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This week unfolded with its own quiet mix of contrasts, the kind that seem to appear naturally when your life drifts between the U.S. and Japan. A shinnenkai in San Francisco, a day of LA conversations about Japan, a rediscovered photo of a slightly mischievous tanuki, and, somewhere in between, the gentle reminder that it’s Setsubun: the moment when people across Japan scatter roasted beans to chase out the demons of winter and make room for better things. The shinnenkai in San Francisco held the soft, familiar warmth these gatherings always carry. A room full of people who, despite the busy rhythms of early February, still make the effort to welcome the year together. The handshakes, the quick updates, the sense of continuity, it all felt quietly grounding. That’s what the first blog post is about: the comfort of showing up, year after year, and how these rituals shape community. A different tempo shaped the next reflection: a day of visiting banks across Los Angeles, listening to how Japan looks from this side of the Pacific. Some questions were predictable, others thoughtful, and together they formed a sort of mosaic of outside perception: part curiosity, part confusion, part admiration. That post grew out of the conversations that lingered after the meetings ended. And then there were the tanuki, not a new sighting, but a photo I stumbled across unexpectedly. I had forgotten I’d even taken it. Seeing it again reminded me of how these whimsical touches of Japan follow you long after you leave the place where you first found them. The blog turned into a small reflection on rediscovery and the lightness that sneaks into everyday life. Somewhere in the middle of all that came Setsubun, and I found myself thinking of the old ritual of flinging roasted soybeans at invisible demons with a hearty oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi. Even from far away, the idea of clearing out the stale winter air to make space for something kinder feels like a tradition worth borrowing. Three reflections and one seasonal ritual, each asking, in its own way, for a moment of noticing. I hope your week held something small and grounding too, whether it was a conversation, a rediscovery, or simply throwing out a few metaphorical demons of your own. Warmly, Saskia
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