I've been working as a designer and front-end engineer for over seven years. At the same time, I've also taken on photography and videography projects here and there.
I have experience in shooting and retouching photos for live concerts and events, as well as filming and editing videos for YouTube.
Although I no longer work with videos, I still do photography.
<h2>Photography Services</h2>
I offer on-location photography services. If my travel and accommodation expenses are covered, I am available for shoots anywhere.
Of course, just covering travel costs alone would mean zero profit for me, so I charge the following fees for my photography services.
<h3>Service Details</h3>
<ul>
<li>Event and live concert photography (Portrait shoots require prior discussion)</li>
<li>Shooting time: I dedicate a full day per booking(Maximum 10 hours)</li>
<li>Rate: Minimum 500USD (tax inclusive) per day (+ travel &#x26; accommodation costs)</li>
</ul>
*For multi-day shoot packages, please inquire for customized pricing. 
*The fee is calculated as 500USD (tax inclusive) × number of shooting days 
*Raw data available if needed
<h3>Flow</h3>
<ol>
<li>Initial Chat – A casual online meeting to discuss the project.</li>
<li>Pre-Shoot Visit – Arrive the day before to check the location(if possible &#x26; needed).</li>
<li>Photo Shoot – Capture as many photos as possible (no fixed limit).</li>
<li>Editing &#x26; Retouching – Enhance the best shots.</li>
<li>Delivery &#x26; Payment – Share the photos via a private link after payment.</li>
</ol>
<a href="mailto:kkenn1210@gmail.com">Feel free to reach out 📩</a>
<hr>
<h2>Portfolio</h2>
<h3>Live concert photography</h3>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/live-event3.webp" alt="Live concert photography">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/live-event4.webp" alt="Live concert photography">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/live-event5.webp" alt="Live concert photography">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/live-event6.webp" alt="Live concert photography">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/live-event1.webp" alt="Live concert photography">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/live-event11.webp" alt="Live concert photography">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/live-event12.webp" alt="Live concert photography">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/live-event2.webp" alt="Live concert photography">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/live-event7.webp" alt="Live concert photography">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/live-event8.webp" alt="Live concert photography">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/live-event9.webp" alt="Live concert photography">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/live-event10.webp" alt="Live concert photography">
To get a gist of my shooting style, please see my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/taroken1210/">Instagram 📸</a>
<h2>Philosophy - Photography is Art, Shaped by Experience.</h2>
Camera gear is, of course, an important tool that supports my photography. However, I don’t believe that having expensive equipment alone guarantees good photos.
For me, the true beauty of photography lies in capturing moments—freezing them in time so they can be revisited later.
It doesn’t matter how many megapixels a camera has or how expensive the gear is.
This isn’t an excuse; I genuinely believe that beauty can be found even in imperfection.
It's human nature to forget.
That’s why the key to good photography is capturing the moment as it is, without over-processing it.
In the end, what makes a "good" photo is entirely subjective.
So if you're considering hiring me, please take a look at my philosophy and portfolio first. Only reach out if you resonate with my style.
I look forward to an enjoyable shooting experience together.
<a href="mailto:kkenn1210@gmail.com">Feel free to reach out 📩</a>

Freelance photographer offering event and live concert photography. Capturing moments with authenticity and a unique perspective. Available for on-location shoots with travel and accommodation covered.

Open for Photography Gigs – Events & Concerts

Hello, this is Kentaro.
I’m currently in the middle of renewing my portfolio site. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while, and I finally got around to it over the New Year holidays. Let me share a bit about why I decided to rebuild it.
<h2>Why the Renewal?</h2>
There are several reasons I decided to start fresh:
<h3>1. The Old Site Stopped Working</h3>
My previous portfolio was built with GatsbyJS and WP REST API, but keeping it up to date became a nightmare. Packages kept breaking, and eventually, the whole thing just stopped working. I got tired of troubleshooting and decided to move on.
<h3>2. Managing Content with Markdown</h3>
The old site wasn’t just hard to maintain; I didn’t really like the design either. I also wanted to manage blog posts with Markdown files instead of relying on a CMS or plugins. Having <code>.md</code> files locally feels simpler and more reliable.
<h3>3. A Safe and Familiar Setup</h3>
I’m used to working with Markdown, and I like how straightforward it is. Plus, having everything local and independent from external platforms gives me peace of mind.
<h3>4. A Space to Experiment</h3>
I wanted a place where I could play around with coding and design. Something flexible and open-ended to test ideas or try new things without restrictions.
<h3>5. Why Next.js?</h3>
I considered using AstroJS, which is great for content-heavy sites. But since I might want to build more dynamic features in the future, I figured Next.js would offer more flexibility. (Though, to be honest, I’m still figuring things out.)
<h2>A New Space for Sharing</h2>
Since I’ve stopped using social media, I wanted this site to become a place where I can share updates, thoughts, and projects. From blog posts to small experiments, this site will be my go-to space for posting and documenting things I’m working on or thinking about.
Having everything centralized here feels more personal and manageable, and I’m looking forward to making this a platform that reflects my work and ideas.
<h2>Current Status</h2>
I started rebuilding the site over 2–3 days during the holidays, so it’s still very much under construction. The basic structure is there, but there’s a lot of work left to do. I’ll keep tweaking things and adding new features as I go.
If you have any suggestions or feedback, feel free to reach out. Thanks for reading!

A quick update on why I'm rebuilding my portfolio site using Next.js and Markdown.

