If you talk about ‘what ifs,’ you’ll be disliked.That makes sense.It’s no fun to drink with someone who only talks about things like ‘If I had done that at that time’ or ‘If I had studied harder.’ However, ‘hypothetical stories’ stimulate the imagination. It’s the type of story that goes, ‘What if there was no such thing as XX in this world?’ What if there were no Edison in this world?What if there were no Osamu Tezuka in this world?What if there were no Steve Jobs in this world? What if? Without great figures, the world would turn upside down. Would someone else have invented the light bulb instead of Edison? Woul […]

If you can find something to immerse yourself in life, wouldn’t that life be a success? Of course, it would be even better if you could make a living out of that immersion (in other words, doing what you love). Furthermore, it would be fantastic to rise to the top in that world. However, the world is tough. Despite striving from childhood and becoming a professional, it’s rare to be able to thrive in that world. “Gachi-Boshi” (2017) is a story with the former professional baseball player Hamajima (Kenichi Abe) as the protagonist. While he was a baseball player, he wasn’t a professional in heart. He smoked, drank, and was disillusioned. One day, he received a not […]

Recent SF movies are challenging. Many people seem to have a basic understanding of “special relativity theory” (somehow), so despite advances in science and technology, the idea of “aliens coming to Earth” is theoretically very difficult. Hence, they appear before Earthlings by incorporating multidimensional narratives like in “Interstellar,” suggesting that time from past to future exists simultaneously like in “Arrival,” or overcoming the three-body problem (unsolvable by humans) like in “The Three-Body Problem.” It’s truly intricate. Depicting aliens in contemporary SF movies has become more complex than before. Filmmakers […]

Connecting people who enjoy rides. This time, introduced by Kenichi Kawamura, the founder of CYCLING JAPAN, our “Ring-Tomo” is Akikazu Yamashita. Alongside modeling for outdoor magazines and commercials, Yamashita organizes an event called Bike & Camp due to his passion for cycling. Nearly commuting exclusively by bike, we had a chat with Yamashita about his cycling experiences. Table of Contents 　Profile　1. What’s your beloved bicycle?　2. What’s your favorite cycling route?　3. The most recent ride event you participated in and your thoughts about it?　4. The ride event you’d like to participate in next and why?　5. The most memorable moment in your cycling life?　6. Your f […]

This time, we’ll introduce the episode of Vincent MARIE, who transitioned from being a natural wine geek to a vigneron (producer). The word “geek” often carries a negative connotation, doesn’t it?With a tough, imposing figure,Impressive tattoos on his arms, and a taste in music ranging from punk rock to fusion metal…Vincent MARIE is a geeky guy in a way that defies the typical image associated with the term. The name of his winery is “No Control.” Vincent, making wine in the Auvergne region of France (think of it as being known for Volvic water), is known for placing “No Control” stickers on his bottles. Whenever you ask about various fam […]

Connecting people who enjoy rides. This edition of “Ring-Tomo,” introduced by Shinji Iwanami, the cycling guide at “HOSHINOYA Fuji,” features Kenichi Kawamura. He is not only a cycling guide for tourists visiting Japan but also the founder of “CYCLING JAPAN,” which offers cycling guide tours. We had the chance to ask Kawamura, who guides rides all over Japan, about various aspects related to cycling. Table of contents 　Profile　1. What’s your beloved bicycle?　2. What’s your favorite cycling route?　3. The most recent ride event you participated in and your thoughts about it?　4. The ride event you’d like to participate in next and why?　5. The most memorable m […]

Connecting people who enjoy rides.”Ring-Tomo” from the first Japanese Tour de France participant, Daisuke Imanaka, is here with Shinji Iwanami. He’s a professional cycling guide at “HOSHINOYA Fuji.” What kind of rides has he been doing recently? Table of Contents 　Profile　1. What’s your beloved bicycle?　2. What’s your favorite cycling route?　3. The most recent ride event you participated in and your thoughts about it?　4. The ride event you’d like to participate in next and why?　5. The most memorable moment in your cycling life?　6. Your favorite cycling gear and why　7. What does cycling mean to you?　Introduction of the next guest. Profile Name　Shinji IwanamiJob　H […]

On April 27th, the editorial and artwork production team of this column, along with their friends, as well as the staff of “Global Ride,” including designers and translators, gathered at my cafe, Cafe Apres-midi, in Shibuya for a DJ party. It was a great turnout and we had a really enjoyable time. I was looking forward to what to play that day and had selected several records since morning. However, by chance, I watched the music video for NewJeans’ new song “Bubble Gum,” which was released at midnight on April 27th, based on a friend’s recommendation. There was a scene of riding a bicycle, combined with the goodness of the song, and I was thrilled all day […]