Spring Travels with oriri

The weather in Kumamoto has been pleasant this May. In the meantime, I have been traveling a few times between April and May, so I would like to share my experiences with you.

In April, I participated in the Yamaguchi Arts & Crafts event. I'm still a beginner when it comes to outdoor events, but with our foldable display fixtures gradually improving, I feel like I'm becoming a bit more "travel-savvy."

Yamaguchi has a long-standing event with nearly 20 years of history, so the customers were very familiar and spoke to us with such warmth. It was a truly welcoming atmosphere. Plus, the venue was right next to Yuda Onsen, so it felt like a two-day hot spring retreat that truly healed both mind and body.

The first time I tried Kawara Soba, it had a more pop flavor than I expected, and was really delicious! Thank you very much.

Then in May, it was off to "Tabisuru Bazaar Tokyo." This was the Tokyo edition of the "Tabisuru Bazaar" held in Kyoto back in January. In Kyoto, I got lost in admiration of all the wonderful works by the participating artists and ended up not buying anything, so this time, I was absolutely determined to do some serious treasure hunting in Tokyo.

As I excitedly went to board the plane, a sudden halt! Believe it or not, I had bought tickets with the departure and arrival airports swapped for both the outbound and inbound flights. There we were, in Kumamoto, with QR codes for Haneda-departing tickets on our smartphones. While I've had "Huh?!" moments where I doubted my own eyes before, this might be the first time it's cost me so much! I vowed to actively doubt my own eyes more often in the future. Please be careful yourselves! Despite the mishap, thankfully, it didn't escalate into an argument, and we quickly switched gears to make the most of our Tokyo trip.

The crowds at Shibuya Station, the closest station to the venue, were truly astonishing. It was as packed as Ohori Park during the Ohori Fireworks Festival in Kyushu – I nearly fainted! To avoid the crowds, I ended up getting around almost entirely on an electric kick scooter during my stay. This was surprisingly comfortable and allowed me to enjoy Tokyo's cityscape from a fresh perspective.

With the lush greenery gaining momentum, we can't forget about the reclamation work we're doing at Aso Oriri no Mori (Aso Oriri Forest), where we're promoting forest creation. Surrounded by the sweet scent of soapberry trees, I felt completely refreshed, both mentally and physically. This time's work was about maintaining the current state of reclamation. Our goal is to create a forest that can be used for woodworking a hundred years from now. It's been three years since I first said "a hundred years," so that leaves 97 more.

Through these travels and forest experiences, what I've truly come to feel again is the importance of pursuing what feels comfortable to me. Especially when it comes to interior design in your 50s and beyond, shouldn't your home be a space where "you" are the main character, filled with your own experiences and values, rather than mimicking someone else's style?

Rediscover past "likes," or transform inconvenient aspects of your home into cherished elements. By thoughtfully placing quality items, your home will become the best partner to enrich your life. Please enjoy creating your own comfortable space.