Portfolio Site Renewal with Next.js

Once again, the year has ended in the blink of an eye lol
This year also had its good and bad moments, so I thought I'd reflect on them in this article.
I'll be writing this article while reminiscing by looking back at photos and journals (← I write almost daily in a Traveler's Notebook).
<h2>Went to Kingnu's Live Concert</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/kingnulive-scaled.webp" alt="Kingnu Live">
<h2>Attended "Inclusive Design for a Connected Future" Event</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/inclusive-design-event-scaled.webp" alt="Inclusive Design Event">
As a designer myself and with my mother working in the welfare sector(in the past), I wanted to learn more about the lives of people with physical disabilities and was interested in creating products that allow everyone to live better lives. That's why I attended this event.
I realized that I knew so little, and personally, rather than winning awards or being recognized by the public, I want to create designs that enrich and improve people's lives. (Of course, I still want to win awards lol)
I also dabbled a bit in sign language, but it's too difficult, so I stopped... I wonder if Duolingo has sign language courses...
<h2>Feeling Like Starting DJ</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/dj-scaled.webp" alt="DJ">
Some of my junior artists started DJing, and some acquaintances began DJing too, with multiple people involved.
Seeing this made me think, "DJing looks fun," and "There’s a lot of music I haven't heard, so I might want to DJ and explore various genres." So, I bought a basic DJ setup lol
<h2>Created a Music Discovery Service</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/music-dig.jpeg" alt="Music Discovery">
Spotify recommends songs based on what I’ve listened to, but sometimes I want to hear tracks I've never heard before. So, I created this.
It's not just about my preferences; it helps me expand my musical horizons. I want to create a better UI and officially launch it.
Currently, it uses the Spotify API, so only I use it personally.
<h2>A Monkey Appeared on My Balcony</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/monkey.webp" alt="Monkey">
<h2>Visited NEORT Exhibition</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/neort-1-scaled.webp" alt="NEORT Exhibition 1">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/neort-2-scaled.webp" alt="NEORT Exhibition 2">
I love digital art and personally want to create various things. I'm not good at programming, though...
It was so beautiful that I could gaze at it forever...
<h2>Visited the Fender Shop</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/fender-shop-2.webp" alt="Fender Shop">
I’ve watched it on YouTube a few times and really wanted to visit.
I want a Telecaster...
<h2>Went Hiking at Takao Mountain with My Wife &#x26; Visited 599 Museum</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/takao599-scaled.webp" alt="Takao 599 Museum">
Both of us were out of shape and out of breath lol
<h2>Bought a Fujifilm X-Pro3</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/fujifilm-xpro3-scaled.webp" alt="Fujifilm X-Pro3">
I bought a quirky one after much deliberation.
It's so cool and beautiful...
<h2>Went on a Short Trip to Okutama with My Wife</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/Okutama-Image.webp" alt="Okutama">
Went on a relaxing trip to a guest house in Okutama with my wife and her friends.
I love nature and the countryside, so I want to visit regularly.
<h2>Visited the Featured Project Event</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/featured-project-2.webp" alt="Featured Project 2">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/featured-project-scaled.webp" alt="Featured Project">
I was able to watch a performance by <a href="https://denonken.com/">Denon Ken</a>.
I want to create audio-synced visuals using TouchDesigner!
I have so many things I want to do, one lifetime isn't enough.
<h2>Went Car Camping and Participated in a Gymkhana-Style Driving Event with GR86</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/B635E61A-0CC2-41A2-9E67-57277096EB42.webp" alt="Gymkhana Drive">
This car is actually capable of car camping. It can be fully flat, so I can lie diagonally (I'm 175cm tall).
There was a gymkhana-style driving event in Kumamoto, so I participated for the first time.
I was so focused on memorizing the course that I couldn't even concentrate on driving lol
<h2>Finally Visited Senrigan</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/%E5%8D%83%E9%87%8C%E7%9C%BC.webp" alt="Senrigan">
I loved it!!
<h2>Created a Logo for the Tennis Group "JEU Tennis Collective"</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/jeu.gif" alt="JEU Tennis Collective Logo">
I created the logo for a tennis group run by my sempai in Tokyo!
They have wonderful members from various backgrounds, and I'm always inspired by them ^ ^
<h2>Went on a Day Camp with Company Members</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/daycamp-scaled.webp" alt="Day Camp">
I went on a day camp with everyone from the company I'm contracted with!
The location was amazing, and I hope to camp there together someday!
<h2>Stayed in Australia from September to October</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/photo-scaled.webp" alt="Australia Photo">
My face was scary in the photo taken when I entered the country lol
My stay was scheduled as follows: "5 days in Cairns → 1.5 months in Adelaide → 6 days in Sydney → 5 days in Cairns → Tokyo."
The main reason for the trip was to meet people who helped me during my language study abroad in Australia nine years ago.
These people are an Australian couple in their mid-60s.
I heard that the wife was ill and diagnosed with cancer this year.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/adelaide-scaled.webp" alt="Adelaide">
When I arrived, she had already been discharged and was staying at home.
We cooked salads together and talked about various things, having a great time.
I hadn't been back to Australia for nine years despite planning to go, so...
You should meet people when you can.
Adelaide is a small city with hardly any Japanese people, making it a great place to practice English.
I didn't have much to do, so I mostly stayed at home and talked with the couple. They were very happy and treated me like family, which I really appreciated.
I will definitely go again!!
<img src="/assets/img/blog/sydney.webp" alt="Sydney">
I stayed in Sydney for six days with a colleague (or friend lol), and it was amazing.
There were so many things to do, the beaches were beautiful, it's convenient, and the city is close to the airport.
A friend's friend was on a working holiday in Sydney and gave us an amazing tour, so every day was fulfilling.
I stayed at an Airbnb that was fantastic, so I'll share it here.
<a href="https://www.airbnb.jp/rooms/9717866?guests=1&#x26;adults=2&#x26;s=67&#x26;unique_share_id=d61a3168-09ed-40a5-ad86-dc94e2d2f451">Funky Surry Hills Warehouse by Sydney Dreams</a>
The location and the cleanliness of the place were perfect. Definitely a repeat stay.
I’ve uploaded snapshots on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/taroken1210/">Instagram</a>, but I might write a separate photo article.
<h2>Attended a Supercar Gathering Event</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/yamakenGOGO-meet-scaled.webp" alt="Supercar Event">
I was invited to an event where amazing cars gather at an awesome location.
Since I was in the Kanto region, I didn't bring my own car, but seeing various cars was super fun!
All the cars were insanely expensive, which made me feel a bit motivated to earn more lol
<h2>Returned to Tokyo After Staying in Australia &#x26; Attended a Wedding in Korea</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/korea-scaled.webp" alt="Korea">
Since my wife is attending graduate school in Tokyo, I stay in Tokyo about once every two months.
Then, a mutual Korean friend of my wife and me had a wedding in Seoul, so we went to Korea to attend.
It was a traditional Korean wedding with drama-like attire and decorations. (No photos since people are in them)
<img src="/assets/img/blog/korea-snow-scaled.webp" alt="Korea Snow">
On the last day, it snowed heavily, causing flight delays and cancellations. But when our flight time came, the snow stopped, and we flew on time lol thanks
<h2>My Beloved Cat, Kanpei, Passed Away</h2>
Another dark topic this year, sorry.
Kanpei, a cat from my parents' house, was truly a wonderful cat. While I was in Korea, Kanpei passed away, and I couldn't say goodbye, which was really tough.
Due to an accident, he had to get his tail removed, and afterwards, he had aftereffects and had to wear diapers. My wife loved him so much too so I was really worried how she would react about it.
Thinking about what I couldn't do makes me sad, so I try to focus on what I was able to do and what I was able to give him.
See you again Kanpei. We love you.
<h2>Second Time at Auto Polis Driving Event</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/autopolice.webp" alt="Auto Polis Drive">
I participated in a driving event at Auto Polis with my father and brother.
The first time was scary, and I couldn't speed or remember the course, so I drove slowly. But this time, I was less scared and managed to shave off about 30 seconds from my time.
<h2>Went on a Short Trip to Kawaguchiko and Yamanakako</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/mt-fuji.webp" alt="Mt. Fuji">
Went on a short trip to Kawaguchiko and Yamanakako with my wife and her friends.
One of our friends was leaving Japan, so we decided to go somewhere together and visited Mt. Fuji.
We had clear skies both days and could see Mt. Fuji beautifully, so we were lucky ^ ^
<h2>Summary</h2>
This year, staying in Australia was a significant experience for me.
For nine years, I kept saying I would go, but never did, and I also wanted to do a working holiday but didn't make it.
I will become a person who can demonstrate my intentions through actions, not just words.
I was happy to reunite with the Australian couple and their family who took care of me.
Regarding work, I'm still contemplating it, and my environment will likely change significantly in 2025 depending on my wife's path, so I hope to decide accordingly.
Anyway, I'll do what I want to do. It's my life after all ^ ^

