A Thought Experiment
For a moment, think of all of the wonders of Tokyo, full of skyscrapers and financial districts, convenience stores and fine dining, clubs and venues and arcades. Imagine the opportunities all of this modernization affords, and the lifestyles you can reasonably pursue in such an environment. Play with that experience in your mind, feel yourself drifting towards it, ensconced by the splendor of it all, enraptured by the life of leisure and prosperity that you’ve achieved.
Great! Let’s put that aside for a moment and go in a different direction: try to conjure images of the cold depths of Space. The supreme loneliness of a wandering star amidst the darkness. The eldritch entanglement between celestial bodies, and the culmination of all of these factors and more: The sublime contraction of atomic forces resulting, first, in a neutron star, the most densely compacted material in the universe, and then, a black hole, inescapable and ravenous.
Now, combine those two mental creations of yours: the decadent wonders of the city and the brutal truths of physics. Juxtapose the dense cultures and populations of Tokyo against the densities of the heaviest objects in the cosmos, and, similarly, combine the chain reactions they create. A city you can’t escape, a city so magnificent it will crush you, and so immense it will render your entire existence meaningless.
This irresistible force exists, in its own way, and I call it, simply, "cultural gravity." It tethers individuals to the bright lights, resources, and comforts of urban juggernauts, leaving them powerless, lost in its thrall. It is a deterministic beast, that holds those who have passed the event horizon in its clutches indifferently; if you cross it, it will own you. Defying this cosmic phenomenon, which holds us in its captivating orbit, unlocks the path to exhilarating and unconventional experiences.
Or so it seems, anyway. This deterministic reality created by the cultural gravity of Tokyo is immensely powerful, but not so powerful as it may seem, or as it implores you to think. My travels across Japan are mostly rural, but for the sake of the sci-fi metaphor I’ve been building and intend on pursuing, let’s call those travels cosmic: if you can define the escape velocity of a supergiant like Tokyo, and then devise the means to achieve it, you too can break free of it’s trap, and embark on extraordinary adventures across Japan's diverse landscapes while still appreciating the grandeur of the Metro Area.
Understanding Cultural Gravity
Welcome to the cosmic realm of cultural gravity, where major metro areas like Tokyo act as celestial powerhouses—neutron stars or black holes—exerting a magnetic force that draws individuals into their orbits, unlikely to be released if left to their own devices. These urban centers offer an unparalleled combination of abundant resources, unrivaled convenience, and a pulsating cultural scene, creating a gravitational pull that keeps us tightly bound within their accretion disc.
As cultural cosmonauts, our challenge is to recognize the allure of this cosmic force and understand its potential limitations upon ourselves and the groups we participate in and contribute to. While major metro areas provide a cornucopia of opportunities, cultural gravity can lead to a cosmic complacency, anchoring us in predictable routines that hinder our ability explore the unfamiliar wonders of the universe.
As cosmic pioneers, we must recognize this cosmic cycle and muster the courage to break free from its gravitational clutches. By embracing a stellar mindset that seeks novelty and exploration, we can overcome the gravitational pull and embark on a cosmic journey to the outer limits of contemporary society.
Strategies for Cosmic Exploration
Ready to embark on a cosmic odyssey and unleash your inner explorer? Let's chart a celestial course to defy cultural gravity and dive deep into the cosmic wonders of the world’s diverse non-metro landscapes. To embark on such an adventure necessarily requires a pioneering mindset, even if the spaces we’re going to are only metaphorically antithetical to human life, unlike the extreme gravities of warped space-time. By challenging the prevailing mindset that equates major metro areas with the pinnacle of lifestyle experiences, we open ourselves to the cosmic possibilities that await beyond popular culture’s gravitational pull. Embrace the belief that extraordinary experiences await beyond the density of the megalopolis, where The Cosmic Essence lies untapped.
Secondly, a cosmic showcase of rural Japan's brilliance is imperative. By viscerally interacting with strange happenings and spooky distances across the entire country, we awaken a sense of wonder in ourselves and fellow travelers. Collaborating with these communities, we ignite a spirit of exploration and curiosity, launching into a naturally occurring virtuous cycle of communication and interaction. Cosmic connections are essential for bridging the expanse between urban and rural communities. Through these interstellar exchange programs, cosmic volunteer initiatives, and collaborative space projects, we foster interstellar understanding and create a constellation of appreciation. By enhancing Faster-Than-Local (FTL) travel, we facilitate nearly seamless integrations between major metro areas and outer spaces. Utilizing train lines, establishing shared transportation services, and developing digital platforms to connect explorers with destinations is essential.
Lastly, an educational space odyssey can be a transformative step in our cosmic exploration. Integrating novel experiences into the educational cosmos is crucial. Excursions into the cosmic background can expose us to unique and rare - and powerful - beams of cultural energy, which can excite cosmic curiosity, and ultimately change the molecular structure of our consciousness-perceiving brains. By fostering a cosmic mindset from a young age, we nurture a generation of pioneers eager to explore the cosmic wonders that lie beyond the event horizon of Tokyo.
