Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

Looking back, 2025 was an incredibly busy year for me, flowing straight into 2026. My school job kept me especially busy due to a band tour, and in December (from the 4th to the 20th) we travelled to Japan and Taiwan. During the tour, I was able to reconnect with old university friends and my former high school music teacher, which meant a lot to me. Seeing my family again was a real highlight, and we were even lucky enough to see some snow in my hometown of Kanazawa.

After a short recovery, I prepared for and performed at the Woodford Folk Festival 2025–2026 with Shugorei. The Woodford experience was truly special — being surrounded by such warm and enthusiastic audiences, dancing with us during our show, was incredibly moving. It was simply great to be there.

Soon after that, I flew to Tasmania to slow down and spend time with my family. Although it was meant to be summer, it was very cold, and I was lucky to see some leftover snow there as well. At the same time, we were blessed with several sunny days, warm enough to swim at the house beach — moments I really cherished.

Time passed so quickly, but within it I experienced so much — moments of challenge, joy, connection, and deep gratitude. As I prepare to return to school, I’d like to wish all of you a Happy New Year. I hope 2026 will be a peaceful, gentle, and fulfilling year for everyone.