Reflection on 2024

Every year I say this, but 2023 flew by in the blink of an eye.
There were so many things happening that my mental health took a hit, but I think I was able to accomplish a few things I wanted to do.
I'll do a rough reflection while also keeping a record.
I wrote this on an airplane, so it's pretty messy lol
<h2>My Cat, Mi-chan, Passed Away</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/1275989A-F50C-44E5-913F-87E83BF4C1DE.webp" alt="Mi-chan">
Apologies for starting with such a dark topic.
In the past three years, I lost three dogs and one cat.
Mi-chan quietly passed away in January. I believe she's happily spending time with everyone now.
Each loss was tough and heartbreaking, but instead of regretting the things I couldn't do, I tried to look back on what I was able to do and move forward. See you again!
<h2>Studio Design Award</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/image-02.webp" alt="Studio Design Award">
I was only nominated, but I was able to visit the award venue for the first time.
I'm happy that <a href="https://knots-creative.com/">Knots Creative</a>, who I worked with, won an award.
<h2>Traffic Accident</h2>
I had no accidents or violations for over ten years, but I had a 100% fault accident.
I don't want to make excuses, so I won't write too much, but I was really exhausted at the time and honestly don't remember much of what I was doing...
I was waking up at 5 AM to send my wife off, going to my parents' house late at night to see my ailing cat, juggling multiple projects... before I knew it, I was driving on autopilot.
I'm truly sorry to everyone I involved in the accident.
<h2>Jiro Ramen!</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/jiroramen-scaled.webp" alt="Jiro Ramen">
I've completely fallen in love with it.
<h2>Moving</h2>
My wife was accepted into a graduate program in Tokyo, so I temporarily moved back to my parents' house.
Moving out was really tough...
<h2>Wife Moves to Tokyo</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/image-05.webp" alt="Wife in Tokyo">
I thought she'd be able to move into dorms, so I didn't thoroughly search for properties, but we were rejected from the dorms and frantically searched for apartments in Tokyo lol.
The rent prices were insanely high lol
We managed to find and rent a place near the school... I was so exhausted... lol
I'm staying in Fukuoka, but I'm planning to go to Tokyo as much as possible.
To those in the Kanto region, let's go out for meals and coffee together! (And Jiro Ramen too...)
<h2>Building a 18-Key Hardcore Keyboard</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/image-06.webp" alt="18-Key Keyboard">
By chance, I found a keyboard repository and decided to build an 18-key keyboard. (It's not original)
Obviously it doesn't fit the alphabet on one layer, which overloaded my brain, so I settled for a 34-key layout lol
<h2>Recovering from Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow)</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/tennis.webp" alt="Tennis Elbow">
My goal for this year was to play a lot of tennis, but I continued to suffer from tennis elbow to the point where I couldn't even hold a water bottle.
Since it wasn't healing at all, I got injections to relieve the pain. Now I can play tennis while taking care of it!!
In 2024, I will definitely take care of my body and exercise!!
<h2>Parent-Child Touring in Aso</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/image-04.webp" alt="Parent-Child Touring">
A year and a half after getting my large motorcycle license, I went to Aso, which I had been wanting to visit, with my dad and big brother.
It was cold, but it became the best memory! Getting my license was all for this experience.
<h2>First Ride at Auto Polis</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/image-03.webp" alt="Auto Polis Ride">
I participated in a driving event at Auto Polis and rode on the circuit.
I was really nervous about driving because I had an accident this year but I managed to complete the ride without any trouble.
Everyone was too fast...
<h2>Summary</h2>
In the past few years, I've lost multiple pets, had an accident in 2023, moved houses, and faced various other tough situations.
But looking back, there were also fun, good, and happy moments.
Year-end is a great time to reflect on what you did throughout the year.
It's difficult to always be aware of happiness, but in 2024, I hope to find happiness in daily life, regardless of its size.
<h3>Bonus</h3>
In 2024, I plan to move around a lot.
By "moving," I mean trying out different "places and activities."
After seven years of web development, I don't think I'll quit, but I want to challenge different fields or try new or slightly overlapping things.
Eikichi Yazawa said in a concert, "(Regardless of age) you should keep challenging yourself." When Eikichi-san said that, it really resonated with me!!
Since life is precious, I want to spend it on things I love, things I'm interested in, and things that excite me.
I don't have anything set in stone yet, but I need to try various things to find out, so I'll keep moving.
I'll go to Tokyo and Australia!
I'll try to meet people when I can and before it's too late.
Well then~

Reflection on 2023

Hello everyone, 2022 flew by in an instant.
I didn't have much time to reflect, so while writing this article, I'll briefly look back on what I did in 2022.
This is a personal log, so it might not be very useful, but if you're interested, feel free to take a look.
<h2>January: Setting Goals and More</h2>
I think many of you did this too, but in 2022, I set detailed goals and broke them down into actionable steps. (Although this method didn't suit me and ended up in a big failure later lol)
How to Set Goals
<ul>
<li>Achievement Items: Example: "Earn 100,000 yen from side jobs"</li>
<li>Action Goals: Example: "To earn 100,000 yen from side jobs, I'll earn money through XX (action goal)!"</li>
<li>Execution Items: Decide in detail when, where, who, and how to execute each task</li>
</ul>
I meticulously planned this and even added things like "What time to do what" into Google Calendar.
For the first three months, I managed to keep up and got used to it, but gradually it became stressful, and my motivation started to fade.
As time came to execute the tasks, I found myself increasingly unmotivated and disengaged, and eventually stopped doing them altogether.
As I mentioned in <a href="https://taroken.dev/blog/dunno-wat-to-write">my previous article</a>, around June 2022, my motivation for things like input (learning) drastically decreased, leading to something like burnout. I just felt drained...
I initially thought this method was great, but it turns out it wasn't suitable for me.
<h2>February: Wanting a Motorcycle</h2>
While I was working on various goals and stuff in 2022, I suddenly thought, "I want to go touring on a motorcycle with my dad and brother."
Also, lately, I've had fewer things that excite me and felt like I was living on autopilot. Time was passing by so quickly, and my life had become mostly work and just browsing Instagram and Twitter, so I wanted something new and stimulating, deciding to get a motorcycle license.
<h2>March: Preparing for the License and Cherry Blossoms</h2>
It seems more people were getting motorcycle licenses in 2022, so I couldn't enroll immediately.
I was figuring out when to go, like after work or when I could, but when I didn't have any meeting-related tasks, the school had study spaces and Wi-Fi, so I just worked there normally. (Of course, only tasks that didn't pose security issues)
I participated in gaz's cherry blossom viewing and went to Dazaifu with my wife for cherry blossoms.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_8656.webp" alt="">
<h2>April: Attending Driving School While Working</h2>
As mentioned above, I attended driving school while balancing work.
I didn't have a license for medium-sized motorcycles and was worried about riding a manual bike for the first time, but since there were many training hours, I eventually got used to it and graduated without any issues.
Slalom and single-lane bridges were challenging, but it was fun.
There was a Harley-Davidson at the driving school, and since I completed my assignments, I got to ride it a bit.
<h2>May: Auto Polis and Motorcycle Delivery</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_0220.webp" alt="">
My dad and brother love cars, so I joined a driving event at Auto Polis with them.
I was only allowed to ride in the passenger seat for one lap but it was awesome. The scenery was great, and the feeling of being in a different world was wonderful.
In the future, I want to buy my own car and participate.
And then, I finally received my motorcycle! After much deliberation, I decided to buy the bike I wanted, not just a medium-sized one like the Honda Rebel, GB350, or Royal Enfield that I was considering.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_8999.webp" alt="">
Photos when I was undecided:
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_8514.webp" alt="">
For some reason, my eyes are closed lol
But I ended up getting a large bike, and since I never know when my life will end, I bought the bike I wanted.
It boosts my work motivation, and I think it was a good purchase.
<h2>June: Diving into the World of Custom Keyboards</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_9230-scaled.webp" alt="">
A colleague at gaz who enjoys building custom keyboards offered to teach me, so I learned from him.
I hadn't really thought about it before, but for me, keyboards are something I use every day and are essential for optimizing things, so I dove into the hobby. Yay!
As a result, it took some time to get used to the layout and layers of split keyboards, but the distance my fingers have to move has significantly decreased, and I can now touch type.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_9260-scaled.webp" alt="">
The 34-key low-profile keyboard I'm using now allows each key to be pressed with minimal movement, and since it's wireless and compact, it's easy to carry around.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_9528-scaled.webp" alt="">
Regarding the layout, I'm challenging the Dvorak layout. The first two months were hell, but now I can type much faster.
Layouts are truly deep. It's like a swamp within a swamp...
<h2>July: Attending gaz's Retreat and Exploring Electronics</h2>
I attended gaz's retreat.
As a freelancer, there are virtually no such events, so I'm grateful to have joined and participated.
I also dabbled in electronics. Although I'm too busy right now to continue, I want to find time to create something!
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_9451-scaled.webp" alt="">
<h2>August: Visiting Tokyo After a Long Time</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_9539-scaled.webp" alt="">
I went sightseeing in Tokyo with my wife for the first time in a while.
We met old friends, stayed in Akihabara, visited PC and keyboard shops, and got a bit of an otaku vibe lol
Since I'm usually a homebody, I thought going out to places like Tokyo would be overwhelming, but it turned out to be really fun.
I even got to eat Jiro Ramen!!
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_9555-scaled.webp" alt="">
Photo with my wife at Odaiba.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_9684.webp" alt="">
<h2>September: Designing Large Projects and Attending Eikichi Yazawa's Concert</h2>
I worked on the design and photography direction for a website under a subsidiary of a well-known company.
Implementation was supposed to be handled by the client's in-house engineers, and it seems they haven't started yet due to resource constraints, but designing the interaction parts was a great experience.
Despite a typhoon approaching, I went to Eikichi Yazawa's concert. I secured a nearby parking spot, drove to the venue, and returned safely.
It's amazing how someone of his age can perform so energetically... He's seriously cool, so even those who aren't fans should check it out.
<h2>October: Camping in Oita and Split Keyboard with Raspberry Pi</h2>
I went camping in Oita with a colleague from gaz and a client.
The location was <a href="https://www.grandverderesort.com/">Grand Ver Resort</a> in Oita. It was like heaven.
I built a split keyboard using Raspberry Pi.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_0112-scaled.webp" alt="">
I wanted to try writing keymaps in Ruby, so I looked for a 34-key split PCB and started building it, but it was super challenging...
Also, I chose clicky switches, which were quite stiff, so I ended up not using it much...
<h2>November: First Parent-Child Touring, First Camping with My Wife, and One Passing Away</h2>
I finally got to go touring with the three of us.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_0265.webp" alt="">
We went to Rainbow Pine Grove and saw Karatsu Castle, which was amazing. I almost cried with joy.
I want to continue enjoying safe driving next year as well.
I had my first camping trip with my wife.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_0405.webp" alt="">
Camping was great...
And, suddenly, some sad news: our beloved dog passed away. We had three dogs at my parents' house, but two passed away in 2021, and the last one left at the end of 2022.
They were my best friends, spending about half my life with them, so it was incredibly tough, and I still find myself crying anytime. They were that important to me.
See you again.
<h2>December: Wrapping Up the Year with Riding</h2>
I went on a final ride of 2022 with my dad and brother.
There are various tasks awaiting over the year-end and New Year period, so I'll be handling them gradually... December gets busy every year lol
I feel like I rode through 2022 in many ways. Even when doing exciting things, time flowed incredibly fast.
Maybe if I go to bed early and wake up early, time will feel longer.
<h2>Resolutions for 2023</h2>
With a lot of work ahead, I don't think I'm dealing with pet loss anymore, but I still have moments when my mental health gets tough. In 2023, I want to pay more attention to my mental and physical health.
I'll focus on proper self-management.
I'll continue committing to gaz and my freelance team!
As a designer, I want to gain more experience and build a stronger portfolio. I also want to improve my skills.
Above all, I'll keep my hands busy.
Additionally, I'll keep my workload manageable.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_8487.webp" alt="">
↑↑ I won't keep working ignoring the time like this lol
If I overload myself like at the beginning of 2022, everything falls apart.
I'll do what I want, cherish time with important people, and keep challenging new things.
Wishing for a great 2023!!
( ᐛ👐) Pah
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_8657.webp" alt="">

