環境が変わったら、最優先でやる事は、変わった環境の音や光、温度（室温）に慣れることだと思う。
部屋のカーテンが遮光カーテンという光を通さないものでは無かったら、向こう5年くらいで遮光カーテンに変えれば良いです。
簡単そうに見えてこれに慣れるまで、大人でも1ヶ月は掛かります。
音と光と温度（室温）が実際に身体に馴染むまで、多くの人が思うより時間が掛かるし、実はそれがストレスとして身体と気持ちのぎこちなさを生むんです。
これはまだお医者さんに伺っていないのだけれど。
私は今現在オフィスに居て、どうしても仕事が出来ない人の中に、明るさと音と温度（室温）の影響が凄く強く出て、それでおかしな程動揺したり、気持ちが揺れて、コンディションが悪くなっているのが、本人も普通だと思い込み、とても難しい入社試験はパスしたのに、とても難しい入試はパスしたのに、なぜかオフィスの仕事が出来ないという事態に入っている人が、思うより多いと思うんです。
少し重い話になるけれど、コロナが世界を停めてしまった時に、実際、会社の仕事をご自宅の自分の部屋でインターネット回線を使って沢山の人達がこなしていました。
その時に、今書いた条件が思い当たる人は、いつもより仕事が出来たのではないでしょうか？
ただその時は、日本中も世界中も私も、今日は生き延びれるだろうか。今日は感染しないだろうか。が重要だったので、そのことに未だ気が付かれていないのかもしれません。
そういう人は、自分が1番コンディションが良くなる室温を実際に測って確認し、1年間、毎月記録を付ければ良いと思っています。
すると今までのオフィスの室温が、パソコンが沢山並んでいる室内と寒い寒い言いやがるあのバカ達のせいで、すごく暑かったのではないか、と気が付くと思う。
これは教室も同様で、私は夏はエアコンが当時要らなかった教室で算数とか国語を勉強していました。
冬だけ暖房みたいなのが着いていたけれど、制服を着るようになってストーブだった時の方が、なんだか頭の中がクリアだったように思う。
私は日本の作業室内の温度は、全部暑過ぎるといつも考えています。
暑いと非常にストレスを人間は感じるので、20度から18度の長袖のシャツかロングTシャツ（ロンT）で、じっと座って本を読んでいるだけなら適温だけど、料理をしたり、掃除をしたり、晴れている日にベランダで洗濯物を干していると、それだけでも暑すぎて体力を消耗するんです。
最悪、10月11月でも日当たりの良い部屋で洗濯物を干したり掃除すると、軽い熱中症になる人は結構多いと思う。
私はNothing to Lose 1 [Under 6] で、今日よりあなたの部屋は会社になると書きました。
実際、勉強から食事、買い出し、スケジュール、新たに始めるプログラミングの勉強か、生成AIの勉強やデモの作成（これは最終的には就職やバイト先に提出します）を6時間スケジュールでやるので、
本当に室温と部屋の明るさ、それと周囲の音に慣れるまで、を徹底して1ヶ月はやらないといけないんです。
また、家の中で1番危ないのは、怪我と突然意識を失うほど健康状態が悪化することです。
ほとんど日中、あなたは1人で居る時間が増えるので、これが本当に命取りになるんです。
慣れている空間だから大丈夫だと思うでしょう？
違いますよ。
本当に違います。
今日から1ヶ月かけて、ここの考えを変えて下さい。
多くのミドル世代30代から60代まで、家の中で怪我をして最終的に、身体障害を持ってしまったり、転んでしまった時に腕の骨を折ったり、内臓、血管、心臓にストレスを掛けてしまい、後々重度の持病を持ちながら生活せねばならなくなるんです。
これが実はもっと若い年齢から危険が伴う可能性だってあるんです。
私が通っていた病院の看護士さんはどう見ても20代だったのですが、転んだだけで腕を折ってとても大変そうでした。
看護士さんなのでカルシウムが足りないという事は無いんです。
顔に傷が無かったので、家の中か廊下で転ばれたのでしょうね。
暑さと言うのは、夏の暑さだけではありません。
春や秋、冬の、注意力を低下させたり、体力を知らずに削っていって、やはり疲れから普段なら上手く出来る家の中の行動ミスを起こします。
確か90年代半ばぐらいから、環境を大切にということで市役所や区役所ではエアコンの設定温度は、最低25度、28度で標準とされました。
25度というのは初夏の暑さですよ。
28度なんて真夏の暑さです。
そんな中で仕事がはかどると思いますか？
私はその頃から、著しい業務ミスが役所や病院などで起こり始め、そこを利用する利用者達が些細なことで食って掛かったり気分が悪くなって、あまり窓口に行かなくなったり、それまで30分くらいなら待ってもいいや、というのが常識だったのに、30分待つのが苦痛になって、苦痛だ苦痛だと声を上げ始めたと記憶しています。
なので、部屋の明るさ、室温、周囲の音に慣れるようにして下さい。
とにかく環境に慣れるまで、1ヶ月かけて下さい。
その間、1時間経ったら15分休憩するようにキッチンタイマー等をセットし、読書したり、ネットを見たり、ついでにトイレの掃除をしたりして過ごして下さい。
水分は1時間の間にも休憩時間にも必ず摂るようにして下さい。
上手くやるコツとしては、何回だらけてしまっても、1時間タイマーと15分休憩を始める状態に戻ることです。
そして、決して昼夜を逆転させないで下さい。
夜更かしは何の得もありません。
本当に夜更かしほど無意味で、夜遅く起きている人間にとって損しか起こさないものはありません。
夜8時以降、頭に浮かんだことは全て捨てて下さい。
あ、あの人に連絡をしよう。
あ、あれをやっておこう。
全部やってはいけません。
朝、必ず思い出しますし、思い出せなかったら、それは本当にどうでも良いことだったんです。
1ヶ月、まず1時間と15分休憩のスケジュールに身体を慣らしながら、気温と部屋の明るさと周辺の音に慣れて下さい。
その間、本を読んだり、近所の図書館で「感じの良い人達がいく時間」を割り出したり、近所のコンビニやスーパーで「感じの良い人達が行く時間」を割り出したりしましょう。
私のお勧めは、学校の近くに住んでいなければ、朝6時台のコンビニ。
7時からは行かない。
6時台に行けなかったら、午前10時に回す。
この時間はアパレル（服を売る人達）が1番街を動き回る時間ですので、気楽です。
