Soybeans in my garden are reaching the perfect dryness, indicating that the harvest is just around the corner.

This year, they’ve turned out nicely.

I’m thrilled to discover that there are beans inside, a delightful contrast to last year when the pods were empty. Although they’re a bit smaller in size, these beans are ideal for making natto.

This marks a special occasion as it’s been almost a decade since I could create natto from soybeans grown right in my garden. My attempts at growing soy in Shiga were met with failure a few times, leading to a temporary hiatus. Last year, I decided to give it another shot, and in the second year of trying, my efforts have borne fruit.

Here are the videos I have uploaded since the last post. Please enjoy watching them.

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I trust you had a wonderfully delightful weekend, fully immersing yourself in the season.

If you had the opportunity to listen to the podcast, I’d be eager to hear your thoughts on it. If you haven’t had a chance yet, here is the link.

Speaking of embracing the season, this weekend brought a delightful culinary adventure into my life – making Christmas pudding. To my surprise, I decided to use a pressure cooker for the very first time to steam the dried fruit mixture. At the outset, I was uncertain about this method, considering the traditional recipe called for a lengthy six-hour steaming process. But then, I recalled my experiences with natto making, where similar techniques are applied, and the notion of pressure steaming seemed entirely plausible. A quick online check confirmed its feasibility. The best part? The steaming time was dramatically reduced to a mere two hours, a significant time-saving compared to the traditional method.

Since my revisit to Britain in 2019, making Christmas pudding has become an adored October tradition. It’s my way of paying homage to English culture and eagerly anticipating the joy of savoring it during the Christmas season. For now, my pudding is safely stored in the fridge, but once December arrives, I’ll move it to a Kura, a traditional Japanese warehouse, where the temperature is perfectly low for its preservation.

This entire undertaking is intrinsically tied to the changing seasons. The gradual drop in temperature is palpable during my morning jog and Nordic walk. The shifting sunlight is equally noticeable. I heartily recommend outdoor workouts; they effectively synchronize you with the circannual rhythm. If you’re new to the concept of circannual rhythms, you can delve deeper in my video:

In that video, I explore how indulging in seasonal fruit may align us with the circannual rhythm. But when it comes to supplements, what’s their impact on our circannual rhythm? This topic is the focus of my most recent video:

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The summer solstice is a time of transition in Japan. The days are at their longest, and the weather is starting to get warmer. In the countryside, you can see a rare sight: a wheat field next to a rice field. The wheat is ready for harvest, and the rice has just begun growing. This contrast is a reminder of the different ways that wheat and rice are grown in Japan.

Wheat is mostly grown for noodles, such as udon, hiyamugi, and somen. It is not as common as rice, which is the staple food of Japan. The reason for this is the climate. Japan has a rainy season in June, when wheat needs to be harvested. This makes it difficult to dry the wheat in the sun.

As I was walking and jogging this morning, my new workout routine combining walking and jogging, I was tuning into the energy of the summer solstice, feeling the sun on my skin and the wind in my hair. I was thinking about the concept of shindofuji. Shindofuji is the idea that our lives are influenced by regional and seasonal factors. Even though we live in a highly technological society, our biology is still affected by the land and climate.

This is why it is important to eat locally and seasonally. When we eat food that is grown in our own region, it is better for our health. It is also better for the environment.

The same principle applies to other activities. We should live locally and live seasonally. This means doing things that are in tune with the natural environment of our region.

The summer solstice is a time to celebrate the transition from spring to summer. It is also a time to think about how we can live in harmony with the natural world.

To learn more about shindofuji, you can read Chapter 5 of my book The Ikigai Diet.

Happy Summer Solstice!

This is the video for this week.

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Here’s a snapshot from our rice planting experience at Saitama’s Natural Farming Association in 2008. It was a part of our two-year journey learning about a natural farming method called Shizenno.

On June 9th, I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Yoshikazu Kawaguchi, the founder of Shizenno. My thoughts and prayers are with him, wishing him peace and happiness in his journey beyond this life.

Coincidentally, I had been reciting the Heart Sutra just before I discovered the news on Facebook. It was the anniversary of my mother’s passing.

Reflecting on Shizenno, it’s hard to believe it’s been 15 years already.

Since those early days, my own practices have evolved. There were times when Shizenno methods didn’t yield the desired results, prompting me to incorporate elements of organic farming. I’ve tilled the soil without using fertilizers, and weeded extensively without tilling. My approach has deviated quite significantly from traditional natural farming, making me a far cry from the model student my teachers may have envisioned.

As such, I can’t claim that I strictly adhere to Shizenno in its purest form.

Despite this, the philosophy of Shizenno continues to shape my worldview. In particular, it greatly influenced my novel “Hyakusho Revolution,” which I wrote during my deep dive into Shizenno.

Without my exposure to Shizenno, I wouldn’t have been able to write that novel. It forms the backbone of the story, permeating not only the farming scenes but also the community-building aspects.

In 2008, I began my journey into country living, or Satoyama living, triggered by the philosophy behind Shizenno.

My work on Ikigai Bio-Hacking is also heavily influenced by Mr. Kawaguchi. To be more precise, it’s inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka, the pioneer of Shizennoho, the Natural Farming Method, but Kawaguchi’s lifestyle of living harmoniously with nature echoes the same principles, and thus, his influence is undeniable.

