{Note to reader: what follows is a spontaneous, stream of consciousness recap of the year… of course i thought carefully about each of these *things* yet this list is not meant to be comprehensive, i’m speaking specifically about any errors or omissions, plus i might change bits or tidy up – and truthfully this is very personal and don’t know why im sharing but so we go on, hit it}
1. Ryoko achieves tree doctor credentials
The result of over a decade of running her own arborist and landscape design business following her university studies, followed by a very challenging series of written and practical exams – including a week in the forest in Ibaraki – to achieve a designation which allows her to tend to historic trees at shrines, temples, and gardens. all while doing “everything else” that she does from singing to tea to keeping our whole universe rotating, and taking care of loads of clients gardens, all while studying everything from fungi and bacteria to land use law and water drainage and species of trees covering a latitude from Hokkaido to Okinawa ~ whew, i & we are so proud of Ryoko sensei Dr. O!
memo: In Japan, this credential is formally known as the 樹木医（じゅもくい）制度, a nationally standardized certification administered by 日本緑化センター (in cooperation with the 日本樹木医会), a quasi-governmental qualification which authorizes certified specialists to professionally diagnose and manage trees, especially those of public, historical, or cultural importance.
[keep in mind this is the same lady that achieved a Tea ceremony teacher certificate last year]
this endeavour was truly a family effort as father and mother really stepped up to help while she was in training & testing
2. Ichiro turns five and thrives
Not only did he have a great proper birthday party with DIY hamburgers and zines, he’s leveled up with his independence, creativity, coordination, personality, and responsibility still being a wild boy full of his own personality and explorations, and yes he carries a sword
Goes with us everywhere, as we are very much a trio – jazz gigs, tea ceremony, community events, public baths… and wants to go with mom to work or sometimes into the kura with dad – his YMCA Forest preschool program is awesome, he’s constantly curious about ninjas, pirates, dinosaurs, and geography and plants and so on and on
3. Olson Obon Ocean Onsen road trip
We spent three weeks in August on the road covering nine prefectures with swims in the Sea of Japan, soaks in hot springs, many cultural and scientific museums, camp-stove coffees, beach tea ceremonies, and importantly checking in on some very important elder friends in Noto & Shinano.
2,000 km. Ryoko at the wheel. The backseat guys making a scrapbook, + filling binders with plans and documentation about items, temples, people, and haiku. Note: road trips aren’t default Japanese travel style however we fell into a great rhythm with only the most minor foibles
4. Poetry projects published
Starting the year with a week at a medical hot spring and channeled the snowstorm and radium into a series of poetry, handmade into a charming book distributed to lovely folks
Then carried on with poems selected and submitted to various literary journals (Fiddlehead, Muriel’s Journey) and others specially crafted broadsheets & folios dispatched to important audiences.
Plus organized a load more poems for the *mysterious upcoming book* project tentatively called “A Circumnavigation, of Sorts”
5. Welcoming guests – so many guests
We live in an unfamous minor provincial capital, off the track of most tourism, yet couples with the massive influx of internationals into Japan, we were grateful to see many old and new friends rolling into dear Okayama bringing treats (coffee, tea, hot sauce, Lego), bright personalities, stomachs ready for ramen and grilled meats, and questions, so many questions.
Many countries represented: families, duos, solo ramblers, many ages and itineraries. We always did our best amidst “regular life” of school, jobs & hospitals + logistics
& sometimes visitors made new friends with other people from their same home city when they arrived at the same time… many visits to Korakuen, Gakucho ramen & Mac’s goat farm + tea ceremonies (+ at least found <3)
6. Osaka Expos x 2
‘World events'(tm) can be a crowded hypefest with lines and expenses, but Ryoko’s strategic moves took us there by train and bus on the third day of opening (with a thoughtfully chosen hotel).
We visited countries with no lines (hello Latvia, Bangladesh, Senegal… & super odd Canada), explored the Forest of Tranquility and the noteworthy wooden ring (which turns into a casino and resorts on a island on top of landfill or something…?).
While bit confused about the theme/purpose of the new expo, we visited the *slightly more awesome* (for us) classic 1970 Expo Park the next day — exploring the Okamoto Taro’s Tower of the Sun, meeting friends along the way, and rendezvousing with family.
note: i wrote an essay about the experience and thoughts about marketing/storytelling/themeing plus with tips and tactics for visitors, especially for chronic/complex types, thinking would help out but became disinterested and yet another uncorrected proof
7. Moving into ‘the Caboose‘
The affectionate name for the new addition to our tiny but growing cottage, ‘the caboose’ is self-designed & custom-built room insulated with sheep wool and hemp, an earth wall, ancient shrine tree, various hardwoods, a custom Dutch door — and now the three of us sleeping cozy, with my medications stored in a Taishō-era kaidandansu, and even a mini tea/coffee station.