誰も自分のお洒落と昼食とお菓子にしか興味を持っていません。
コンビニは後は昼3時までです。
それ以降は面倒な人か（あの嫌な子供とかババアとか）、疲れてイライラしている人とか居ますので（そんなに為るなら辞めろよ、あんた向いてないんだよ）、私は普段でも避けています。
スーパーですが、午前10時はお年寄りが居ます。
古い価値観の地域に住んでいるのなら、行かない方が良いです。
この場合、11時に行き、お惣菜等を下見して、必要な物を書いましょう。12時迄に済ませるようにして下さい。
1番良いのは昼2時から4時までです。
この時間はのんびりしていますので、商品をゆっくり見れます。
夕方4時のスーパーはラッシュタイムです。
これが実は夜8時まで続きます。
いっぱい人が居て、全員殺気立っていますので、行く場合、何ですか？ 普通ですけど？ という顔で流れに乗りましょう。
全員、食費が掛かっていますので、全力で商品見てますから、通行の邪魔にならないようにしましょう。
誰がマイバック持ってるかとか誰1人気にしてません。
以下は、これからあなたの役に立つ本を載せていきます。
この2冊は、必ずアマゾンレビューを見て、最終的にご自身で決めて下さい。
左の作り置きごはんは、セブンイレブンの冊子コーナーにありました。
作り置きを勝手に作ると、本来の食事担当者から迷惑がられますが、この本にはリゾットの作り方が載っています。
リゾットとはイタリア料理の少し固めのお米から作るチーズとコンソメ味が染みたアレです。
ペンネアラビアータも載っています。
ペンネというと今ではすっかりお馴染みですが、当時ペンネ？と首をひねる人ばかりだったのですが、ペンネのアラビアータソースというトマト味ですが少し南アメリカの香りがする料理です。
ちなみに私は、ですが、ペンネでマカロニグラタンを作ると異様に美味しいです。あとは飲酒年齢ならローソンの白ワインか炭酸白ワイン。
飲酒年齢に達していないのなら、アップルタイザーで、午後はリッチな気持ちになります。
580円、2011年発刊です。
その他、野菜の上手な冷凍方法が載っています。
これは本当に役に立ちます。
メニューと予算でどうしようか迷った時用に、常備菜（みそ汁 + 炊いたご飯）に合わせる一種類のおかずが載っています。
つまりメニューが思い浮かばない時は、ご飯を炊いて、味噌汁や多めに作っておいたスープと、一種類のおかずだけ選んで作れば良いんですね。
なので、あくまでも2ヶ月後にゆっくり取り掛かる気持ちで居て下さい。
右は暮しの手帖の評判料理・冬の保存版です。
これは暮しの手帖が掲載して来た、本格レストランや料理研究家のテストを繰り返したり、その方の先生のレシピ（そちらで勉強していないと教えて貰えない）の中で、読者が本当に作って誰かに食べさせて「これは何処のレシピ？」と訊かれた評判のレシピが掲載されています。
暮しの手帖掲載レシピの、ゴールデンベストです。
この本は、最終的に何年掛かっても手に入れて下さい。
いつかパートナーと自活してその方の先輩やお家の方に出しても、無言で黙って夢中で全部食べ終えてしまうか、口に入れた後、え？ と顔を上げて、作った人を憧れと驚きが混ざった目で見つめる料理です。
私はこの本の存在を口コミで知りました。
料理やらなかったら、好きだな、と思うどなたかに差し上げて下さい。
あの時は有難う御座いました。とずっと感謝されます。
これは必須です。
沢山のレシピをレパートリーにするからです。
季節によってレパートリーが変わるし、お住まいの野菜が独自の物があったり、季節によって急に京都の野菜や年末の日本や秋の野菜、春の菜の花やグリーンピースご飯や山菜などを、
ご自身とご家族の好みに合わせる必要があるからです。
またガス・コンロも住宅の仕様によっては少しずつクセがあります。
その上、お使いの鍋がアルミかステンレスか鉄かで、火加減と時間が少し変わるんです。
そのメモとしてレシピノートを作ります。
実はクックパッドというのは、そのご家庭でお母様やお父様が好む名店の味、お婆様の代からお客様に出す「ここ1番の料理」のレシピが掲載されています。
なので、料理に興味がある場合は、クックパッドを見ていると色々なことが突然繋がって、急にオリジナルの調理工夫が出来るようになります。
男性でも、右側のジゼルは、性を選ばない組み合わせが掲載されていますので、サイズ大きめで似た感じのを2着、揃える気持ちで居て下さい。
左のメイク本は、K-エンターテインメントのメイクが掲載されています。
派手目、大人し目、少し強い感じの女性のヘアメイクが掲載されています。
こちらも男性は、写真の女性と同じ色で、短い髪を頭の中でイメージすると、どういう顔や感じが自分がしてみたい方向か分かると思います。
このヘアメイクをファッション雑誌のジゼル（右側）の服に合わせると、好きな感じが掴みやすいです。
メイクは全部最初はプチプラでやって見て下さい。
男性も折角なので、眉マスカラをやってみてはいかがでしょうか？
明るい色を1本買って見て下さい。
垢抜けますよ。
100円です。
感じが派手でおしゃれになると絡まれるかも・・・？という時は、着て行って絡まれない場所を探しましょう。
その時は、必ずデパートやショップのトイレを使う。
今は駅のトイレも安全ですが、デパートやショップのトイレは、自分のヘアスタイルと服とメイクの事しか考えていない人ばかりです。
たまに人を見る人がいたら、そいつが慣れていないだけです。
女性は特に、お金に余裕があるなら、または貯金して、シャネルかイブ・サンローランの口紅を一本か同じメーカーのグロスを一本購入しておくと、化粧室でジロジロ見てくるバカな慣れない奴を撃退できます。
これは無表情で、え？ あなたに気が付いてませんけど？
という顔で、ゆっくり塗りましょう。
目を伏せて立ち去りますので、最後まで気が付かないフリをしてあげましょう。
バカなんです、本当に。
化粧直しや、男性なら髪型と眉色のバランスを外出先でチェックする時は、パウダールームや手を洗う時に、複数人のグループが居たら、入らないようにしましょう。
全員やって居ます。私も入りません。
最悪、なんか薬物的なものを売りつけられそうだと思いませんか？
私は全力で思って居ます。
私のお勧めは、ミサゴの森と深夜特急です。
