Putting Wishes on Tanzaku 2025 | #TanabataTimeCapsule

Ahead of July 7th, Reiwa 7, I received this call to action from Kotoba-to-san.

An invitation to join everyone in celebrating Tanabata: 'Make a wish to the stars, make a vow to your future self.' It's wonderful. I would love to participate!

We are just at the halfway point of the year. Whatever happened to the 'plans for the year' I made on New Year's Day? Since this is a perfect opportunity, I'd like to post seven wishes, partly for good luck.

Please bear with me.

🎋 May these wishes come true in one year

May my whole family stay healthy and well

My child has become a middle schooler and is much more independent now. From here on out, I hope each of us can work hard and thrive in our own activities. Of course, I hope the dog stays healthy and thrives too. May we spend lots of time running and laughing together with the dog.

May I go on many day trips with my parents

My parents' health has its ups and downs. On days when they are feeling well, I want to go to the places they've said they want to visit. Since they are a bit worried about overnight stays and flying, I'll take them on easy, casual day trips by Shinkansen. Somehow, this feels even more time-limited than raising children. I should do it while I can.

May I continue my creative work on note

I hope to keep updating steadily every day. On note, I want to be honest about what I want to write, and I want to convey the sentiment of 'cherishing life' as many times as I can. Without forgetting my perspective as a nurse, I hope to deliver writing that stays in someone's heart. May it come true.

May I be able to publish on Kindle

I have about three themes I'm nurturing, and preparations are underway. I reread a manuscript I wrote a year ago and was surprised by how much I was in 'preachy mode.' I'm rewriting it over and over. I wonder if that means I've changed? I hope I can manage to release my first book this summer.

May the 18-person anthology ZINE be completed and may I enjoy selling it in person

This is a project I'm working on in a ZINE production course. It's a book that will surely make you feel happy when you read it. If 18 of us join forces, I feel sure we can deliver it to many people.

May I be able to make my own ZINE as well

I'd like to compile the note articles I've written so far into one book. A ZINE like a 'news sheet' collecting 30 of my favorite things would be nice, and a diary-style one is also appealing. My dreams keep growing, hoping to eventually finish a book I can call an 'essay collection'.

May I spend mornings with delicious coffee

I love coffee. It's no exaggeration to say I keep myself in good health just to drink coffee. I want to welcome a morning on a mountain top at least once and drink freshly ground coffee. A morning full of caffeine, accompanied by matcha sweets. Bliss.

May I be able to go on a trip to visit art museums and libraries across Japan at my own pace

Japan is full of beautiful architecture, and many works of art are carefully displayed as well. I want to travel freely and at my own pace in this truly blessed country. I want to spend some luxurious and quiet time. My goal is to become more light-footed and go on a journey of self-improvement!

I hope I can go abroad.

Before I knew it, it had been over 15 years since I last went abroad. First, I want to go to South Korea! I want to meet the Little Prince. I also want to fully enjoy the gourmet food. Someday, I want to go to the South of France, too. I would love to gaze at the Arles bridge that Van Gogh painted and the Montagne Sainte-Victoire that Cézanne used as a motif.

🎋 Summary

I intended to have seven wishes, but before I knew it, there were over ten.

I am surprised at how greedy I am. I thought that having more wishes is more fun, and I want to be someone who can talk about dreams honestly. Without holding back, I poured my prayers into the tanzaku, hoping that all of them will come true. I'm so greedy that I feel like my tanzaku alone will end up being extra-large, haha.

I am already looking forward to the day I open the time capsule one year from now.