Hobbies
I have lots of “hobbies,” such as daydreaming, watching highly imaginative films, and coming up with silly ideas for research projects. The ones that look a bit more respectable are the following. (2008/10/9)
Skiing
In February I went to Rishiri Island for the first time and did some skiing there. The weather was beautiful and perfect for climbing, but because it had been clear for too many days in a row, the snow had turned rock-hard. Even so, I finally got to ski on Mt. Rishiri (Rishiri-Fuji), which I had long dreamed of, and I spent a truly happy time there. (2019/4/25)
Recently, even ordinary ski resorts increasingly allow you to ski in ungroomed forested areas. In the past we used to sneak into the trees, hoping the ski patrol wouldn’t notice, but now the resort simply puts up a sign that says they take no responsibility beyond that point, and within that understanding they let you ski there.
The photo below is from a recent run through the trees. It was so cold I thought my face might get frostbite, but the snow was light and beautiful. A real treat. (2013/12/30)
The other day I went backcountry skiing on Mt. Asahi (Asahidake) in the Daisetsuzan range. It took about two and a half hours to skin up, and then I skied down from near the summit. I’ve recently discovered how much fun backcountry skiing can be, but I also have to remember to be careful not to get into an accident. (2009/5/18)
The first winter after I moved to Hokkaido I had nothing in particular to do during the season, so for a change of pace I went to the nearby Mt. Moiwa Ski Resort. Before coming to Hokkaido I had only skied twice in my life, so to avoid picking up strange bad habits I enrolled in ski school and took lessons.
When I joined, I didn’t even know how to stop properly and sometimes ended up crashing into the fences. Now I’ve passed Level 1 of the ski proficiency test, and my next goal is to pass the Technical Prize exam. (2008/10/9)
Mountaineering
Until recently I had never really done anything that deserved to be called “mountaineering.” But this summer, for the first time, I bought proper gear, did an overnight trip with a tent, and traversed the Daisetsuzan range from Kurodake to Asahidake.
Before that, when I heard “Daisetsuzan,” I only knew of Asahidake, but I discovered there are also old volcanic craters and many other features, and I was able to enjoy some truly magnificent scenery. That said, by the time I descended from Asahidake my soles were covered in blisters, and I was only finally saved by a soak in a hot spring after coming down. If I have the chance, I’d love to try a trip like that again. (2015/12/29)
Sailing
I started sailing in 2007, when a skiing friend who also sails invited me to try a sailing boat. You trim the sails to catch the wind and steer the boat, and I find it fascinating to think about how to use the wind most effectively to make the boat run.
The other day I entered a race for the first time. I raced in a Snipe, a two-person dinghy, but unfortunately the weather was bad and the waves offshore were three to four meters high—very rough conditions. I expected the race to be cancelled, but the organizers decided to go ahead. We somehow made it to the starting area, but we couldn’t stand up to the big waves (I got seasick) and had to retire. After that, as a small front passed through, one boat after another capsized, and the race was eventually cancelled. It was the first time I really experienced how harsh sailing can be. (2008/10/9)
Judo
I started judo in junior high school and continued until I graduated from the college of technology. I hold second dan. I have so many memories that if I started writing them all down it would take pages and pages. I’d like to add them here little by little as they come back to me. (2008/10/9)
Visiting Art Museums
This hobby began when I went to Paris for a collaborative research stay and decided that, since I was there, I might as well visit as many museums as I could. I think I’ve been to all of the major museums in Paris except the Musée de l’Orangerie.
My favorite is the Musée d’Orsay. You can really feel the changes and variety in the works on display, and it’s simply fun to walk around and look. Among the artists, my favorite is Édouard Manet. He wanted to be accepted by the Salon, which at the time set the standards for French art, and he kept submitting his work—but his talent didn’t fit into the Salon’s criteria, and he was repeatedly rejected.
Ironically, those very rejections helped to make his paintings famous and contributed to the birth of Impressionism, a new artistic movement. I’m deeply impressed by the defiant spirit that comes through in Manet’s work. My favorite pieces are The Fifer and Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe (Luncheon on the Grass). (2008/10/9)
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