Hello. I’m Ayagi from the Techo Team. Since it’s time for our End of Year Reflection, I thought I’d look back on the past year by flipping through my diary. It’s a mix of writing and pasting things in, so it really shows how the year unfolded.



I started using my techo as a diary in 2024. At first, I only wrote in it, but before long I began pasting in bits of paper I picked up while out, printed photos, wrapping paper, stickers, and more. I didn’t decide on any rules or a format. “Freedom” is the theme I’ve stuck with.



I use a Cousin Avec, which is sturdy enough to get nice and thick, paired with a Hasegawa Tohaku cover. It’s one of my favorites. Just looking at it helps me clear my mind. Let’s start flipping through the pages.

■ Looking back 1: So many food memories



One thing that really stood out when I looked back was just how many entries are about food. There are lots of pages where I’ve pasted a photo of a meal along with the shop’s card, then wrote a short entry in the remaining space.



Travel days, too, are mostly food records. Pasting in shop cards together with photos is useful because they also work as a record of the place itself. By the way, here’s a little tip. If you take photos of ramen or rice dishes from directly above, then cut them out along the edge of the plate before pasting them in, they look extra cute.



There are days when I forgot to take photos altogether. That’s a memory too.

■ Looking back 2: Even paper can become memories



Shop cards and flyers tend to pile up after events. This year, I decided to paste all of them into my techo. One great thing about the Avec is that it can handle a lot of bulk. On the right-hand page here, I had pasted a total of seven shop cards. Just sticking them in like this is enough to bring back memories of the day, which I really like.

■ Looking back 3: Pasting in passing news



Starting in 2025, I also began printing out screenshots of news articles and pasting them in. I started doing this because I realized how quickly I forget things I read online. It turned out to be more fun than I expected.



For example, this is a news story about someone who deliberately let themselves be bitten by snakes to develop immunity to snake venom. There really are all kinds of people in the world. I also screenshot and paste in Instagram and X posts that make me stop and think, “This one’s worth keeping.”



I use a thermal printer by a brand called Phomemo. It’s easy to use and very convenient, so I recommend it.

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That wraps up my End of Year Techo Reflection. There are still blank pages here and there, but sticking with it for a whole year really does give a sense of accomplishment. In 2026, I plan to keep going with this free-form diary style. The End of Year Techo Reflections continue tomorrow, so please come and read them again. I hope you’ll try holding your own techo reflection too.

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