Part 2: Checking the monthly calendar to see last night’s dinner

Hobonichi

I also see that you’ve written “Gym: Pectoral muscles and back” in blue lettering. Please do tell!

Nezu

Well, I also use my techo to write down the content of my workouts at the gym.

Hobonichi

“8.5.1” “Lat pulldown, deadlift, low pulley row.” Umm, is this some sort of secret code? (laughter)

Nezu

This would refer to when I was able to lift a barbell eight times, then five more times after a certain interval of time, and then finally only once. Recently, I’ve been pushing my training to the absolute limit.

Hobonichi

Recording your training regimen is important, isn’t it. How long have you been doing this type of training?

Nezu

For around five years. I go to the gym twice a week.

Hobonichi

Wow, you’re really serious about your weight training, aren’t you. What was your motivation for starting?

Nezu

Originally, it’s not like I set out to get really beefy muscles. I just wanted to gain some strength.

Hobonichi

Well, you look cool!

Nezu

Actually, I think I’m getting a mental workout more than anything. Bruce Lee once said in a film that a strong spirit resides in a strong body, so I decided to start with physical training. And then I guess I just got hooked! (laughter)

Hobonichi

Bruce Lee! Well, did you end up strengthening your mind as well?

Nezu

Training really pushes you physically, so I stopped being bothered so much even if I felt pressure at work or in my personal life.

Hobonichi

That’s fantastic!

Nezu

Whenever I’m training, I suffer so much that I seriously ask myself, “Why am I doing this?”

Hobonichi

And yet, you keep doing it!

Nezu

It’s not like I want to be macho. I just like lifting heavy things. (Laughter)

I don’t have any dietary restrictions or anything; I just eat whatever and whenever I want to.

Hobonichi

Right. Also, what did I just see on your monthly calendar?

Nezu

Oh, that. Yes, on my monthly calendar, I write down the main dish that I ate during my evening meal.

Hobonichi

Wow! And the food sounds scrumptious!

Nezu

I don’t do this just to record my meals, but also in order to remember what I did the day before. One day I was talking with a colleague at work, and we were saying it was boring when one day simply blended into the next. We agreed that it was important to look back on things, and then I came up with the idea of writing down what I had eaten for dinner the previous evening.

Hobonichi

So every day, you remember what you ate the night before, and then you write it down?

Nezu

That’s right. When I get to work and open up my techo, I jot it down in the monthly section.

Hobonichi

And how has that been?

Nezu

Well, I feel like it’s stopped the decay of my brain function. (laughter)

Hobonichi

Yeah, if someone asked me what I ate the night before, I don’t think I’d be able to answer right away!

Nezu

Exactly. But after you get used to it, you are even able to recall all at one time what you ate for dinner the last several nights in a row!

Hobonichi

Well, if the topic is food, it’s something you can definitely write about every day, isn’t it. And remembering your meals also seems fun. On another topic: What does the “66.5” notation mean?

Nezu

It’s my weight, in kilograms. I weigh myself when I get to the gym. It’s not good if it gets too low.

Hobonichi

Curry, stewed beef tendon, gyoza (dumplings). Your wife is amazing for cooking all of these dishes!

Nezu

Sometimes when she asks me what I want to eat, I open my techo and look back
so that I can think of something we haven’t eaten in awhile.

Hobonichi

(to Nezu’s wife, Miho): Did you know that he writes down all of his evening meals in his techo?

Miho

It was only recently that I learned about this. Also, I’ve never seen him write in his techo at home!

Hobonichi

How amazing that you just keep writing, and don’t show anyone!

Nezu

Yes, come to think of it, I guess I am pretty methodical about the whole thing.

Hobonichi

So your methodical approach is not because you want to show your techo to anyone else; it’s just simply for yourself, isn’t it. And you came up with new ideas along the way, like writing down your dinners. So if we wouldn’t have asked you about these things today, I guess you wouldn’t have shared them with anyone else. How very interesting! I suppose it’s also part of the uniqueness of the Hobonichi Techo that there are lots of other people out there who are doing similar things.

Nezu

I agree. And I think it’s only after I started using the Hobonichi Techo that I started writing in my planner with such regularity, because it’s much smaller than my previous one.

Hobonichi

Oh, really?

Nezu

Yes. I often take meeting minutes at the office, and when you do so, you need to be choosy with your words. I guess it’s the same kind of thing.

Hobonichi

Interesting. So in order to write in a limited amount of space, you need to select your words carefully in order to include only what’s simple and important.

Nezu

Precisely. I’ve learned to write down only those keywords that will allow me to recall what was said at the time.

Hobonichi

Thank you so much for showing us your techo today. We wish you all the best with your work in the future — and the same goes for your workouts!