ミサゴの森はSF小説で、アーサー王伝説期からさらに遡ったブリテン王国などの歴史を上手く娯楽小説にしています。
導入は、森の中を抜ける小川の上流で、兄弟が紙か草で作った小舟を流したら、いつまで経っても森の出口にある小川から小舟が流れて来ない。
沈んだんだろう。とその日は帰るんですが、数日後、その小舟が出口の小川に引っ掛かっているのに2人は気が付きます。
よく見ると、変に時間が経過している。
どう見ても、1週間から10日は経過しているように見える。
その森には、近寄っては行けないと言われて居た。
から始まります。
この兄弟は実はとても仲が悪く、不自然な程気のせいだろう。そんな事はある訳が無い。と不思議に思い続ける弟を否定しますが、その兄を訝しげに観察していると、いつも兄は何か弟に隠して楽しいことを見つけた時の様子をしている。
というSFです。
大人になった兄弟から、本編が始まります。
右の深夜特急は、大人の青年というのはどのような人なのか。という事が分かります。
彼は大分ドライでクールです。
けれどあと5年経過したら、成熟し切った青年の大人になりそうな人です。
背伸びして失敗などをしない所、冷静な海外に居る無謀な自分、周囲の人々の姿を、不要にベタついた興味を持たずに、尖った理性と知性で捉えているのがとても好きです。
例えば私の沈黙の世代は、日本大陸と韓国大陸の間は深い海が無く、割りと浅い海だけだったので、行き来がすごくあったという事を知りません。
近年私はBTSのファンですので、大韓民国のニュースを見て居たら、縄文期か弥生期には、日本の焼き物職人が大韓民国の古代の遺跡近くで、技術交換の為に住んでいた住居後とその時作った焼き物が出土した、というのを知ってとても驚きました。
それでアマゾンで歴史の教科書をと探して居たら、数年前にこの教科書がベストセラーと言って良い程購入されていました。
多くのミドルからハイミドル世代の人達は、歴史が新しく追加された最新の歴史知識の共有を独学でやって、新しい世代の人達と標準学力知識を同じにしていたんだと知りました。
少し感激してしまったのは、日本史の前文に、家で勉強をしている年若い人達に向かって本気で、皆さんの為にこの本を作って居ます、と学究の徒として堂々と書かれている所です。
私もそうですが。
私達は1人1人のまま社会に居ますので、ある意味、孤独同士です。
けれども此のように社会全体に対する善意の行使（こうし）をご存知の方が、知らない者同士の私達それぞれの歴史の勉強の心配をして下さっているんですよね。
世界には色々な種類の厚意がありますが、遠くから毅然と習学（しゅうがく）に臆する必要など微塵も無い、と巨大な知に立つクールでドライな、明るい光を見出します。
学齢期間を通り過ぎ、本来の学問とはこのように受け取るのだと私は知って居ます。
通り過ぎた後、皆さん、このように各自勉強されているんです。
手応えがあって良いですよね。
私は古代史が好きらしく、人がどういう風土に居てどのように暮らしているのか、という社会学が好きです。
気楽にゆっくりやっているのですが。
このような知識本の辿り方を受け渡しておきます。
左の本は縄文時代の神社を集め実際に歩いた本です。
ですが、私はこの本をただの記録のみの本だと思って購入しました。
けれど著者の武藤郁子氏の感性の記述が多いんですね。
この感性の記述何ですが、最近では少しロマンティック過ぎると批判されがちのようでもあります。
私は、太宰府天満宮に10代後半からしょっ中行って居たのでお教え出来るんですが、この感性の部分というのは、稚拙でも子供じみても居ないんですよね。
記録として調べて居たので違っただけで、記録として調べるのが上等では無いんです。
感性の記述は、武藤郁子氏の目と感じた世界のドアを入って、縄文神社で感じて居た事や、見たり触れたりした神社の景色や遺跡と、各神社の歴史記述を参照して、武藤郁子氏という個人の感性がこの本には書かれています。
科学や史実をご自身で解釈するのなら、不向きですが、武藤郁子氏の人間性やセンス、何を大切に想って居たのかが分かる本なので、客観とは別の個人の価値観や個人の世界への捉え方が、劣っている訳では無いんです。
私も太宰府天満宮の飛梅をやたらと見に行って、本当に現実として、平安時代に風か土に運ばれて飛んで来れるのだろうか？ と考えて居た後、 少し浪漫な参道でしたので、そこで行きなり今大切にしたいことは何だろうな？ と抹茶を飲みながら、何も言語にせず、何も自分の客観に残そうとせずに、過ごして居た時間が、私という個人の生活への感性の贈り物としてとても強い影響を受けて居ます。
右のインダス文明の謎は、こんなミステリアスなタイトルなのに全部記録と学術の記述です。
こちらは、本の中の長田俊樹先生の個人授業を受けている感じです。
本の値段で、長田俊樹先生の前期後期の授業を取れるという、贅沢な時間をあなたに受け渡す本です。
これからあなたは自分で全部、何を大切にするか自分で決め、ミスだったな、と判断したら、また元のセレクションの基準に修正を行います。
自分で決め、自分で選び、自分で引き受け、自分で重過ぎる荷物は捨てます。
このやり方をすると、物凄くクールに整理が付いていき、休む価値や必要も分かってきます。
これは社会に出ないと本来は身につかないやり方です。
此のやり方をすると、何もかも全部鞄に入れて、パンパンにして重過ぎる鞄を引きずりながら進まなくて良くなります。
目に見えない、機材庫があなたの中に出来ます。
すると一度普段の鞄の中に入れて置いても、もういいかな、という時間が来たら、機材庫にその鞄の中に入れて居た知識や時間、感性を仕舞う事ができます。
やがて何かの時に、そういえば・・・、アレはこれに繋がっていくのではないか？ と突然気がつき、あなただけの書庫が出来るんです。
やがて45歳くらいから死ぬまで、人は過去最高に頭が良くなる時間（ゾーンと私は勝手に呼んでいます）に入ります。
そのゾーンの時に、世界中が異様なまでに美しく見え、情報量が膨大であった事が、過去に蓄積した経験から理解していく時間が始まります。
私も数年前始まった時は、もうすぐ死ぬんだろうか・・・？と唖然として居たのですが、こんなに分かっちゃうもんかな。大丈夫かな？ と心配してたのが、今では失笑期間で、とても豊かな世界の中でお茶を飲んでいます。