Reflection on 2022

Hello everyone, it's been a while.
Even though I really liked the styling and wanted to create this website to try out what I wanted to do, I couldn't update it, and since I don't have much passion for writing, I guess this is how it is.
Anyway, in this article, I'll write about what I've been doing over the past few years and what I'm currently up to.
If you're bored and have some free time, feel free to give it a quick read.
<h2>My Two Beloved Dogs Passed Away</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/1275989A-F50C-44E5-913F-87E83BF4C1DE.webp" alt="">
Last year, 2021, was truly a very tough year.
Even though we got married, the pandemic prevented us from having a wedding ceremony. I had a decent amount of work, but I wasn't stable, and my mental state wasn't either.
In the midst of all that, my two dogs, who spent half my life with me, passed away in April and December.
The dog that passed in April was diagnosed with melanoma and fought hard until the very end. My mother also fought alongside.
The dog that passed in December had Cushing's syndrome and peacefully closed her eyes surrounded by everyone. It was right after my birthday.
Both dogs were quite old, so I expected this day would come eventually, but you can't prepare your heart for something like this. Even though I'm only 30, I cried a lot. I really loved them all.
My mental state was quite down, but being busy with work helped me endure it.
I'll write more about this later, but since I started doing double work last year, my working hours have naturally increased.
I officially moved out of my parents' house and started living with my wife, but I'm worried about our two cats and one dog. They're getting older, after all.
I realized that I need to cherish things even though I think it's tiny thing. I need to value every moment with my loved ones. It's hard to be conscious of it, though.
<h2>Joined the Fukuoka Design Company, gaz</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_7887.webp" alt="">
The double work I mentioned earlier is this. I joined gaz in September 2021, and it's been almost a year now.
To be honest, at first, I was considering working part-time at a café.
I didn't really like coding, and since I love coffee, I thought working part-time at a café could help increase my income.
So why did I join a design company? Simply put, I happened to see gaz's job posting on Twitter, checked their job site, company website, blog, and podcast, and thought it was a really great company.
They use the no-code tool STUDIO for website production, handle UI design and logo creation, and I wanted to improve my design skills, so I decided to apply.
I applied for a part-time position, but I was offered a form of contract work that allows me to balance freelancing alongside.
Since I was self-taught in design, I didn't know much about feedback, other designers' methods, or knowledge. Working here, I feel it's a great environment where I can learn a lot.
The workload increased because I'm also freelancing, but since I can work flexibly, I can manage both without any issues. (I think)
We are currently planning various things, but I intend to commit fully to the design company as well.
I realized the potential of the no-code tool Studio through actual use, so I plan to propose it in my freelance activities as well.
There are also club activities within the company, and so far, I've joined the sauna club and Jiro Ramen club. I was already hooked on saunas, but I ended up getting involved in Jiro Ramen club too. Nice...
<h2>Obtained a Large Motorcycle License</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_9180.webp" alt="">
My brother was attending motorcycle school until last year, and right before he changed jobs, my father went to get his large motorcycle license.
When my father got his license, I was worried, thinking, "Is he really going to handle a large motorcycle...? It's scary..." lol
But this year, I started wanting to go touring with everyone, and although I didn't even have a medium-sized motorcycle license, I suddenly decided to go for a large motorcycle license.
The training hours were quite long, but I had a lot of fun with the lessons, and the instructors were all great, so it went by quickly. I got my license in just over a month.
The graduation test was nerve-wracking, but I managed to pass almost without any mistakes.
It was financially tough, but I bought a used Harley-Davidson 883N (2010).
It's a low motorcycle with good foot placement that even my father can ride, and I really love its appearance.
I originally intended to buy it for my father, but it ended up being a shared bike for the three of us (mostly for myself) lol
I'll enjoy it with safe driving.
<h2>Fell into the World of Custom Keyboards</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_9230-scaled.webp" alt="">
One of my colleagues at the design company builds custom keyboards, so naturally, I became interested. After hearing from them that it's deep and seems fun, I decided to buy a kit and try it out while getting guidance.
The first one I bought was <a href="https://shop.beekeeb.com/product/cantor-v1-pcb-kit/">this</a>
It turned out like this:
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_9257-scaled.webp" alt="">
After trying it, I thought, "This is super fun!!"
As expected, everything has its own swamp, and this was a swamp I wanted to dive into lol
It's truly deep... there are so many aspects like layout, keycaps, switches, PCB, language, case, etc., so I can keep enjoying it forever.
I'm also challenging the Dvorak layout.
I thought Colemak might be okay, but since it seems easier to type Japanese, I chose to practice Dvorak despite the high hurdle.
So far, I feel it's an efficient layout. My fingers don't have to move from the home position much, and the vowels are grouped, making it easy to understand. (But sometimes I get confused between QWERTY and Dvorak lol)
My next project is a wireless 34-key split layout keyboard.
I've also bought soldering equipment and prepared, so I'll write a separate article when it's done.
<h2>Casually Started Electronics Projects</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_9451-scaled.webp" alt="">
It might overlap with custom keyboards, but I wanted to do something with a Raspberry Pi, so I bought a cheap kit that has everything and started tinkering whenever I have time lol
I remembered loving robots when I was a kid and received a mecha robot from Santa, so I’m trying it out when I have time.
It seems like this skill can be used for custom keyboards, so it looks like I can combine them nicely.
Additionally, I got interested in modifying old iPods and wanted to revive the nostalgic feeling of the scroll wheel UI. I bought a cheap one on Mercari and am repairing and customizing it.
Since cases and other parts are sold on AliExpress, there are a lot of customization options.
I want to do iPod customization together with Raspberry Pi.
<h2>Mentally Down</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_8655.webp" alt="">
I don't show it much or talk about it, but I've been quite mentally down.
Especially in the last few months, I felt like nothing has any meaning, lacked motivation, and felt inexplicably depressed.
I thought maybe the stress I endured last year just burst out. It was really tough, but I was holding back.
Since I'm an introvert, I can't express it well lol
Recently, I've been recovering a lot, discovering fun things, and understanding what I want to do and what I don't.
I realized how important it is to take breaks. Why do humans have to work so much? Working eight hours a day is impossible, right? lol
If something feels off, I need to take a break. Indeed.
<h2>Turning 31! Must Enjoy Life!</h2>
Time is flying so fast. The older I get, the faster time seems to pass.
But I heard that psychologically, this is how it feels. A year feels different when you're 10 compared to when you're 30. A year within ten years is significant, but within thirty years, it's smaller.
So lately, I want to add more excitement to my life.
Instead of living on autopilot, I want to challenge things I want to do, even if I fail, and keep doing exciting things.
Also, I want to reduce "shoulds," "musts," and "have tos," and increase "wants."
I want to spend more time with important people and cherish those moments more.
That's how I plan to live calmly.
Productivity!! Skill-up!! Input and output!! I'm pretty tired of it all. Maybe it's just this year, though.
Anyway, while taking care of my body and mental health, I'll do what I want. Rationalizing everything is tiring.
<h2>Bonus</h2>
I bought a Sony Walkman. Cassette one lol
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_9442-scaled.webp" alt="">
I had a lot of cassette tapes at my parents' house, so I thought I'd listen to them. I bought a cheap player on Mercari.
I thought the copy was interesting, so I chose this lol
"An essential item of modern life"
It's inconvenient, but sometimes it's nice to listen without skipping songs.
Pressing the play button feels nostalgic.
I think enjoying the old inconveniences like this is also a good idea.
Also, I started making Lo-fi for work, so I began using an MPC.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/IMG_9310-scaled.webp" alt="">
I want to try everything thoroughly and continue enjoying what I like. I'm not aiming to be a professional, just want to enjoy myself.
Well then~

Since I'm not sure what to write, this is a miscellaneous post of miscellaneous stuff.

