––Why do you think you're able to continue writing in the Hobonichi Techo? You weren't sure how to use it in the beginning, right?

OkiIt became a habit to write at the end of the day, or after I get home. It does tend to be reflections or something I saw that day, and is more like a diary. Having said that, I don’t precisely decide what I write, and there are days I write down punchlines that I came up while talking with my wife.

––Do you spend time writing in your techo on your own?

OkiThere are days when I write after my family have gone to bed. There are also times when my daughter comes to see what I wrote before she sleeps. This is a chance to write with her, so I tend to hand my techo to her.

––So there are days when you write together. How is your time spend when you write in your techo? Do you concentrate solely on writing in your techo, or do you do something else while writing?

OkiOh... I actually don’t write in it while doing something else. I concentrate when I write. On days when writing seems like a chore, I simply write “I’m tired today” and write two days worth the next day. I do try to write everyday.

––If you write consistently, it’ll be fun to read back.

OkiI don’t currently plan to look back at it 10 years later, but I simply want to preserve my memory. For example, even with jobs I did two years ago, without a hint, it’s hard to remember what exactly I did. If I write it in my techo, however, I’ll know who I met at what job, and where I went. I think it’s nice to keep memos of these small facts for when I want to reflect on it.

––Do you have something that you definitely write?

OkiI write down schedules of when I need to be at a certain place, and write down my reflections that night. If I spent the day at home, I write a few lines about my family. Other than that, I write down results of my favorite baseball team, a movie I watched, and books I read. If there’s anything I felt that I wanted to write about my health or mood, I’d write that too. “I feel sleepy today” “I’m a bit tired” “It’s my day off, but I don’t feel like doing anything” ... things like this. There isn’t a right or wrong to what I write, but sometimes I get this weird feeling as I write. I sometimes ask myself whether I write thinking that it’ll be read by someone, but because I don’t, I rethink about it.

––Do you write things that you wouldn’t want someone to read it?

OkiI write reflections on my job. Before I write in things that happened during work that I didn’t feel was right, I have this instance in which I think that it’ll be bad if someone sees this. But, I don’t write in my techo to show it to someone. I think it’d be wrong if I don’t write in things I thought wasn’t right. I write my techo to ask myself questions. I always think to myself “If you think so, then write it” as I write down points that I wasn’t satisfied with.

––So it’s a techo for self-questioning. Do you write negative reflections a lot?

OkiI tend to when I go out to film for a TV show. I write things like “I wasn’t sharp enough” “I felt too strongly that I needed to say something good, and something that’s witty” “Even thought it was for a TV show focusing on history, I didn’t make enough humorous comments” - things like this.

––You really face your job with a passion.

OokiIt’s my habit from a long time ago, but I always make reflections in the bath on my own. I get out of the bath when I’m done reflecting. However, I wouldn’t have took notes of my reflections I did in the bath before using a techo. To think of it, there were probably a lot of things I thought of in my twenties and thirties, but forgot about because I didn’t take notes. There would’ve been things that only someone in their twenties would think about. I sort of regret that.

––Does everyone who appears on TV reflect the way you do?

OkiIt depends, but I think everyone would think about it a little bit. It’s just that I write down my reflections. There are days when things go really well at work, and I feel that at least on those days I can celebrate, but even on those days I try not to end that day feeling euphoric.

––Did you already have an habit to write down notes?

OkiI did have a note full of ideas when I was a comic duo, but that wasn’t a techo. I write more now that I use a Hobonichi Techo. At first I thought the techo wasn’t a place to write down ideas that came up to mind, but was to write in schedules, and at most reflections of my job that day. But that changed as I wrote more in my techo.

––I see.

OkiI started to think that it’s better if the techo turns into a notebook, a techo, a diary, and everything. I believe it’s better for it to be a techo that has everything about my year. It fitted me more for the techo to have everything about my job and family, rather than using it solely for work.

––Do you ever manage your schedule or write notes in your smartphone?

OkiI do write short memos on my smartphone, but I rewrite that in my techo once I go home. I don’t completely rely on digital memos because I previously wrote something in my smartphone and deleted it by accident. I also need to handwrite to fully understand something. I guess I have an old way of thinking.

––Do you think it’s old yourself?

OkiSince I was young, I was told that I won’t memorize something unless I write it down on, and I’m convinced by this. Funnily enough, when you compare comedians who write punchlines and ideas in their notebook or in their smartphone, it’s those who use a notebook that’s better for some reason.

––I wonder what the difference is. Is it how much thought you put in to it? Seeing your techo, I could tell that you face your job, family and hobbies seriously. Thank you for your time today!

OkiNot a problem, thank you.