ここでの時間をさらにあなたにフィットさせる為に、このやり方をお教えします。
1ヶ月じゃ足りないでしょうが、慌てず3ヶ月で出来れば優等くらいの気持ちで取り組んで見てください。
良いんですよ。
9/1は日本では大地震が起こって、昔から皆暗い気分で過ごすんですから。
少し日にちが空きますが、Nothing to Lose 8 [Under 6] でお会いしましょう。
あなたへ信号を送る者より
2026/08/31 ROUTE 9
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When your environment changes, I think the top priority is to get used to the new sounds, light, and temperature (room temperature) in that environment.
If the curtains in your room aren’t blackout curtains—the kind that block out light—you can switch to blackout curtains within the next five years or so.
It may seem simple, but even for adults, it takes at least a month to get used to this.
It takes longer than most people realize for your body to actually adjust to the sounds, light, and temperature (room temperature), and in fact, this causes stress that leads to physical and emotional discomfort.
I haven’t discussed this with a doctor yet, though.
I’m currently at the office, and among the people who simply can’t get any work done, I think there are more than you might expect who are heavily affected by brightness, noise, and temperature (room temperature). This causes them to become unusually unsettled or emotionally unstable, leading to poor physical and mental condition—yet they convince themselves this is normal. Even though they passed extremely difficult job interviews and entrance exams, they find themselves in a situation where, for some reason, they just can’t handle office work.
This might be a bit of a heavy topic, but when COVID-19 brought the world to a standstill, many people were actually getting their work done from their own rooms at home using an internet connection.
At that time, didn’t those who fit the conditions I just described find that they were able to work better than usual?
However, back then—in Japan, around the world, and for me personally—the most important concerns were, “Will I survive today?” and “Will I get infected today?” So perhaps they haven’t realized this yet.
For those people, I think it would be helpful to actually measure and confirm the room temperature at which you feel your best, and keep a record of it every month for a year.
If the curtains in your room aren’t blackout curtains—the kind that block out light—you can switch to blackout curtains within the next five years or so.
It may seem simple, but even for adults, it takes at least a month to get used to this.
It takes longer than most people realize for your body to actually adjust to the sounds, light, and temperature (room temperature), and in fact, this causes stress that leads to physical and emotional discomfort.
I haven’t discussed this with a doctor yet, though.
