Towards the Fun Indicated by the Compass #ToKotobato2026

Around the end of last year, I was on the verge of being shipwrecked in this vast ocean called note.

Even though there should have been many people, there was no response.
Likes and follows were almost zero.
I could only hear voices that sounded like they were having fun.

I felt anxious, as if I had become an invisible person.
I felt lonely and scared.
I didn't even know what to do.
I was struggling on my own, crying out in confusion.

Although I kept updating every day with reckless abandon,
just as I was starting to lose track of what I should write about.

I think it was on the recommended page...?
I saw something called a '30-Day Writing Program'.

When I looked it up, it seemed that to use it,
I needed to join a community called 'Kaku-bu' (Writing Club).
I didn't really understand what a community was, but
since I've loved things like '100 Topics' since the mixi era,
I became very interested.

The name 'Kaku-bu' also gave me the image of an adult club,
so I imagined I could easily join in the fun.

After hesitating for about a week, I decided to join the 'Kaku-bu'.
And I wrote my 'nice to meet you' post.
Then, to my surprise!
My note, which had had no reaction at all, suddenly got a bunch of likes.

At the time, I couldn't even imagine getting over 50 likes.
In my sea where there had been no sign of people, I began to see others.

From then on, whenever I had free time,
I would read the articles registered in the 'Kaku-bu' magazine,
leave likes and comments, or receive them.
I spent my time interacting with people in the community.

It was as if my monochrome note had suddenly become colorful.
I started thinking about writing in various ways,
and I, who had been satisfied with just a personal diary, had somehow
started thinking for myself and experimenting with how to write
text that would be fun for others to read.

Lately, I've become a bit greedy.
I want to know how to write better,
how to get more people to say it was interesting,
and I can't help but want to be able to do it.
I feel frustrated when I can't write well.

This is all thanks to meeting Kotobato-san and the 'Kaku-bu'.

Thanks to Kotobato-san, I've been able to connect with many people,
gained opportunities to challenge myself with various things,
and I'm able to receive happiness and fun every day.

Kotobato-san is a compass for me when I was lost.
They have become a guide for the direction I want to head in,
showing me the path to keep moving forward without stopping.

If I hadn't been able to meet Kotobato-san,
I might have remained all alone
and given up on enjoying note.

Thank you so much for creating such a wonderful place called 'Kaku-bu',
for searching every day for how to make it even better,
and for working hard so that everyone can have a good time.

▼ I've received words from several people saying they joined the Writing Club because I kept talking about it so happily ✨

▼ Shiina Otowa-san, thank you for the wonderful project 💛

▼ An article I wrote timidly as a greeting, which received so many likes from the seniors in the writing club

#ToKotobasan2026