Under the Blossoms, with Jenny. What I’m Carrying Into This Spring

There’s something about spring in Tokyo that feels like a quiet reset.
Not a dramatic change, but more like a gentle shift you slowly begin to notice.

Some people start something new.
Others simply continue where they left off.

I’ve come to feel that both are perfectly okay.
There’s no single way to begin again.

This year, I experienced something new for myself.
I ran my first race — the Omotesando Women’s 10K.

I’ve never really thought of myself as a runner.
In fact, not long ago, I wouldn’t have imagined doing something like this at all.

And yet, somehow, I found myself standing at the start line.

It wasn’t about time or performance.
Just finishing felt like enough.

When I crossed the finish line, nothing dramatic happened.
But something shifted, quietly, within me.

Through Jenny’s Cookies,
Shima Okinawa Protein Ramune, and Local Heroes,
I’ve had the chance to meet many people who truly care about how they live.

People who are intentional.
People who genuinely find joy in what they do.

Somewhere along the way, I came across a running community —
full of energy, but also something more grounded.

To be honest, I wouldn’t call myself a runner — not yet.

But watching them, being around that kind of energy,
made me feel like maybe I could try too.

There wasn’t a clear moment or reason.
I just… started.

Spring often comes with the pressure to change everything.
To become a new version of ourselves.

But maybe it doesn’t have to be like that.

Maybe it’s enough to keep what already feels good.
To move forward, just a little.

That might be more than enough.

The same goes for the small choices we make every day.

Choosing something that feels lighter.
Something you can actually continue.
Something you genuinely enjoy.

Over time, those small choices start to shape something bigger.

Under the blossoms, with Jenny.