Revisiting Daily Life
Time flies, and the year is almost over.
It feels like I've walked this far without even pausing to look back. It's only when I glance at the calendar that I realize how late in the year it is.
What tools have I spent this year with?
What dinner tables have I gathered around?
As the end of the year approaches, these are the thoughts that suddenly come to mind.
I want to prepare for the new year by tidying up my daily life.
Just by reviewing the things I use and wear every day, I feel that my daily life becomes much more comfortable, and my spirits are naturally lifted.
Wanting to keep using them, with a little care
The items I use for daily cooking are the first things I want to review.
Among them, the feel of the knife and cutting board greatly affects my satisfaction with the time I spend in the kitchen.
Both were new acquisitions when I moved to Kagurazaka, and I took my time choosing them because I wanted to cherish the time I spend in the kitchen.
Because I love them, I want to continue using them in good condition by taking proper care of them.
Resharpening the knife
For knives, I use a petty knife and a santoku knife made by Yuji Totani, a traditional craftsman from Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture.
In addition to their stylish appearance and comfortable grip, what I particularly love is how smoothly the blade cuts.
I've been using them for about a year and a half, and I still feel a small sense of wonder every time I use them.
To maintain this sharpness, I usually resharpen them myself once a season, but at the end of the year, I plan to ask Mr. Totani, the maker, for maintenance, also as a way of saying "thank you for your hard work this year."
Resurfacing the cutting board
For my cutting board, I use an ginkgo wood cutting board from woodpecker.
The knife's gentle impact on it makes me truly feel that I made a good choice.
After about a year and a half of use, fine scratches have appeared on the surface, and the color has gradually deepened.
I'm enjoying these changes as it feels like it's becoming a part of my daily life.
They say it can be reborn as good as new by resurfacing, but I'll keep my cutting board as it is for a while longer.
It's so comfortable to use that I'm thinking of getting a smaller size for when I only need to cut a little. A cloud shape also seems nice next time.
Things I want to keep choosing
While some items can be used for a long time with care, others, no matter how much you love them, will eventually need to be replaced. This year, I encountered many items that made me think, "I'll choose this again" without hesitation when the time came for a replacement.
Daikokuya's Octagonal Chopsticks
Daikokuya's chopsticks are one such item.
I've used many different kinds of chopsticks, but since discovering Daikokuya's, I've come to think, "I want these forever."
What first attracted me was their stylish appearance. I distinctly remember falling in love at first sight with their slender, minimalist form.
And then, I was surprised by how comfortable they felt in my hand.
The slender octagonal shape is designed to fit comfortably in anyone's hand, and I experience its excellent balance every time I use them.
The fact that they can be repaired if the tips break is another reason I want to keep choosing these chopsticks.
Even though they are consumables, I feel that Daikokuya's charm lies in the fact that you can maintain them and have a long relationship with them.
Reela's Room Shoes
Reela's room clogs are also indispensable.
When I moved to Kagurazaka and wanted to cherish the time I spent at home more, I found this pair in my quest for comfortable footwear.
They have a depth that comfortably cradles the foot, making them difficult to slip off while walking, and they remain comfortable even after long hours of wear.
Their simple design also makes them easy to match with my partner's preferences, which I appreciate.
FUJITAKA TOWEL Bath Towel
It is said that the ideal frequency for replacing bath towels is about once a year.
I'm currently using a bath towel from FUJITAKA TOWEL.
It still seems usable, but I've noticed that its fluffiness and feel against the skin have subtly changed, so I was thinking it might be time for a replacement.
I love how it's thick yet dries easily, its excellent absorbency when new, and how it gradually softens with each wash. I'm thinking of getting the same one again.
In the past, I often deliberated over "which one next" every time I replaced something, but recently, I've found more things I genuinely love, and I feel like I'm hesitating less.
The ability to want to choose the same thing again.
Perhaps that, too, is a sign that my daily life is gradually falling into place.
New items for the New Year
As my household items became more organized, I started to focus on what I wear.
I want to carefully choose things that touch my body for the new year.
With that in mind, I recently discovered items from me.
Skin-friendly Long Sleeve Top
The first time I saw it in the store, I was drawn to its light sheerness, gentle colors, and the delicate frilled edges on the cuffs and hem.
I usually choose subdued colors like white, black, gray, brown, and navy, but the soft, bright hues were also lovely, and I found myself drawn to colors I wouldn't normally pick up.
I intended to get it as an undershirt, but it's so cute that I want to show it off a little.
It's knitted from extra-fine merino wool, and it's surprisingly comfortable even when worn directly against the skin, so it seems like it would be very useful for business trips as well.
Merino Wool Mid-Calf Socks
Along with the long-sleeve top, I also got new merino wool socks.
Their mid-calf length is perfect for wearing with skirts. The color range from me. is all so appealing that I always find myself deliberating which to choose. The moderate mid-calf length strikes a good balance, making them easy to pair with both skirts and trousers.
Cute socks just seem to lift your mood, don't they?
Reflecting on Life at the End of the Year
Things I want to keep using with care.
Things I want to keep choosing in the future.
And things I've newly welcomed for the New Year.
What I realized upon reflection is that life gradually falls into place.
And that it's okay to slowly encounter things that make you think, "I want to use this for a long time" in the future.
Preparing for the new year isn't about making big changes, but rather about starting by re-examining your own life.
At this turning point, why not take a moment to reflect on your own life?
Let's welcome a rich year by gradually adding things we want to cherish in the future.