The Local Cluster Awaits
I encourage you to defy cultural gravity, explore the unknown, and embark on extraordinary cosmic adventures across Japan's diverse non-metro landscapes. Unleash your inner astronaut, transcend cultural complacency, and discover the cosmic essence that awaits beyond Tokyo’s event horizon. By doing so, you’ll forge a path of discovery and embrace the richness of Japan's cosmic tapestry.
Newsworthy
This is the section where I highlight all of my notable activities. Really, this is more of just a way for me to journal everything that I’m up to for myself to reference, but hey, I guess it can also be an ego boost.
Worship Pain, Again
I’ve played in a bunch of bands, but not for a while now. Coronavirus really fucked that up. If I remember correctly, my last show was at the end of February 2020, and it was with Worship Pain. Then everything locked down, I started new businesses, expanded my geographic foot print, and generally lost the momentum I had been building with regards to actually creating music.
Truthfully, this is the major negative result of the pandemic for me. Had a lot of big wins, but actually playing music took a massive hit.
So anyway, I’ve been discussing rebooting that arrangement with the band, and it looks like we’re getting back on track. I’ll be starting up with the band for a 2nd time, and the plan right now is to have our first concert on Nov. 18. I’ve already locked that date in, and am currently learning the new songs while also developing the lineup, which was par for the course back in the day.
Glad to be getting back on that horse. Let’s see how nervous I get when the date begins approaching lol.
Akiya & Inaka on Australia’s SBS
Australia’s SBS got in touch with Akiya & Inaka maybe 2 months back about filming a documentary show with us, and true to their word, they came, they shot, and they left!
Over the course of 3 days, we traveled to abandoned properties in Chiba, Saitama, and Nagano, showing them the ropes of the akiya business, what the factors behind it are, and even getting a few clients to come on camera with us to check out some houses.
Had a great time doing this, though it sure was exhausting. Glad to have it done with, too, and looking forward to any business it might generate!
The Web3 is Strong
Blockchain. Crypto. Web3. Defi. CEX. Whatever. There’s all sortsa things being thrown around out there regarding this “revolutionary” technology which has, thus far, taken 15 years to produce much in the way of outstandingly notable and positive.
I’m very interested in the space, sure. There’re all sorts of neat ideas floating around in the micro-ether of that ecosystem, yet so little of it - if any, really - has been actualized. Lots of smart people operating in the space, too, thus my attraction to it. And jeez louise has that attraction been growing since I last checked in with the likes of IVS, Digital Springs, WebX, and more!
The Japanese Vinyl Experiment Marches On!
JP Vinyl was primarily intended as an experiment in the real-world use of AI, but, I mean, there is a profit motive behind it too. And that’s going pretty well, as much as one could hope for with such a quickly developed model!
And so, kind of like clockwork, one of the ongoing developments for it is introductions to the plethora of Japanese artists that have internationally gone under the radar for so long. Granted, I’ll send anyone anything they like, but - surprise, surprise - music popular during Japan’s heyday of the 70’s and 80’s has proven to be most alluring to customers.
Thus, it makes a lot of sense for me to focus on creating that content versus, say, goregrind. I’ve been releasing artist profiles at a relatively reliable clip, and the most recent one is for Miki Asakura. Never hear of her? Neither had I! But you can discover her melodies and more over on the JP Vinyl site now, and maybe even sign up for a box!
Blood Beer Success!
We hosted Blood Rite Vol. 16 at Earthdom and then the following weekend did a Doomed Godz DJ event, both in Shinjuku, in support of our beer collaboration with Yggdrasil Brewery, and sold out the lot! Not to mention we’ve also got more orders than we currently have capacity for, which is one helluva nice development.
Truth be told, I’m actually really surprised at how well all this turned out. Sure, I’ve probably bought 100s of gallons of beer at concerts over the course of my life, but its always been as an attendee or a performer, never with product sales in mind. Now that we actually have a product to keep my eye on and wring my hands over, holy hell does beer move fast at music events. Blink, and you’ll miss it!
AI @ University of Tokyo
Honestly, this was pretty underwhelming, but I went because Andrew Ng was speaking but like half of it was pitches for using Linkedin and I don’t remember what the rest of it was.
This is exactly the kind of stuff I expect from the University of Tokyo, so can’t say I’m surprised. Borrrrring. Except I wore my battle jacket so that was cool.
Get Wise
Wise - formerly Wise Transfer - is a no-brainer for anyone living abroad that needs to transfer funds between various bank accounts across borders, especially in Japan where the domestic banking system is archaic and made of spaghetti.
Orders of magnitude faster than domestic bank transfers, and way cheaper, Wise streamlines a whole helluva lot of otherwise complex and costly financial operations that need to be done not to just conduct business but just to keep peace of mind regarding your own personal finances. Highly recommended.
Alrighty, here we stand at the renowned crossroads un-affectionately called the 'paywall.' Up above, you've had the pleasure of a tantalizing glimpse into my realm, a delightful public preview for one and all. Yet, brace yourselves, for what resides below, my dear companions, are the prized gems of insight and distinctive outlooks that weave my path—think of them as the secret seasoning to my triumphs.
Intrigued but not yet a member of the inner circle? Fret not! Your moment has arrived, a splendid opportunity to seize your golden ticket and step aboard!
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Above & Below to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.