Essays

EssaysThe Psychology of Money: Wealth Is What You Don't See

I recently read The Psychology of Money. Here are a few points that really resonated with me, and how they connect to some decisions I made this year.

Jul 18, 20264 min

Essays · TravelA Road Trip Through Kansai, Sleeping in My Car

At the end of April, I set out from Tokyo with a head full of worries, passing through Shizuoka, Nagoya, Kyoto's Arashiyama, the Nintendo Museum, Nara's mountain roads, Wakayama... Five days later, not a single worry remained.

Apr 26, 20266 min

EssaysThree Months as an Engineering Manager: Learning to Manage in Unfamiliar Territory

Three months into the promotion, I took on two projects I knew nothing about. No fancy methodologies—just showing up to standups, digging through Jira, and asking people. On making priority calls amid uncertainty, and why I've stopped stressing about "reading more management books."

Feb 14, 20265 min

Essays2025 Year in Review: On Choices and Letting Go

In 2025, I bought a house in Japan, switched tech stacks, got promoted to Engineering Manager, and adjusted my writing rhythm. This year was full of decisions, and every decision meant giving something up. This is my year-end review and my thoughts on 2026.

Dec 26, 20256 min

EssaysA Developer's Ramblings on the Road to Becoming a Manager

"Want to give being a Manager a shot next half?" The CTO's casual remark after lunch opened a new chapter in my career. I was criticized the last time I was a Team Leader—can I do better this time? This post captures the preparations, worries, and expectations on the eve of the transition.

Nov 08, 20253 min

Essays · RailsHaste Makes Waste

While refactoring a project that I migrated from Phoenix to Rails, I realized that a lot of messy code isn't poorly written—it's poorly thought out. Instead of writing and revising as you go, it's better to think one step ahead before you start. As that famous line from JoJo goes: the detour is the shortest shortcut.

Oct 10, 20252 min