Long Time No Post, Not Sure What to Write

Hello, I'm Ken.
This article uses many images, so please connect to Wifi, brighten your room, and view it from a distance.lol
Belatedly, last summer, I traveled to Spain with a friend.
The backstory is that my friend works at a travel agency and somehow won a tour to participate in the La Tomatina Festival in Spain as part of a company project. Since his girlfriend couldn't take the day off for the tour, I was chosen as his substitute to participate.
I'm extremely grateful!! lol
I love photography and walked around photographing the streets of Spain, so this article will be photo-centric. It's written casually, like a travelogue with snapshots. I'll also share travel information learned from our guide, so please refer to it if you're interested.
<h2>Barcelona</h2>
Arrived at Barcelona-El Prat Airport~~
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain00.webp" alt="Barcelona Airport">
<h3>SIM Card</h3>
I purchased a SIM card (Vodafone) with 5GB for €15 (the one with free incoming calls) at the airport. Vodafone is located right after exiting the arrival gates.
It takes about 30 minutes to reach the city center (Plaça de Catalunya) from the airport via the Aerobús, which costs around €5.9.
<h3>Exploring the City</h3>
Found a sightseeing bus upon arriving in the city.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain01.webp" alt="Sightseeing Bus">
I didn't ride it, but open-top bus tours on sunny days seem nice ^ ^
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain02.webp" alt="Street View">
I was surprised by the large garbage bins lol
Still, the roads are wide, so it didn't feel cramped.
I visited several cafes, which were quite stylish, and the bread was delicious.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain10.webp" alt="Cafe">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain09.webp" alt="Bakery">
<h3>Citizens-Only Shared Bicycles</h3>
There's a citizens-only shared bicycle service called "Bicing," but it's not for tourists, and you need an annual pass.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain03.webp" alt="Bicing">
If you become a member, you can use it for 30 minutes free per ride, and you can get off at any parking spot. You cannot use it within 10 minutes after parking.
If you exceed 30 minutes, it costs an additional €0.74 per 30 minutes, which is quite affordable lol
By the way, the membership fee is €50 per year, which is about ¥6,000.
It's a great service for citizens and long-term residents.
<h3>Markets</h3>
Barcelona has two famous markets.
One is the Mercat de la Boqueria, which is tourist-oriented and crowded.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain06.webp" alt="La Boqueria Market">
When you descend La Rambla, a famous street, you'll find this market.
"La Rambla" means "the place where water flows" in Arabic. In the past, there was a river there, but now it's filled in and turned into a promenade, with the subway running underground.
"La Rambla" is a tourist spot with various shops.
However, beware of pickpockets!
In Barcelona, if the theft amount is under €400, there's no penalty, so nonchalant pickpocketing occurs. Be extremely cautious as pickpockets gather from various places lol it's scary lol
The other market is Mercat de Santa Caterina.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain07.webp" alt="Santa Caterina Market">
This one is more local and less crowded.
<h3>Subway &#x26; Buses</h3>
You can buy subway tickets at vending machines like this.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain14.webp" alt="Subway Ticket Machine">
Since I was with a friend, we bought a ticket called "T-10."
This is a €10.2 ticket for 10 rides and can be shared among multiple people. So, I used it 5 times, and my friend used it 5 times.
Note that this ticket cannot be used for airport access.
For more detailed information about tickets and transportation, just Google it.
<h3>Flamenco</h3>
Next, I attended a flamenco event provided by my friend's travel agency.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain15.webp" alt="Flamenco Dinner">
You can enjoy flamenco dinner and flamenco experiences.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain16.webp" alt="Flamenco Show">
Due to time constraints, I couldn't participate in the flamenco experience, so I fully enjoyed the flamenco show and dinner.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain17.webp" alt="Flamenco Performance">
The show was incredibly powerful and intense (my vocabulary is limited lol)
<h3>Toilet Situations</h3>
Public restrooms are scarce and inconvenient.
They were available within the market, but... they were paid!! lol
It's common to "use the restroom at restaurants or cafes before you go," apparently.
Also, as a common occurrence, condoms are sold in the restroom lol
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain20.webp" alt="Restroom Condoms">
<h3>Supermarkets</h3>
I went to the supermarket a few times, and it felt somewhat different from Japan.
Ham, salami, baguettes, etc., were quite affordable.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain21.webp" alt="Supermarket">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain22.webp" alt="Supermarket Items">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain23.webp" alt="Bakery Section">
<h3>Authentic Italian in Barcelona?</h3>
An Italian I knew in Barcelona recommended a delicious pizzeria lol
Here's the place.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain25.webp" alt="Pizzeria">
The pizza here was super tasty, so please go.
Since they're large, it's better to share one between two people (I ordered two and ended up leaving some lol)
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain24.webp" alt="Pizza">
<h3>Beaches</h3>
Since my hotel was close to the beach, I took walks there.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain27.webp" alt="Beach">
It was an ordinary beach, but it seemed like many people wanted to sunbathe, with many people lying down to tan.
Japanese people might be surprised, but there were several women sunbathing without wearing anything on their upper bodies lol
If you're going, be careful not to stare too much lol
Also, next to the regular beach was a nude beach lol
While walking around, suddenly many unclothed men and women appeared, which was startling lol
This area is like a breakwater between the regular beach and the nude beach.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain28.webp" alt="Nude Beach">
It's twilight lol
<h3>Sagrada Família</h3>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain39.webp" alt="Sagrada Família">
I was deeply moved to finally visit a place I wanted to see before I die, but it was a bit off due to the overwhelming crowd lol
Sagrada Família Information
<ul>
<li>Sagrada = Where God resides, a sacred place</li>
<li>Família = Family</li>
<li>Translation: Holy Family Expiatory Church</li>
<li>Mainly built with basalt and granite</li>
<li>Planned to be a large structure with 18 towers</li>
<li>The tallest tower will be 109 meters</li>
<li>Currently, 8 towers have been completed</li>
<li>Official completion date has not been announced</li>
</ul>
Gaudí's work is characterized by curves, based on the idea that there are no straight lines in nature. Most of his buildings and artworks use smooth curves.
Indeed, other buildings by Gaudí seen on tours had no straight lines.
Though the curves lack regularity, they were very beautiful.
It looks like this.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain38.webp" alt="Sagrada Família Details">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain37.webp" alt="Sagrada Família Interior">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain36.webp" alt="Sagrada Família Facade">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain40.webp" alt="Sagrada Família Detail">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain47.webp" alt="Sagrada Família Tower">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain46.webp" alt="Sagrada Família Stairs">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain45.webp" alt="Sagrada Família Columns">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain44.webp" alt="Sagrada Família Ceiling">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain43.webp" alt="Sagrada Família Artwork">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain42.webp" alt="Sagrada Família Sculptures">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain41.webp" alt="Sagrada Família Exterior">
<h3>Taxis</h3>