{this could count as last year, but it wasn’t until this year that we actually moved in.} extra thank you too Ishii, Morioka, Yoshioka, Minaniguchi-san & an international gang of wall helpers
8. Ichiro and Dad time
We both circle Ryoko as she is the center of our universe – a giant bright magnet full of interestingness, patience, sweetness, and always on the go with something mysterious and spectacular. As such, Ichiro and I float in her orbit.
This year we found more of our own groove: swimming pool lessons (team whale shark!), days out to museums (especially Kurashiki), tram rides to ramen, our own jokes and songs, and some serious Lego sessions.
I love my guy, and doing my best, even though i can’t be a “super-active rah-rah” papa so I do better rolling with the messes, emotions and always try to be by his side (and he notices) + hot springs, books, baths and more
9. Community sparks w/ gigs + pals
Participation and “showing up” is critical in Japan, and I’m a community social boy by nature yet meeting up with people and staying in touch can be hard.
This year, I had a few more dude hangouts, many more “phone a friend” rather than looking at the news or social channels and, more importantly, was the best possible method-actor Santa Claus for two-and-a-half performances, including preschool and the community association.
I also found a groove hanging out with parents from the preschool group at stay-overs and picnics (hello Uncle Dave’s free coffee stand!)
plus a couple of “don’t call it a side hustle” gigs, ergo:
sitting for the Churchill Art Association as a model (clothed),
and making a promotional video for my forever home city of Okayama.
oh, was also a solo trip to Kobe (easy for most humans, not for me) to congratulate a friend on his retirement from the university.
This is how you build friendships, right?
10. Sticking with the medical program
This is tough and tough to talk about. On one hand feel i’m receiving attentive and professional medical care; on the other hand there were 56 different appointments (not doubling up when one hospital visit had four checkpoints still counts as one), including dentists, seitai, and an unexpected surgery – time which of course could be spent otherwise but getting myself to a condition to live to at least 110 years old is the plan, obv of course, at least
(sort of patting myself on the back) did most of this independently: riding buses, dealing with admin (so many cards and apps and such), managing pharmacies, always preparing bilingual memo, keeping records, tracking everything, and bringing treats (Santa colouring pages, Christmas and New Year cards to doctors, nurses, and staff) and being respectful of their professionalism and time
Special thanks to Uno Bus Service, the occasional kind taxi driver, and a very special thanks to the master of “Liberal coffeehouse” (a.k.a. my “secret café” which is decorated with my bit of my heart and art
11. Bonus: jets to Van, Can, summer 2026
Several weeks July-August. Not only will we beat some of the Japan summer heat, but mother-in-law is coming for a bit! & i, yes, me :) am using this as an exercise in ‘not planning‘. One suitcase each, no scheduled meet-ups, no gifts (sorry), no commemorative postcards, no hotels, float planes, or ferries planned. Probably not even a ukulele nor hashtag ;)
We’ll hang out at Grammy’s house in Langley, do local easy day trips {Fort Langley, Steveston, Bear Creek Park, swimming pools, Crescent Beach, possibly a soccer viewing party or baseball game, very hopefully playing/recording music) rolling by transit or with pals (you?).
also quite excited to hug and cuddle several babies (no, not random ones silly…
Several couples of dear friends have brought on a next generation and i’m quite over the moon to be another bonus uncle
(like 2023’s #BCInvasion) focus is parks and gardens, friends and family but without the detailed plans nor the daily logistical hops.
Super simple, you might even call it a vacation but i’m not sure how those work, i always seem to be on an expedition or a quest. Is it possible? Ha ha
~~
So we go on
scaffolding
natch many more things which could go on this list: musical experimentations (spoken-word soundscapes recorded multitrack); loads of open (infrequently watched) video dispatches; 200+ cards, letters, and dossiers sent into the world; and my truly spectacular achievement of generally keeping up with laundry and dishes; should also add how proud that Ichiro has a stock account but we ain’t no day traders or speculators eh
grading on the curve
I went into the year with three core aims:
1) Be a great husband and papa
2) To do so, take care of my health
3) Keep up the house as best I can
and if possible:
4) Do creative things i can share, not forever projects i.e: make creations and send into the world, no matter the outcomes nor audience. Do the work, doo the play, let others look over your shoulder if they want
is it enough? (don’t answer)
with above ^^ in mind, i did quite well {although i always have this anxiety and self concerned that “I haven’t done enough” and “did I do well enough?” I’m working through those feelings, seriously or not seriously depending on the day}
always more
of course… there is more to say about “year of the snake” and upcoming “year of the horse” and other trials and successes of the year past and dreams and schemes for the year ahead but for now, I’m gonna go lie down, if I can get these fresh fitted sheets on the bed by myself
fondly, dvo, dec. 30, 2025 16:20