I’m currently at the office, and among the people who simply can’t get any work done, I think there are more than you might expect who are heavily affected by brightness, noise, and temperature (room temperature). This causes them to become unusually unsettled or emotionally unstable, leading to poor physical and mental condition—yet they convince themselves this is normal. Even though they passed extremely difficult job interviews and entrance exams, they find themselves in a situation where, for some reason, they just can’t handle office work.
This might be a bit of a heavy topic, but when COVID-19 brought the world to a standstill, many people were actually getting their work done from their own rooms at home using an internet connection.
At that time, didn’t those who fit the conditions I just described find that they were able to work better than usual?
However, back then—in Japan, around the world, and for me personally—the most important concerns were, “Will I survive today?” and “Will I get infected today?” So perhaps they haven’t realized this yet.
For those people, I think it would be helpful to actually measure and confirm the room temperature at which you feel your best, and keep a record of it every month for a year.
If they do that, I think they’ll realize that the room temperature in their office up until now was probably way too hot—all because of the room full of computers and those idiots who kept complaining about the cold.
The same goes for classrooms. Back then, I used to study math and Japanese in classrooms that didn’t even need air conditioning in the summer.
Only in the winter was there some sort of heating, but now that I wear a school uniform, I feel like my mind was somehow clearer back when we had a space heater.
I’ve always thought that the temperature in Japanese workspaces is generally too hot.
Heat causes people a great deal of stress, so while a temperature between 20 and 18 degrees Celsius is comfortable if you’re just sitting still in a long-sleeved shirt or long T-shirt (hereafter “long T”) reading a book, it’s too hot just for cooking, cleaning, or hanging laundry on the balcony on a sunny day—and that alone drains your energy.
In the worst cases, I think quite a few people end up with mild heatstroke even in October or November if they hang laundry or clean in a sunny room.
In *Nothing to Lose 1 [Under 6]*, I wrote that starting today, your room becomes your workplace.
In reality, since I’m scheduling six hours a day for everything from studying to meals, grocery shopping, managing my schedule, and either starting to learn programming or studying generative AI and creating demos (which I’ll eventually submit to potential employers or part-time jobs),
I really have to stick with this for a full month until I’m completely accustomed to the room temperature, the lighting, and the ambient noise.
Also, the biggest risks at home are getting injured and your health deteriorating to the point where you suddenly lose consciousness.
Since you’ll be spending most of the day alone, this can truly be life-threatening.
You might think, “It’s a familiar space, so I’ll be fine,” right?
Wrong.
It really is wrong.
Starting today, please take this next month to change your mindset about this issue.
Many middle-aged people—from their 30s to their 60s—suffer injuries at home that ultimately lead to physical disabilities. For example, they might break an arm after a fall, or put strain on their internal organs, blood vessels, or heart, forcing them to live with a serious chronic condition later in life.
In fact, this risk can exist even at much younger ages.
A nurse at the hospital I used to go to was clearly in her 20s, but she broke her arm just from falling and seemed to be in a lot of pain.
Since she was a nurse, it wasn’t a matter of calcium deficiency.
She didn’t have any cuts on her face, so she must have fallen inside her home or in the hallway.
Heat isn’t limited to the summer.
In spring, fall, and winter, it can dull your attention and gradually sap your stamina without you realizing it, leading to mistakes in everyday household tasks—mistakes you wouldn’t normally make—due to fatigue.
I believe it was around the mid-1990s that, in the name of environmental conservation, city and ward offices standardized air conditioning settings to a minimum of 25 or 28 degrees.
25 degrees is the heat of early summer.
And 28 degrees? That’s the heat of midsummer.
Do you really think work gets done efficiently in such conditions?
I recall that around that time, significant work errors began occurring at government offices and hospitals. Users would get upset over trivial matters or feel unwell, leading them to visit the service counters less frequently. Whereas it had previously been common sense to wait up to 30 minutes, waiting that long became a source of distress, and people began voicing their complaints, saying, “It’s torture! It’s torture!”
So, please try to get used to the room’s lighting, temperature, and ambient noise.
In any case, please take a full month to adjust to the environment.
During that time, set a kitchen timer or similar device to take a 15-minute break every hour, and spend that time reading, browsing the internet, or even cleaning the bathroom.
Be sure to drink water throughout the hour, including during breaks.
The key to success is to get back on track with the one-hour timer and 15-minute breaks, no matter how many times you find yourself slacking off.
And please, under no circumstances reverse your day and night schedule.
Staying up late serves absolutely no purpose.
There’s truly nothing more pointless than staying up late—it only causes harm to those who stay awake late at night.
After 8:00 p.m., discard every single thought that pops into your head.
“Oh, I should contact that person.”
“Oh, I should get that done.”
Don’t do any of that.
You’ll definitely remember it in the morning, and if you don’t, then it really wasn’t that important anyway.
For one month, start by getting your body used to the one-hour-and-15-minute-break schedule while also getting used to the temperature, the brightness of the room, and the surrounding sounds.
During that time, read a book, figure out “the times when nice people go” at your local library, and figure out “the times when nice people go” at your local convenience store or supermarket.
My recommendation—unless you live near a school—is a convenience store around 6:00 a.m.
Don’t go after 7:00 a.m.
If you can’t make it around 6:00 a.m., shift it to 10:00 a.m.
This is when people in the apparel industry (those who sell clothes) are out and about on the streets the most, so it’s laid-back.