I found taxis to be cheaper than in Japan.
The initial fare is €2.20, and it increases by €0.05 per 0.25 km.
Taxi signs have numbers 1, 2, 3, with 1 being the cheapest.
On my way back late at night, I took a taxi number 2, which cost about €10.85 for approximately 10 minutes.
<h3>Other Rough Information</h3>
Since the transition to the Euro, prices have been rising, but wages haven't seem to be increasing.
Prices are high, rent is high, and depending on the area, shared houses cost around €500 (varying).
Food sold in supermarkets is cheap (similar to Japan), so cooking at home can save a lot.
However, Japanese-style seasonings and rice are expensive (found in Asian shops).
Bread is cheap and delicious (few prepared breads).
But, the tourist areas are crowded with pickpockets, which is unpleasant...
The city is very green with bell trees planted, and urban development always includes planting trees.
Also, traffic lights change after flashing quickly lol
IVA on receipts stands for Value Added Tax.
<h2>La Tomatina</h2>
Next, I'll write about the main event of this trip, the "La Tomatina Festival Tour" that I participated in.
For the La Tomatina tour, we moved from the hotel to Buñol by bus.
<h3>Travel Itinerary</h3>
<ul>
<li>Early Morning 2:00 AM: Departure (sleeping on the bus)</li>
<li>Midway Service Area: 30-40 minutes break</li>
<li>Around 8:00 AM: Arrive in Buñol</li>
<li>11:00 AM: Start of La Tomatina!!</li>
<li>12:00 PM: End of tomato throwing, change clothes, free time</li>
<li>2:00 PM: Departure from Buñol (reassemble at 1:45 PM)</li>
<li>Midway Service Area: 30-40 minutes break</li>
<li>Around 7:30 PM: Arrive back in Barcelona</li>
</ul>
That's how it was.
Since we departed at midnight, if you oversleep, you'll be left behind. Another group staying at the same hotel as us actually overslept and got left behind lol
At the midway service area, you can have a little meal, but everyone gets off here, so lines form.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain75.webp" alt="Service Area">
Plus, it's midnight, so everyone is super sleepy...
After the break, we headed straight to Buñol.
Upon arrival, I was startled by the number of buses lol
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain76.webp" alt="Bus Count">
There are only a few buses in this photo, but in reality, there were about ten rows lol
Many tour participants from various countries are there, so it's extremely crowded.
Here's my gear.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain77.webp" alt="Gear">
I brought unnecessary shoes, unnecessary clothes, goggles, a GoPro borrowed from a friend in my pocket, and a bit of cash.
Since valuables like wallets, passports, and smartphones can be snatched, it's better to leave them on the bus.
Also, you can't bring large bags, so it's good to use a thin body bag and pack only essentials. (Of course, cover them with waterproof materials like ziplocks)
Clothes are disposed of using provided garbage bags, so I threw everything away lol
There are some stall-like areas where you can drink, including a giant Sangria lol
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain78.webp" alt="Sangria">
Everyone drinks and listens to music before the tomato throwing starts.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain79.webp" alt="Music">
There are plenty of security personnel.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain80.webp" alt="Security">
Before the tomato throwing starts, there's a tree-climbing event where they try to pick up meat hanging on trees.
It seems no one could get it, but it was quite lively. (Couldn't take photos due to too many people lol)
People from the local community throw water from their homes before the tomato throwing starts, creating a water fight-like atmosphere.
When the tomato throwing starts, trucks loaded with tomatoes slowly enter the road.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain86.webp" alt="Tomato Truck">
The photo was taken after the trucks passed by, but a large amount of tomatoes are being thrown.
The rule is to squash tomatoes before throwing, but some people don't follow it lol
Getting hit in the face repeatedly is tough. It hurts if tomatoes get in your eyes. It's a hassle to deal with them after the festival.
I’ll write more about this in a summary article on the Barcelona La Tomatina tour.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain87.webp" alt="Tomato Hit">
After some time, the roads look like this.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain88.webp" alt="Post-Tomato Roads">
This is where the tree-climbing event was held, and people were working hard after the tomato throwing.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain82.webp" alt="Post-Tomato Activity">
Everywhere is covered in tomatoes.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain83.webp" alt="Tomato Everywhere">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain84.webp" alt="Tomato Piles">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain85.webp" alt="Tomato Chaos">
Once the tomato throwing ends, they immediately start cleaning up, so I thought, "Wow!!" lol
Local residents help wash away the tomatoes with hoses before we return to the bus, so we lined up to get cleaned up.
There are some places where residents wash you for free, so it's good to find them early and get washed up. You also have to change clothes before getting back on the bus.
Since I couldn’t do any sightseeing in Buñol, I was a bit disappointed, but it became an amazing memory.
<h3>Tips for La Tomatina Festival</h3>
<ul>
<li>Go with clothes you're okay with getting dirty or disposable clothes.</li>
<li>Avoid sandals as they can get stepped on and fall off, so bring shoes you don’t mind discarding or secure sandals.</li>
<li>Carry only the essentials.</li>
<li>Be cautious not to get pickpocketed while carrying valuables.</li>
<li>Always keep valuables in waterproof bags.</li>
<li>Even if you have goggles, they can fog up, so be careful lol</li>
<li>Stick to the bus schedule (the venue is far, so be mindful)</li>
<li>It's painful more than expected, so be cautious</li>
<li>The area near the tomato trucks is dangerous</li>
<li>You have to wait a long time for temporary restrooms</li>
<li>Temporary restrooms are dirty</li>
<li>Sometimes there’s no toilet paper in the temporary restrooms</li>
<li>It's easy to get lost due to the crowd</li>
</ul>
I participated in the festival after having to use the restroom without toilet paper in the temporary restroom lol
It was super gross, but after drying off with a towel post-festival and disposing of everything, it was okay lol
Waiting in line for the temporary restroom is a huge waste of time, so make sure to use it early!!
There were Japanese people who got their valuables snatched, so if you go, please be extremely careful!!
If possible, staying in Buñol for a few days after the festival might be better to avoid the rush of returning.
Thus, the La Tomatina tour ended like this.
Finally, enjoy the snapshot photos of Barcelona.
<h2>Snapshot Photos of Barcelona</h2>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain30.webp" alt="Snapshot 1">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain35.webp" alt="Snapshot 2">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain34.webp" alt="Snapshot 3">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain33.webp" alt="Snapshot 4">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain32.webp" alt="Snapshot 5">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain31.webp" alt="Snapshot 6">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain48.webp" alt="Snapshot 7">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain74.webp" alt="Snapshot 8">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain73.webp" alt="Snapshot 9">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain72.webp" alt="Snapshot 10">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain71.webp" alt="Snapshot 11">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain70.webp" alt="Snapshot 12">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain69.webp" alt="Snapshot 13">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain68.webp" alt="Snapshot 14">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain67.webp" alt="Snapshot 15">
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain66.webp" alt="Snapshot 16">
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If you enjoyed this, please check out my Instagram as well ^ ^
Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/taroken1210/">@taroken1210</a>)
Well then~~

