Modern Simple Living

City Guide Stationery Hunting in Shibuya: A Tokyu Hands Discovery *Finding the perfect ink shade at Tokyo’s premier creative department store.* 5th Floor 1,500 Yen 2nd Ink Purchase Section I Iroshizuku Ink: Murasaki Shikibu The name Murasaki Shikibu is a clever play on words, referring both to a famous Japanese author and a purple berry. The author had a penchant for purple clothing, and the berry is also purple in color. It’s intriguing to think that the berry might have been named after the author, which could explain why the ink is colored after her! In terms of its appearance, Murasaki Shikibu is not as vibrant as Kon-Peki, but I appreciate its more subdued characteristic. The ink flows well, possibly because I left a few drops of water in my Platinum pen after rinsing it before inking. I'm quite pleased with this color choice and happy I took a chance on it!   Section II Tokyu Hands Experience Visiting Tokyu Hands was a delightful experience. They allowed me to try a var...

Travel Journal A Tokyo Weekend Blitz: Budgeting, Hobbies, and City Life *Making the most of 72 hours in Japan's capital on a strict budget.* 3 Days 6 Locations 16,000 Yen Spent 1,030 Yen Shower Table of Contents ① Journey Overview ② Budget Overview ③ Trip Highlights Section I Journey Overview I took advantage of the 3-day weekend and jetted off to Tokyo via Haneda Airport. During my short blitz, I managed to visit six key locations across the city.   → Shinjuku / Kabukicho — The starting point and evening hub. → Akihabara — Early morning sightseeing. → Shinagawa / Sengaku-Ji — A historical escape. → Ginza — High-end tea and people watching. → Shibuya — Hobby hunting and city culture. → Haneda — The final stop and departure point. My goals for the trip were specific to my personal interests and lifestyle: → Hobby Indulgence — Exploring headphones, fountain pens, shoes, coffee, and reading. → Literature — Finishing a novel during the weekend. → Budgeting — Staying within...

Feature Reflections on The Decay of the Angel *Concluding the journey through Yukio Mishima’s final masterpiece* 4 Books 140 Pages 2 Authors Compared Section I A Final Chapter Having recently finished the fourth and final book of Yukio Mishima's Sea of Fertility tetralogy, titled The Decay of the Angel , I wanted to share my thoughts. This series was meant to be Mishima's masterpiece, and although I’ve only read the last two installments, I can say they offer a rich and engaging experience, though perhaps not on the same level as Tolstoy's War and Peace . I found The Decay of the Angel to be an enthralling read that raises profound questions about how we live our lives and confront our inevitable mortality. A particularly poignant observation I came across was the idea that the tetralogy can be summed up in Mr. Honda's realization that we have just "one shot at life." This concept resonates throughout the narrative and invites readers to reflect on the cho...