No one is interested in anything but their own fashion, lunch, and snacks.
Convenience stores are open until 3:00 p.m.
After that, you’ll run into annoying people (like those pesky kids or old ladies) or people who are tired and irritable (if you’re going to get that worked up, just quit—you’re not cut out for this job), so I usually avoid them even on regular days.
As for the supermarket, there are elderly people there at 10:00 a.m.
If you live in a neighborhood with traditional values, it’s best to avoid going then.
In that case, go at 11:00 a.m., take a look at the prepared foods and other items, and make a list of what you need. Be sure to finish by 12:00 p.m.
The best time is from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
It’s quiet during this time, so you can browse the products at your leisure.
The supermarket at 4:00 p.m. is rush hour.
This actually continues until 8:00 p.m.
It’s packed with people, and everyone is in a frenzy, so if you go, just go with the flow with a look that says, “What’s the big deal? It’s just a normal day, right?”
Everyone is spending money on groceries, so they’re giving the products their full attention—make sure not to get in the way.
No one cares who’s carrying a reusable bag or anything like that.
Below, I’ll list some books that will be useful to you going forward.
Please add these two books to your shopping list if you’re able to buy them in two months.
Be sure to check the Amazon reviews for these two books and make your own final decision.
The book on left, *Make-Ahead Meals*, was in the magazine section at 7-Eleven.
If you just go ahead and make make-ahead meals on your own, the person actually in charge of meals might get annoyed, but this book includes a recipe for risotto.
Risotto is that Italian dish made with slightly al dente rice, infused with cheese and consommé.
It also includes a recipe for penne all’arrabbiata.
Penne is a familiar pasta these days, but back then, everyone would tilt their heads in confusion and ask, “Penne?” It’s a tomato-based dish—penne with arrabbiata sauce—that has a slight South American flair.
By the way, in my experience, making macaroni gratin with penne turns out unusually delicious. If you’re of legal drinking age, try Lawson’s white wine or sparkling white wine.
If you’re not yet of legal drinking age, go for Apple Tizer—it’ll make your afternoon feel a little more indulgent.
It cost 580 yen. It was published in 2011.
It also includes tips on the best ways to freeze vegetables.
This is really helpful.
For those times when you’re stuck deciding what to make based on your menu and budget, it includes one side dish to pair with staple dishes (miso soup + cooked rice).
In other words, when you can’t think of a menu, just cook some rice, pair it with miso soup or a soup you’ve made in advance, and choose just one side dish to prepare.
So, please keep in mind that you’ll be taking your time with this—starting in about two months.
On the right is *Kurashi no Techo*’s “Acclaimed Recipes: Winter Special Edition.”
This collection features recipes that *Kurashi no Techo* has published over the years—recipes that have been repeatedly tested by authentic restaurants and culinary experts, or recipes from their mentors (which you wouldn’t learn unless you studied under them)—and which readers have actually made and served to others, prompting the question, “Where did you get this recipe?”
It’s the “Golden Best” of *Kurashi no Techo*’s published recipes.
No matter how many years it takes, please make sure to get your hands on this book eventually.
These are the kinds of dishes that, when you eventually live on your own with a partner and serve them to that person’s seniors or family members, will either be devoured in silence with such rapt attention that they finish the entire plate without a word—or, after taking a bite, cause them to look up with a “Huh?” and gaze at the cook with eyes filled with a mix of admiration and surprise.
I first learned about this book through word of mouth.
If you don’t cook yourself, please give it to someone you care about.
They’ll be grateful to you forever, saying, “Thank you so much for that.”
This is still a ways off, but in order to learn how to cook in a way that works best for you, you’ll eventually start keeping a recipe notebook.
This is essential.
That’s because you’ll be building up a repertoire of many recipes.
Your repertoire will change with the seasons, and depending on where you live, you might have access to unique local vegetables—or suddenly find yourself using Kyoto vegetables, Japanese vegetables at year-end, fall vegetables, spring rapeseed blossoms, green pea rice, or wild mountain vegetables—
all of which you’ll need to adapt to suit your own and your family’s tastes.
Also, gas stoves have their own quirks depending on the specifications of your home.
On top of that, whether you use an aluminum, stainless steel, or cast-iron pot will slightly change the heat setting and cooking time.
You’ll create a recipe notebook to keep track of these details.
In fact, Cookpad features recipes for the flavors of famous restaurants that moms and dads love, as well as “signature dishes” that have been served to guests since your grandmother’s generation.
So, if you’re interested in cooking, browsing Cookpad can suddenly help you make connections between different ideas, and you’ll find yourself coming up with your own original cooking techniques before you know it.
This is essential.
That’s because you’ll be building up a repertoire of many recipes.
Your repertoire will change with the seasons, and depending on where you live, you might have access to unique local vegetables—or suddenly find yourself using Kyoto vegetables, Japanese vegetables at year-end, fall vegetables, spring rapeseed blossoms, green pea rice, or wild mountain vegetables—
all of which you’ll need to adapt to suit your own and your family’s tastes.
Also, gas stoves have their own quirks depending on the specifications of your home.
On top of that, whether you use an aluminum, stainless steel, or cast-iron pot will slightly change the heat setting and cooking time.
You’ll create a recipe notebook to keep track of these details.
In fact, Cookpad features recipes for the flavors of famous restaurants that moms and dads love, as well as “signature dishes” that have been served to guests since your grandmother’s generation.