A travel log of the La Tomatina Festival tour in Barcelona, Spain.

Travel Log of the La Tomatina Festival Tour in Barcelona, Spain [＋Snapshot Photos]

Hello, I'm Ken.
It's already 2020. Lately, I've been feeling like time is passing by so quickly.
It's a bit late, but 2019 had a lot going on, so I'll take a moment to reflect on it in this article.
I'll also write about what kind of year I want 2020 to be.
Since this is about my personal life, if you're traveling and have some free time or have arrived early at a meeting spot, I'd appreciate it if you could read it with a "Oh, I see" kind of mindset.
<h2>Reflection on 2019</h2>
I'm not sure the best way to reflect, so I'll divide it into "Places Visited, Work, and Personal Life".
I enjoy traveling, so in addition to work and personal life, I thought I could also write about the places I visited, so I added that section.
<h3>Places Visited</h3>
First of all, I think 2019 was the year I visited the most countries and places.
Countries and Places Visited in 2019
<ul>
<li>South Korea (Busan)</li>
<li>Cambodia (Phnom Penh)</li>
<li>Cambodia (Siem Reap)</li>
<li>Thailand (Bangkok)</li>
<li>Thailand (Phuket)</li>
<li>Spain (Barcelona)</li>
<li>Spain (La Tomatina)</li>
<li>Guam</li>
</ul>
Not only did I visit more countries than usual, but what's interesting is the number of New Year's I spent.
New Years Spent in 2019
<ul>
<li>Japan: Regular New Year</li>
<li>South Korea: Seollal</li>
<li>Cambodia: Khmer New Year</li>
<li>Thailand: Songkran</li>
</ul>
I experienced all of these "without knowing in advance" lol
Regarding each location, it was like "Oh? Really?" In South Korea, I ate traditional foods eaten during New Year, in Thailand, I participated in Songkran, and in Cambodia, since it was quiet, I took it easy lol
Have you ever experienced New Year four times in a year without planning? ww
I also visited places like Nagoya and Saga, so I was able to go to various places.
Thanks to that, I'm broke lol
<h4>South Korea</h4>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/korea01.webp" alt="">
Since my girlfriend was working in South Korea, I visited South Korea twice, not only in 2019 but also in 2018.
South Korea is close to Fukuoka and inexpensive, making it a great place for a quick trip. Plus, public transportation like taxis and buses are cheap!
Busan has a high-speed ferry from Fukuoka, so it's convenient to reach the port near Busan city in about three hours.
Day trips might be iffy, but it's perfect for weekend trips, so everyone should try it.
There are plenty of stylish cafes ^ ^
<img src="/assets/img/blog/korea02.webp" alt="">
<h4>Cambodia &#x26; Thailand</h4>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/cambodia02.webp" alt="">
I received an offer from <a href="https://twitter.com/KNGrits">Gogo Kengo-san</a> to work on video shooting and editing in Cambodia.
The shared house of the community I belong to, Token House, is in Phnom Penh, so I stayed there.
This is a photo from Phuket, Thailand ↓↓ My friend took it for me.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/thailand01.webp" alt="">
The reason I went to Thailand was because while I was staying in Cambodia, frequent power outages were occurring, and I was having half-day outages almost every day lol
As a result, I couldn't charge my computer, couldn't use Wi-Fi, it was hot and tough... so I fled to nearby Thailand.
I contacted a Thai friend living in Phuket and stayed at their house in Phuket for a week.
Since I have lots of Thai friends working at Phuket Airport, they let me go up to the control tower and took photos.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/thailand02.webp" alt="">
The sunset from the control tower was amazing.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/thailand03.webp" alt="">
At Kata Beach in Phuket, I also met Zizi-san and relaxed while watching the sunset together ^ ^
In Bangkok, I stayed at a shared house of a nomad programming school called <a href="https://isara.life/">iSara</a> and participated in Songkran with the people involved in iSara. (I didn't take many photos... lol)
After Thailand, I returned to Cambodia since my girlfriend was there, did a bit of traveling, and went to Siem Reap as well.
This is Angkor Wat ↓
<img src="/assets/img/blog/cambodia01.webp" alt="">
Even if you go at 5:30 AM, there were still quite a number of people.
Since my girlfriend's Cambodian friends live in Phnom Penh, they helped guide me around and drove me around, which was super helpful.
Towards the end, we both got sick and had to take it easy... lol
Overall, work and sightseeing were enjoyable.
<h4>Spain</h4>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain01.webp" alt="">
A friend who works at a travel agency happened to win a "La Tomatina festival tour," and since his girlfriend couldn't go, I decided to go as a substitute (Lucky!!lol)
It was a short period and part of a tour, so the free time was scheduled, but I managed to visit quite a few places, so it was fun.
Usually, I stay long-term, work, and do sightseeing within a manageable range, so it's refreshing to do thorough sightseeing on a tour ^ ^
The friend I went with organizes international exchange events in Fukuoka and manages groups of over 500 people. He is very skilled at planning, so I felt super safe.
La Tomatina is probably something many of you have seen on TV show called "Itte Q" where people throw tomatoes.
Like this ↓
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain02.webp" alt="">
All of these are tomatoes lol
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain03.webp" alt="">
My impression is "Just experience it once is enough" lol
There is a rule to squash tomatoes before throwing them, but of course, some people don't follow it.
Because they hit your face repeatedly, it's already tough. It hurts if it gets in your eyes. Dealing with it after the festival is a hassle.
I'll write more about it in a summary article on the Barcelona La Tomatina tour.
<img src="/assets/img/blog/spain04.webp" alt="">
I was able to enter Sagrada Familia, watch flamenco, and had a great trip.
<h4>Guam</h4>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/guam01.webp" alt="">
Due to various reasons, my girlfriend, who had quit her job in South Korea, was staying in Guam, and she wanted to meet before returning to her home country so I flew to Guam.
At this point, she had already decided to work in Japan, but obtaining a visa was uncertain.
Her home country apparently has a somewhat patriarchal culture, and she hadn't had much good experiences with officials there, so I was quite worried.
Also, visas can only be applied for from her home country, and since her home country is a dangerous place, I didn't want her to return there, but she ended up going back there.
If I write everything, it would be too long, so I'll omit some details, but she successfully obtained the visa and moved to Japan.
Work in Japan seems tough, but she's doing her best.
During her student days, she majored in Politics and International Relations at Yonsei University in South Korea, graduated at the top, and she's smart and hardworking. She was raised in NY, so She can speak English fluently, as well as Korean, Urdu, French, and Japanese.
Moreover, She have experience in marketing and sales writing, so I think there's no one else like her.