The difference between Shizennoho by Masanobu Fukuoka and Shizeno by Yoshikazu Kawaguchi

In Chapter 7 of Ikigai Bio-Hacking, titled “Digital Fasting,” I highlight Fukuoka’s insights. Meanwhile, in Chapter 3 of The Ikigai Diet, “Organically Grown Vegetables vs. Naturally Grown Vegetables,” I shine a light on Kawaguchi’s teachings.

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Have you had the chance to check out this podcast interview?

58 – The Benefits of Ikigai Bio-Hacking with Sachiaki Takamiya – Part 2

During the interview, I discussed the concept of Taru wo Shiru, which I also shared with you in the last post.

This term represents the philosophy of being content with what you have. In essence, Taru signifies adequacy, and Shiru is the verb denoting knowledge – thus, acknowledging that what you have is enough.

Although commonly used in a business context, suggesting that one doesn’t need to pursue further growth once a certain level of success has been reached, this philosophy is versatile and can be applied to various aspects of life.

Consider health, for example. Some individuals constantly strive for progress, attempting to perfect their methods. Biohacking has evolved into something of a competitive sport. The very notion of lifespan extension is rooted in this growth-driven mentality, isn’t it?

What else could motivate the desire to live until 150?

I have yet to hear a compelling argument in favor of living beyond 120 years.

Intriguingly, this competitive, growth-oriented mindset has become deeply embedded within us, often unconsciously driving us to seek continual growth, be it in the pursuit of greater wealth, improved health, or extended longevity.

The realm of technological development is no exception – in fact, it is central to this mode of thinking. We spent much of the 20th century striving to reach new heights with our skyscrapers, eventually realizing our limitations. However, this lesson seems to have been forgotten in the current culture of relentless technological advancement.

It’s as if our intelligence is diminishing as our civilization advances.

Now is the time to embrace the philosophy of Taru wo Shiru and elevate our consciousness.

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The squash leaves are growing now as the temperature got higher.

Gardening is something I really recommend in the age of AI. It gives you the balance you need to gain the benefits of technology rather than being controlled by it.  Nature teaches you a lot. It gives you wisdom to truly transform your consciousness that I call EI, which I will talk about some other time.

But for now, please listen to the second part of my podcast interview; it has many clues for EI.

58 – The Benefits of Ikigai Bio-Hacking with Sachiaki Takamiya – Part 2

I talk about Shion Kansha, the secret Japanese way of praying at a Shinto shrine, Yoshuku, the Japanese law of attraction, Ima Iwai, an advanced version of Yoshoku I came up with, Zange, Shugendo’s spiritual practice, and Taru wo Shiru, a concept we need the most in this growth-oriented fast-paced culture.

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We seem to have escaped from the Typhoon. The Kinki Region wasn’t affected by it so much.

Yet, it is a pain in the ass for farmers. Every weekend in this season is harvest time and if it rains, it disrupts their schedule.

When you live in Satoyama, you always feel the presence of nature both positive and negative.

Therefore, sustainability is inevitable in wellness.  You can’t rely on a method coming out of a science lab where they look at only one area such as nutrition or a structure of a particular muscle. You need to look at things holistically. Nutrition is important but without connecting it with other areas such as exercises, mindset, and the environment, it is pointless.

One reason I like the Centenarians’ approach is that it has been practiced in real life for many years. They have lived with earthquakes, and typhoons, and survived. They didn’t have a well-equipped gym or supplements and lived long. They knew where to find good fruit and herbs in the mountains, they knew how to catch fish and how to grow grains and vegetables.

Ikigai Bio-Hacking is natural biohacking.

https://ikigaidiet.com/webinars/

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I uploaded a new video.

This is a continuation of the bio hackko video.

But this time, I am sharing a book by a doctor who has a similar view.

The book is called Cho to Mori no Tsuchi wo Sodateru: Biseibutsu ga Kenko ni Suru Hito to Kankyo, which roughly translates as Fostering the Soil in the Gut and Forest: Humans and the Environment that are Kept Healthy by Microorganisms, written by Dr. Risa Kirimura.

Dr. Risa Kirimura is a physician who specializes in the gut microbiome.

So, my view is supported by a doctor.

Well, she is not the only one, there are other doctors such as Dr. Shinjiro Honnma, who support the concept that the gut microbiome and soil microbiome are related.

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The Ikigai Diet and Bio-Hacking

It was Earth Day Yesterday in Japan and still is in North America. It is time to think about planetary biohacking.

Ikigai Bio-Hacking includes planetary biohacking, or planetary bioharmonizing. Personal health and planetary health go hand in hand, and it is vital to practice holistic approaches for your wellness and longevity.

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The Ikigai Diet and Bio-Hacking

The Ikigai Diet and Bio-Hacking

I have been eating the spermidine-rich natto dish I shared with you in the last post every day this week.  It is very good to have one as the first meal after finishing your fast.

I uploaded a new video.

By looking at the state of the world, we all know that biohacking becomes pointless if the world is destroyed.

Personal health and planetary health should come hand in hand in the present era, and we need to biohrmonize the planet for us to stay sick-free and live longer.

Therefore, Ikigai Bio-Hacking is designed to work on our body, mind, spirit, and planet all at the same time.

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The Ikigai Diet and Bio-Hacking