So, if you’re interested in cooking, browsing Cookpad can suddenly help you make connections between different ideas, and you’ll find yourself coming up with your own original cooking techniques before you know it.
This is aimed at women, but generally speaking, no matter how you feel about yourself, as long as you’ve got your makeup, hairstyle, and outfit sorted out, others will see you as a beautiful person.
For men as well, the Giselle book on the right features gender-neutral outfits, so please plan to get two similar outfits in a larger size.
The makeup book on the left features looks from K-Entertainment.
It showcases hairstyles and makeup for women ranging from bold to demure to slightly edgy.
For men, if you visualize short hair in the same color as the woman in the photo, you’ll get a sense of the kind of look and vibe you’d like to achieve.
Pairing these hairstyles and makeup looks with the outfits from the fashion magazine *Giselle* (on the right) will help you easily find a style you like.
Start by trying out all your makeup with budget-friendly products.
Guys, since you’re at it, why not give eyebrow mascara a try?
Buy one in a bright color.
It’ll really freshen up your look.
It’s only 100 yen.
If you’re worried that looking flashy and stylish might get you hassled…? Then find a place to wear it where you won’t get hassled.
When you do, be sure to use the restrooms in department stores or shops.
While train station restrooms are safe these days, the restrooms in department stores and shops are full of people who are focused solely on their own hairstyles, clothes, and makeup.
If you occasionally catch someone staring, they’re just not used to it.
For women especially, if you have the money—or if you save up—buy a tube of Chanel or Yves Saint Laurent lipstick, or a lip gloss from the same brand. That way, you can fend off those stupid, inexperienced people who stare at you in the restroom.
Keep a blank expression—like, “Huh? I didn’t even notice you were there”—
and apply it slowly.
They’ll lower their eyes and walk away, so just keep pretending you didn’t notice them until the very end.
They’re idiots, really.
When touching up your makeup—or, for men, checking the balance between your hairstyle and eyebrow color while out and about—if there’s a group of people in the powder room or at the sink, don’t go in.
Everyone does it. I don’t go in either.
At worst, don’t you think they might try to sell you some kind of drug?
I definitely think so.
This is a novel.
My recommendations are *The Forest of the Osprey* and *Midnight Express*.
*The Forest of the Osprey* is a science fiction novel that skillfully weaves the history of the Kingdom of Britain—dating back even further than the time of the Arthurian legends—into an entertaining story.
The story begins upstream on a small stream running through the forest, where two brothers set a small boat made of paper or grass adrift, only to find that no matter how long they waited, the boat never floated down the stream to the forest’s exit.
“It must have sunk,” they conclude, and head home that day. But a few days later, the two notice the little boat caught in the stream at the forest’s exit.
Upon closer inspection, they realize that an unusual amount of time has passed.
No matter how they look at it, it appears as though a week to ten days have gone by.
They had been warned never to go near that forest.
That’s how it begins.
These brothers actually get along very poorly, and the older brother dismisses his younger brother’s persistent doubts—that it must be a figment of his imagination, that such a thing couldn’t possibly be real. But as the younger brother watches his older brother suspiciously, he notices that whenever the older brother finds something fun, he always acts as if he’s hiding something from his younger brother.
That’s the premise of this sci-fi story.
The main story begins with the brothers as adults.
The *Midnight Express* on the right reveals what kind of person a young adult is.
He’s quite detached and cool-headed.
However, in another five years, he seems like the type who will become a fully mature young adult.
I really like how he doesn’t try to act beyond his years and make mistakes; how he observes his reckless self abroad and the people around him with sharp rationality and intelligence, without unnecessary, cloying curiosity.
My recommendations are *The Forest of the Osprey* and *Midnight Express*.
*The Forest of the Osprey* is a science fiction novel that skillfully weaves the history of the Kingdom of Britain—dating back even further than the time of the Arthurian legends—into an entertaining story.
The story begins upstream on a small stream running through the forest, where two brothers set a small boat made of paper or grass adrift, only to find that no matter how long they waited, the boat never floated down the stream to the forest’s exit.
“It must have sunk,” they conclude, and head home that day. But a few days later, the two notice the little boat caught in the stream at the forest’s exit.
Upon closer inspection, they realize that an unusual amount of time has passed.
No matter how they look at it, it appears as though a week to ten days have gone by.
They had been warned never to go near that forest.
That’s how it begins.
These brothers actually get along very poorly, and the older brother dismisses his younger brother’s persistent doubts—that it must be a figment of his imagination, that such a thing couldn’t possibly be real. But as the younger brother watches his older brother suspiciously, he notices that whenever the older brother finds something fun, he always acts as if he’s hiding something from his younger brother.
That’s the premise of this sci-fi story.
The main story begins with the brothers as adults.
The *Midnight Express* on the right reveals what kind of person a young adult is.
He’s quite detached and cool-headed.
However, in another five years, he seems like the type who will become a fully mature young adult.
I really like how he doesn’t try to act beyond his years and make mistakes; how he observes his reckless self abroad and the people around him with sharp rationality and intelligence, without unnecessary, cloying curiosity.
I purchased these Japanese and world history textbooks on Amazon because, having been an adult for so long, I realized that if I kept relying on my outdated knowledge of ancient Japanese history, I would fall behind the times.
For example, my “Silent Generation” is unaware that there was no deep sea between the Japanese and Korean continents—only relatively shallow waters—which meant there was a great deal of back-and-forth travel between them.