Even though I say this, I've never seen someone this smart, and they don't brag about their knowledge or skills at all, so they're wonderful.
<h3>Work</h3>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/fump.webp" alt="">
Usually, I work mainly on website development as part of the team <a href="https://fump.tech/">Fump</a>, but in 2019, I also did some video production work thanks to Gogo Kengo-san's offer.
Additionally, since the shared house of Token House is in Phnom Penh, I went to Cambodia.
I love traveling, and it was a good opportunity, so I'm grateful to Kengo-san ^ ^
<h4>About Video Production</h4>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/kentarokoga07.webp" alt="">
In the end, Kengo-san decided to withdraw the YouTube channel project considering the return on investment, but it was a great experience.
What I felt about video production is that "I'm still lacking in skills and experience."
Also, I think "Maybe I could have done more... I'm sorry..." m(_ _)m
Video production took more time than I expected, and things were pretty tight.
I tried to streamline the process by creating templates and improving efficiency, but it still took a lot of time, making it tough to juggle with my main job of website development.
However, I believe YouTube has potential and will continue to grow, so I want to continue working on it both personally and with the team.
<h4>About Website Development</h4>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/at-a-cafe.webp" alt="">
Until now, I mostly handled WordPress, but in 2019, I started learning JAMStack technologies and began using Headless CMS in my personal projects.
This blog, for example, is built with Gatsby.js, using the WordPress REST API as a Headless CMS.(It used to be...)
Additionally, to expand my web expressions, I started experimenting with Pixi.js and Three.js.
The top page of this blog uses Pixi.js to display images I took myself.(Again... It used to be...lol)
Since I already love photography and videos, I want to continue creating interesting expressions by combining them with the web.
Although I have a science background, I switched to literature for university entrance exams, so I’ve forgotten a lot of math. I probably need to review trigonometry and matrix calculations lol
Also, this year, I’m planning to learn React more deeply to be able to create simple web services (probably lol).
As part of team Fump with <a href="https://twitter.com/kazukisonokawa">Kazuki</a>, I want to do various things like website development, video production, photography, and music production.
I also love coffee so much that lately, I've been thinking about working at a café once or twice a week... lol
<h3>Personal Life</h3>
<img src="/assets/img/blog/kentarokoga05.webp" alt="">
Lastly, about my personal life, the big change was "getting married."
I registered my marriage on Christmas Day, December 25, 2019. I caught a cold and was dripping with snot while filling out many documents lol
<img src="/assets/img/blog/alina.webp" alt="">
We've been dating for about a year and a few months.
Personally, I thought I'd be wandering around without getting married until I'm 30, but... life is full of surprises lol
We're still living separately, but I'm planning to move in together somewhere in the latter half of 2020.
She just started her job, and I don't have much savings... lol
I need to stabilize my work a bit more...
I'm building websites, taking photos, and making videos, so please give me work m(_ _)m
I'm planning to continue doing what I want to do and grow every year in 2020, just as I have in previous years.
However, doing what I want also requires money, so I want to balance work and personal life properly.
I'll aim to keep improving my skills so I can grow every year.
Additionally, I want to increase my offline activities, like leather craft, guitar, photography, sauna, and workout.
To do that, I need to eliminate waste and build good habits.
Well, I'm looking forward to your continued support this year as well.
Thank you so much to everyone who read this far.
I’d love to meet people, so feel free to send me a message ^ ^

An article reflecting on 2019 and resolutions for 2020.

Reflections on 2019 and Resolutions for 2020

Have you ever wondered what you do during waiting times?
Whether you're lining up at a bubble tea shop, waiting for the bus or train, or arriving early at a meeting spot...
Before you know it, you're on social media.
And when you look at the "beautiful photos, someone traveling, fulfilled lives, blog or business revenue reports, likes and thank-you messages for likes, follower count updates and thanks, and so on," you start thinking:
"I want to travel too," "I want more likes," "I want more followers," "I want money," "I want a new iPhone," "Compared to these people, my life sucks (a bit too much lol)"
It's enviable, isn't it?
We end up feeling jealous on a daily basis.
And it makes us tired.
Ah... I want to be free, I want to earn while traveling, I want more followers.
Of course, this doesn't apply to everyone.
But I think everyone has at least once felt "That's nice" when looking at SNS.
If you haven't, you're pretty awesome lol.
<h2>Comparing Yourself to Others Exhausts You</h2>
This is it.
When you compare yourself to others, no matter what they have or do, it's not important for your own life.
What's more important is what you do and what you want to do.
Walking your own path makes you happier.
Stop comparing yourself to others and instead compare your ideal self with your current self.
You don't need to say, "Because XX has that, I want that!" or "Because XX is doing that, I want to do that!"
Unless it's something truly necessary.
But somehow, we end up comparing ourselves to others.
So, compare your ideal self with your current self and write down what you're missing and what you need to do to get closer to your ideal self.
I write my feelings and thoughts that come to mind every day in a small notebook.
And I occasionally review past notes.
Even if I'm wandering, I can get back on track. It's easy to return.
It clears my mind. I recommend it.
<h2>Treat SNS as a Tool</h2>
I've written a bunch of thoughts, but uploading various things to SNS is a good thing.
I think it's totally fine to post fulfilled photos, like counts, follower count updates, revenue reports, etc.
As long as it's not something that discriminates or hurts others, it's completely fine.
I also post travel photos and tweets that give off a fulfilled vibe lol.
However, for those who feel jealous or tired after seeing them, please remember:
What is your ideal self doing? What do you have? How can you get closer to it?
This article is also about myself.
If I lose sight of it, I'll read it again.
It's persistent, but it's important, so once more:
There's no need to compare yourself to others. Compare your ideal self with your current self.
Don't worry about other people's follower counts, like counts, or revenue.
Walk your own path.
Thank you for reading this far!
Please share this article and like and follow my Twitter posts!
Also, check out my Instagram photos! Please follow me too!
Please follow and like! Please follow and like! Please follow and like!
Thank you!
Enjoy SNS~ lol

An article for those who are tired of social media.