've left them behind. On Monday, I reflected on the Japanese concept of ibasho (居場所), often translated as "a place where you belong." Inspired by a question about where we were born, where we live, and where we feel we belong, I found myself exploring the complicated relationship between home, identity, and belonging after living in multiple countries. For those of us who have spent significant parts of our lives abroad, the answer is often less straightforward than it first appears. The more I reflected on it, the more I realized that belonging doesn't always reside where we expect it to. On Wednesday, I shared some thoughts from a Japanese Chamber of Commerce event in San Francisco that highlighted the strength of the California-Japan business relationship. Surrounded by professionals, entrepreneurs, and Japan specialists, I was reminded why I often tell people that the Bay Area is one of the best places outside Japan to build connections with Japanese companies. What struck me most was not just the scale of the community, but the genuine sense of openness and collaboration that filled the room. As anyone who has worked with Japan knows, relationships matter, and this event was a wonderful reminder of that. For Fun Friday, I revisited one of the strangest attractions I discovered during my time in Ishikawa Prefecture: the Hanibe Caves in Komatsu. With a giant Buddha emerging from the hillside and a maze of underground passages beyond, it's the kind of place that's difficult to describe and impossible to forget. Japan is famous for its world-renowned landmarks, but some of the most memorable experiences come from the places that never make the typical travel itinerary. Nearly 30 years after my visit, this is still one of those places I find myself talking about. Looking back, all three posts are really about connection in different forms: to people, to communities, and to places that leave a lasting impression. Whether we're searching for a sense of belonging, building relationships across cultures, or exploring somewhere unexpected, it's often these connections that become the stories we carry with us. Thank you, as always, for reading. Warmly,
Saskia
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