French pen friend came to my town

He's been my friend since 5 years ago. It's from the same generation as me. We encountered each other on this app slowly and he is a Japanese lover so he came to Japan many times in the past. We first met each other 2 years ago in Osaka. At the moment we promised I will guide him to my hometown, so he came to my town this year. We visited shrines, theaters and a ramen restaurant. We enjoyed my city.

Indonesian penpal gave me a lovely poetry, I will show you

From Indonesia, this poetry arrived at me. This is written by my pen friend and I guess he describes himself in this poem. Lovely. I also like to make short Japanese poems. I would like to show you this impressive poem.

Steps on the Horizon

by Dwi Anto

There’s a whisper in the wind calling me

Far from the city, far from quiet memories

The vast sky promises untold tales,

On every horizon, a story yet to be unveiled.

Small steps carve a path anew,

Treading foreign lands, defying bounds.

Mountains whisper in their silence,

The seas stretch wide, in freedom profound.

Ancient towns hold timeless memories

In their alleys full of mystery,

Strangers’ faces become dear friends,

New languages dance as the journey extends.

Oh, world that never rests,

You offer colours and meanings untold

I am but a humble traveller,

Thirsting for the longing and scents you hold.

Each journey is a dream realised,

Each step a poem crystallised,

On the map of my heart, I mark my tales

This desire will never pale.

Carry me, oh winds of adventure,

Through valleys, hills, and endless seas,

Until my breath meets the horizon's edge,

And the world becomes home to me.

"A 60 year old man is young, right?"

“A 60 year old man is young.” We are sometimes told by older people. But. Is it really? As for me, around the age of 55, I have gotten easily tired step by step. Additionally I get a cold easily. So I'm disappointed in myself now.

Life is not easy.  To be honest, it was hard to live when I was in my 40s. My 30s were the same and also my 20s were. Anyway I have lived somehow until now, and the day of retirement is close to me. But I still feel anxious and melancholic now.

So I actually began to read the novel “No Longer Human” again. This is a novel written by the famous Japanese author Osamu Dazai. This novel is very dark but it’s fascinating to many young people in the world. I’m not sure the reason. I can say this novel describes humans' profound mentality.

The main character in this novel tried to have a suicide again and again. He had been feeling anxiety very much since his childhood. He had been afraid of other people in society because he couldn’t understand what society is. And, because he always felt huge anxiety, he always wanted to die. And unfortunately this author ended up having a suicide after writing this novel. Maybe this main character is the author himself. That's why it's tragic and interesting.

However, I don’t know if everyone understands what society is, and also they are living in this society. So, why do human beings feel anxious, even if they don’t have a dangerous situation now? Maybe I’m afraid that I don’t know what will happen from now on. I mean, it’s what will happen after my age of 60. I’m getting forward to my death day by day. 

When I was living with my beloved dog, I noticed. They don’t think anything about their future. They don’t take care of anything about their future. For them, it’s important only to think about the current situation. If they have food to eat today or not. If they stay with family now. So they looked like they didn't feel anxious. I envy them, animals.

For people who are 80 years old, 60 year old people are young. For 60 year old people, 50 or 40 year old people are young. Of course 20 year old people are definitely young. Although, I’m not sure if I’m young now. So, I want to ask you, if you feel anxious now. How is it?

Ah, I want to live like that beloved dog. I feel anxious today too.