Zen includes the concept of furyū monji (不立文字), which suggests that understanding comes not through reliance on words, but through direct experience.
Bodhidharma was the First Patriarch of Chinese Zen. Huike was the Second.
This tradition was depicted by Sesshū in a painting now designated a National Treasure of Japan.
As the custom of Obon—welcoming one's ancestors—suggests, marriage in the past was not merely a union of two individuals based on romantic love. It was also a union between two families.
Over time, however, the center of society shifted from the family to the individual. As those once-powerful ties weakened, the social structure surrounding marriage changed as well. Today's high rate of unmarried people may be understood, at least in part, as one consequence of that broader transformation.
Whether spirits exist is beside the point. What matters is how we understand our continuing relationship with those who have died.
I used to think Obon was little more than superstition. But when I looked deeper, I found something much older—the history of humanity, and the deeply human longing for those we have lost.
I’m still making them.
If Obon is explained merely as a “Buddhist observance” or a time to “honor one’s ancestors,” we see only the surface. Look deeper, and more fundamental questions emerge:
How have humans understood the dead?
How have we lived with the overwhelming forces of nature?
How have we understood our relationship with the world around us?
In Japan, for example, forestry workers may offer sake to the mountain deity before entering the forest, just as fishers have traditionally made offerings to deities of the sea.
These practices resonate with animistic beliefs found in cultures throughout human history and across the world.
Japan is currently observing Obon.
This tradition, still practiced today, likely has roots in ancient animistic beliefs that later intertwined with Shinto and Buddhism.
At its heart is the idea of welcoming the spirits of deceased ancestors back home.
Quality is not always found in addition.
It is found in what remains after subtraction.
More less,more happier.
Bamboo rods are like vintage cars. To a vintage car owner, the vehicle is not a “black box.” Its mechanics are visible, understandable, and deeply connected to the experience of driving it. The same is true of a bamboo rod.
Society is such a hassle.
Between the Ideal and Reality
Building a rod can be done entirely within my own world.
But the moment I try to deliver that rod to someone, I become connected to a much larger system—payments, taxes, customs, invoices, shipping regulations, packaging, language, and the web.
I have learned that I do not have to adapt everything I do to that system.
Some things must adapt.
Some things should remain unchanged.
Perhaps the important thing is finding the right place between the two.
Do not force the ideal upon reality.
But do not surrender the ideal entirely to reality.
All this, just to sell a single rod.
How Far Can I Go?
Curiosity is the driving force that propels me forward.
As I continue to design, build, verify, and learn, what will unfold?
How deeply and broadly can I develop a single idea?
Even I do not know what awaits beyond that point.
Perhaps that is precisely why I keep moving forward.
I believe AI has the potential to enhance humanity's collective intelligence. Since the final judgment always rests with us, I believe the notion that "AI will take our jobs" is, to some extent, misleading.
However, to fully benefit from AI, we still need a solid foundation:
Fundamental academic skills
Domain expertise
Real-world experience
Critical thinking
AI does not replace human thought; rather, it amplifies human creativity.
Life is like a vector. Its true meaning lies not only in its magnitude, but in its direction.
In life, you may lose your way, come to a stop, or need time to rest. But never let go of the steering wheel of your own life.
There is only one secret to living life: never let despair stop you in your tracks, no matter the situation.
A quiet observer.
It's not easy. That's what makes it worthwhile.
My favorite philosopher is Schopenhauer.
Where there's a will, there's a way.
To live freely is, at times, to live for others.
The piano has always been my favorite instrument.
A rod built out of sheer stubbornness.
Success is visible to the eye.
Yet true value lies beneath the surface—
in the failures, the corrections, and the persistence that no one else sees.
Zanshin
In Japanese martial arts, zanshin refers to a state of awareness that remains even after a movement has been completed.
I often keep this concept in mind when designing fly rods.
To me, it includes the feeling that lingers after a cast, the unfolding of the line, and the quiet settling of the rod once the motion has ceased.
The same is true after a fish takes the fly.
Even after the fish has been landed, something of the moment remains—a quiet resonance that lingers in the mind.
The Smallest Difference
Sometimes,
the most important changes
cannot be seen.
Not because they are hidden,
but because they are too small
for the eye to notice.
A fraction of a millimeter.
A quieter recovery.
A gentler transmission of force.
The water always has the final word.
A rod is always at the angler's side.
The hot weather continues, so please take good care of yourself.
Convergence
Perhaps rod making is a little like ε-δ.
Quietly approaching,
never rushing,
always getting closer.
Some refinements are almost invisible, yet clearly felt in the cast. I call one of them "Micro-swell."
Sometimes, the smallest changes lead to the biggest discoveries.
The next idea came from the water, not the drawing board.
The answer is always found on the water.
On to the next challenge.
#5 Completed
The new #5 rod is complete.
7'10" #5.
Every rod teaches me something new.
This one carries not only years of experience on the water, but also the insights gained through recent taper analysis.
Mathematics did not create these rods.
Thirty-five years of fishing experience shaped them.
Mathematics simply helped me understand why.
Today, I went fishing with a #5 rod I built myself five years ago.
No warping was observed in the tip.
Summer
Those who have studied mathematics are able to view numbers objectively. Wishing you a wonderful life of fishing. The rod stays with you.
It looks like I can move forward again.
Bamboo is a fascinating material that never ceases to captivate me. Even after it has been cut, it still feels as though it is alive.
Live life true to yourself. Tight lines!
You do not wait until it is complete to take on the challenge. Rather, it is by taking on the challenge that you draw closer to completion.
Anglers love freedom.
I have always admired the elegance of Leibniz's calculus notation more than Newton's.
Leibniz's notation for calculus is remarkably elegant.
I am worried about the heatwave in Europe. It is likely due to the effects of climate change.
Beautiful mathematics is born from a beautiful heart.
Beautiful casting feel comes from a beautiful flow of force.
I aim to create a rod that delivers a lighter, smoother casting feel—though achieving that balance is extremely challenging.
To create is to live.
No creativity, No life.
Testing the 939.
I'm thinking of building the 918 in the autumn.
A supple and comfortable bamboo fishing rod will soothe the angler's heart.
Continuous improvement
You can consider yourself fully competent once you are able to fish at a relaxed pace.
The younger a person is, the more they try to force things through with sheer power.
In reality, however, true strength lies in maturity and sensitivity.
Being able to recreate and produce something means understanding the numerical values that constitute its essence.
765 7'6" #5 built five years ago.
I extend my deepest gratitude to those who appreciate the rods I have created.
That serves as the greatest encouragement for my creative work and brings me joy.
