Autumn envelops me in a quiet mood.
Perhaps it's because the temperature drops, finally allowing for thinking, reading, and appreciation?
I was talking with Professor O. the other day.
In modern times, summers in Asia's temperate humid climate, including Japan, have grown closer to those of a tropical rainforest climate. Cities retain only a lingering afterimage of summer's charm, while days of sheer endurance simply exist as summer.
Summer clothing now uses the same materials as everyday wear in tropical or desert regions. With three months of unbearable heat requiring constant air conditioning, I suspect we all subconsciously realize calm reflection is impossible.
As the summer of the calendar passes, and the lingering heat—a relentless scorch that continues to melt asphalt—persists, the afternoons turn white, and the scent of mist begins to mingle with the wind. It is then that the quietly enjoyable time begins, when I seek out beautiful, atmospheric forms to help me spend my days calmly.
Since my life's work primarily involves paper, I bought clips like the ones in the photo above from Temu and casually tossed them into a glass.
The familiar paper-holding clips are usually black, square double clips, but they hurt your nails and require so much force your fingertips shake. Someone who's lived abroad for a long time recommended this type of clip, so I bought them.
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Golden Hairpin Bouquet 1.96 inches / 50 millimeters Rose Gold |
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Floral Bookmark / Temu |
Here's a close-up of the sticky note-style bookmark I introduced earlier.
When you surround yourself daily with things in your favorite colors and shapes, with the calming atmosphere you love most, even if the city buzzes with excitement, your own space maintains your usual sensibility.
I often saw people who had lived abroad returning to Japan saying we should incorporate more design into our daily lives.
I'm sure that's exactly what they meant.
When you arrange your room with your favorite beautiful things, unpleasant people might pick a fight, saying things like, “Is this your castle?” or “You only have things you like here?” But seriously, what do they think they're doing, not even paying rent?
Beauty is stillness and silence.
That's why looking at still lifes allows your heart to recreate beauty and calm the present moment.
Your room should be a place of calm. Fill it with elegant, relaxing, soothing interior items and knickknacks you love. As you sip tea, reflecting on how stylishness is beautiful, the days pass more directly, gradually shifting impressions with each season.
October also goes by the name Kannazuki, and this month somehow envelops us in moments of gazing up at the night sky.
Thinking more than usual of stars and the moon, I start preparing for nightfall even in the daytime.
Perhaps October is fundamentally a turning point month, shifting daily life toward spending the longer nights.
This month brings the Mid-Autumn Full Moon on Monday, October 6th, and another night features a meteor shower at dawn.
With Halloween on the last day celebrating the harvest, I plan to spend my days luxuriously pondering whether to open a book or brew some cocoa, already picturing myself walking through November's falling autumn leaves as an imminent plan.
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Hakata Unagiya Fujiuna Tenjin Main Store 092-732-0606 Online Reservations Available |
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)