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What kind of experiences shall I give "my own soul"?
Have you ever suddenly found yourself wondering,
"What are we even living for?"
The answer kind of came down to me.
It's this: "I want to give this soul lots and lots of experiences."
Not just the happy and fun things, but also the times you struggle, get surprised, or feel like crying — tasting all of it to the fullest. I think maybe that's the purpose of living.
And yet we forget that.
Amid the busyness and rush of everyday life, we easily fall into states like these:
・ Ending the day just reacting reflexively to whatever happens
・ Getting swept up in other people's intentions or the world's pace, and losing sight of your own life
・ Gathering up only what you "can do" or what's "safe," trying to create a safe but unmoving collage of a life
Before you know it, your safety device kicks in and you go on the defensive.
Is that really okay?
When you think, "I want to let this soul taste so many more experiences!" your view suddenly opens up.
What is my calling (nariwai)?!
Here's the answer I arrived at:
・ "Providing a `space` where everyone can have experiences"
・ `Awakening` everyone who gets caught up in what's in front of them or swept up in their emotions, and inviting them into their true `life that delights in experience`.
That, I realized, is my calling.
Not on someone else's rails, not just a routine — but creating places where people can enjoy "being alive itself" with their whole body.
It clicked: that's what I want to do in this world.
Now then, special experiences and unique adventures are waiting for you today, too.
Enjoy all of it — the happenings and the moving moments alike. Have a great day!
And what matters there is "resolve."
When you truly make up your mind, you become a bit like someone with superpowers.
"Is there any point in doing this?"
"Why do I have to go that far?"
"Can I really do it?"
Every time you think that, your feet stop.
And you try to make up for the stop with effort or talent.
That's why I think some people feel worn out just hearing "Let's do our best." Because they've pushed through on effort before.
But once you're resolved, the way you move changes.
Instead of "What do I do?"
it becomes "How can I make this happen?"
Then ideas you never thought of come to you. You feel like reaching out to someone you want to meet. And from there, it can lead to unexpected encounters and conversations.
Maybe that's what superpowers are.
Resolve doesn't mean you never hesitate again.
It means that even when you waver, you decide again: "Yes, I'm doing this."
↓↓↓ I tried going for an Aimyon vibe~~
Ahaha~~~
Rather than living life perfectly,
live it interestingly.
1. The essence of feeling stuck: getting caught on "problems you don't need to solve"
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The current challenge [00:00]
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On the way toward a goal, there are times you run into relationship worries or things you can't control, and end up stewing and stalling [02:58].
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Being stuck solving "problems you don't need to solve" [00:00]
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To use exam prep as an example: there are easy problems everyone can solve, and borderline problems you need to solve to pass — but spending time on the nasty "unsolvable problems" is a waste [03:59].
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When you're stewing, you may be caught up in problems you never actually needed to solve (e.g., trying too hard to make every relationship perfect) [04:36].
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2. How to break out of stagnation: setting goals and deadlines, and "cutting your losses on effort"
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The power of goals and deadlines [04:49]
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Re-checking your goals (testing for excitement) [05:51]
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You need to ask yourself whether the goal you've set is something that truly excites you (something self-driven), or whether it comes from negative anxiety or a sense of obligation [06:03].
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3. A paradigm shift in method and process: from results-only thinking to "enjoying the process"
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Insights from the tortoise and the hare [08:13]
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Rather than only rushing to the goal (the hare's approach), we reconsider the value of enjoying the scenery along the way and having fun with friends (the tortoise's approach) [08:53].
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"A new definition of dreams" [11:21]
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Breaking free from the worldview that "a dream is a success if it comes true, and a failure (self-rejection) if it doesn't" [11:21].
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What matters is fully enjoying the process of chasing the dream itself (growth, learning, encounters, memories), and being able to think "Whether it comes true or not, life is the best!" is the strongest state of all — that's the conclusion [11:49].
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Boonsong, 20, from Thailand
Shin Ohashi! A 17-year-old high schooler's historic feat: 2:04.83
[Historic Feat! First Gold Medal in 60 Years] Table Tennis Men's Team Highlights — Final: Japan vs China [Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya]
[Jun Mizutani Breaks It Down] "In our era, we never thought we could win" — What happened to Japanese table tennis?
1. The overwhelming wall of the past and a "history of defeat"
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The wall of the absolute champion, China
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During Mizutani's playing days (the past 20 years), Japan challenged China in nearly 100 matches and kept losing; "You can't beat China" was the shared understanding around the world [01:46].
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Even at the Olympics, China often swept the podium, leaving other countries to fight over "the one remaining medal (bronze)" [02:22].
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The Japanese team's mindset back then
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He recalls that against China they "never thought they could win," and that he retired still carrying those negative feelings [01:54].
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2. The anatomy of the historic win over China (Asian Games)
The final unfolded, and the victory was built, through the following stages.
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Match 1 (Matsushima vs. Wang Chuqin)
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Matsushima took the first two games but lost in a comeback [04:10]. Mizutani's analysis: "If he'd won here, Japan would have won 100%, but the loss shifted the momentum a little" [04:24]. Still, the fact that he held his own and then some, even with China one match from victory, laid the groundwork for Match 5.
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Match 2 (Harimoto vs. Wen Ruibo)
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Match 4 (Harimoto vs. Wang Chuqin)
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The turning point of the match. Against Wang Chuqin — ranked higher, and with a lopsided head-to-head record against him — Harimoto won decisively in straight games (3–0) [07:46].
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Despite carrying the pressure of having to beat China, his fierce resolve — "I will lead Japan to the title" — showed in his play [08:49].
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Match 5 (Matsushima)
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Without dwelling on his Match 1 loss, he kept attacking with a strong will and mental strength — "I'll win it in the fifth match" — put pressure on the Chinese player, and seized the victory [12:45].
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3. Why Japanese table tennis got stronger (structural changes)
Mizutani lists the following reasons Japan has grown strong enough to beat China.
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Depth of players and a reversal in world rankings
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Harimoto and Matsushima are both in the world top 10, ranked above China's No. 2 player — Japan's overall level has risen [17:38].
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An absolute ace and overall strength
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An "ace who can score multiple points against China" (Harimoto) — something Japan never had before — has emerged, and together with Matsushima as a "two-pillar" lineup, the team can now score from anywhere [18:16].
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China's declining strength
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China once had several world-class players, but it's now becoming reliant on a single ace, and its former overwhelming depth has thinned [20:30].
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4. Summary and outlook
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A generational shift in mindset
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Today's young players don't have the old give-up mentality; they go into matches with high energy and the confidence that "we can beat China" [01:57].
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Upcoming tournaments (hopes for the LA Olympics and beyond)
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Considering the men's overall strength and the introduction of doubles, there's a real chance of winning gold [17:26].
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The transformation of table tennis
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Mizutani feels great joy that table tennis, once a minor sport, has beaten China and become a sport that draws major attention from around the world [28:05].
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Related video URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXAMl8Fuk7o
Harimoto was bullied in public with booing.
He didn't just win at table tennis.
[Rikako Ikee! Her First Individual Medal of the Games] Women's 50m Butterfly Final Highlights [Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya]
I wonder why only Japan got it late~
Oh well.
I need to see The Odyssey too!
Rather than living life skillfully,
I want to make life interesting.
Link to Takumi Yamazaki’s ENGLISH Book “SHIFT”
https://amzn.to/2DYcFkG
Translated from Takumi Yamazaki’s original Japanese post: https://ameblo.jp/takumi-yamazaki/entry-12979812048.html