I’ve been a BTS fan for the past few years, and while watching news from South Korea, I was very surprised to learn that during the Jōmon or Yayoi periods, the remains of dwellings where Japanese potters lived near ancient South Korean ruins—presumably to exchange techniques—and the pottery they made at that time had been unearthed.
So, when I searched for history textbooks on Amazon, I found that this particular textbook had been purchased so frequently a few years ago that it could be called a bestseller.
I learned that many people in the middle-aged to upper-middle-aged generations had been teaching themselves the latest historical knowledge—including newly added material—to bring their academic knowledge up to the same standard as that of the younger generation.
What moved me a little was the preface to the Japanese history section, where the author—as a scholar—proudly and earnestly wrote to the young people studying at home: “We have created this book for you.”
I am one of them, too.
We exist in society as individuals, so in a sense, we are all lonely souls.
Yet, there are people who understand this act of goodwill toward society as a whole—people who are concerned about the history studies of each of us, even though we are strangers to one another.
There are many kinds of goodwill in the world, but I find a cool, dry, and bright light—one that stands on immense knowledge—telling us that there is not the slightest reason to feel intimidated by academic pursuits, even from afar.
Having passed through my school years, I now understand that this is how true scholarship should be approached.
After those years have passed, everyone is studying in this way on their own.
It’s rewarding to feel that sense of progress, isn’t it?
Last up are books related to my hobbies.
I seem to be into ancient history, and I’m also interested in sociology—specifically, how people live and what kind of environment they inhabit.
I take it easy and go at my own pace, though.
I’d like to share how I go about finding these kinds of non-fiction books.
The book on the left is a collection of shrines from the Jomon period that the author actually visited on foot.
However, when I bought it, I thought it was just a book of factual records.
But it turns out there are a lot of descriptions based on the author’s personal sensibilities—Ikuko Muto.
As for these descriptions of her sensibilities, it seems they’ve recently been criticized as being a bit too romantic.
Since I’ve been visiting Dazaifu Tenmangu frequently since my late teens, I can tell you this: these descriptions aren’t naive or childish at all.
It just seemed different to me because I was approaching it as a historical record—but that doesn’t mean researching it as a record is the only valid way to read it.
These descriptions of her sensibilities take you through the door of the world as seen through Ikuko Muto’s eyes—what she felt at the Jomon Shrine, the scenery and ruins she saw and touched, and the historical accounts of each shrine—all woven together to reveal the personal sensibilities of Ikuko Muto herself.
If you’re looking to interpret science or historical facts on your own, this book may not be the best choice. However, since it reveals Ms. Ikuko Muto’s humanity, her sensibility, and what she held dear, her personal values and her way of perceiving the world—which differ from an objective perspective—are by no means inferior.
I, too, visited the “Flying Plum Tree” at Dazaifu Tenmangu repeatedly, wondering, “Could it really have been carried there by wind or soil from the Heian period?” Afterward, since the approach to the shrine had a somewhat romantic atmosphere, I suddenly found myself asking, “What is it that I want to cherish right now?” while sipping matcha. That time—spent without putting anything into words or trying to preserve it objectively—has had a profound influence on me, serving as a gift to my personal sensibility in daily life.
As for the book on the mysteries of the Indus Valley Civilization on the right—despite its mysterious title—it’s entirely composed of records and scholarly descriptions.
Reading this book feels like taking a private lesson from Professor Toshiki Nagata himself.
For the price of this book, you’re getting the luxury of time equivalent to taking Professor Toshiki Nagata’s entire semester-long course.
From now on, you’ll decide for yourself what to value, and if you realize you’ve made a mistake, you can adjust your selection criteria back to where they started.
Decide for yourself, choose for yourself, take responsibility for yourself, and discard any burdens that are too heavy.
If you follow this approach, things will fall into place incredibly smoothly, and you’ll come to understand both the value and the necessity of rest.
This is an approach you wouldn’t normally learn until you enter the workforce.
By following this approach, you’ll no longer have to stuff everything into a bag, pack it to bursting, and drag around an overly heavy bag as you move forward.
An invisible “storage room” will form within you.
Then, even if you’ve temporarily placed something in your everyday bag, when the time comes to think, “Maybe I’m done with this for now,” you can store the knowledge, time, and sensibilities that were in that bag away in your storage room.
Eventually, when a certain moment arises, you’ll suddenly realize, “Come to think of it… doesn’t that connect to this?” and you’ll build a library that’s uniquely yours.
Eventually, from around age 45 until the end of their lives, people enter a period when they’re at their intellectual peak (which I’ve taken the liberty of calling “the Zone”).
During this Zone, the whole world appears extraordinarily beautiful, and you begin to understand—through the experiences you’ve accumulated over the years—just how vast the volume of information really is.
When this all started a few years ago, I was stunned, thinking, “Am I going to die soon…?” I worried, “Can I really figure this out? Will I be okay?” But now, I just chuckle at those thoughts and enjoy my tea in this incredibly rich world.
To help you make the most of your time here, I’ll share this method with you.
One month probably won’t be enough, but please take your time—aim to complete it in three months with the mindset that you’ll be doing quite well if you can manage it.
It’s all right.
September 1st marks the anniversary of a major earthquake in Japan, so people have always spent that day in a somber mood.
There will be a short break, but let’s meet again in *Nothing to Lose 8 [Under 6]*.
From the one sending you signals
August 31, 2026 ROUTE 9
