The twittering of birds, the songs of insects, and the fragrance of the forest. The seasons permeate the body through one’s five sense when living in Kaga where the sea, the mountains, the forests, and the fields meet. There’s even a chance that you’ll come across crabs or geckos, foxes and even snakes when visiting a shrine. Living in such a natural environment everyday helps me regain my senses bit by bit. Having been brought up in a city and working in such an environment for over 30 years, such a life continues to brings me surprises. At present, I run a company that works with people with disabilities. Prioritizing ease of work and ease of continuity, we seek to operate in a way that doesn’t “disadvantage” the environment nor the people and organizations involved. However, I would’ve seen this way of thinking to be uneconomical back when I was drowning in work in Tokyo. Those were the days when I swayed in sardine-packed trains, chasing time, living a life which revolved around speed, quantity, and efficiency. Starting a business is about scaling (rapid growth) your operations, and when to exit (secure profits through listing on the market or sale of the business). Such talk was spoken of as a matter of fact. But now, my actions and perspective have both changed, as if turning from yin to yang. Getting to understand “samurai ideals” was the source this change.
-KUDEN rinlife Magazine vol.1
Writer:Shinsuke Hino