Money accumulates, but the food tastes bland

Life is determined not by "money," but by "who you eat with."

Money accumulates.

But the food doesn't taste good. It's tasteless.

Perhaps no other phrase so succinctly captures the spirit of the modern single man.

Working from morning till night, practicing frugality, learning about investments, and watching assets grow steadily.

Yet at night, the food eaten alone at a restaurant or from a delivery container has no flavor at all.

On the smartphone screen, others are enjoying group trips, laughing with lovers, and celebrating birthdays in large crowds.

I have assets and I have freedom.

Even so, there is no battlefield as quiet as a dining table where there is no one to share a meal with.

Revisiting the importance of human connection

Ultimately, everyone knows somewhere deep down that life's happiness is determined by the quality and quantity of interpersonal interactions.

Psychological research also suggests that "social connection" is the strongest predictor of happiness. The bestseller "The Good Life" reaches the same conclusion.

It is not annual income, health, or academic background. Visible things suffer from diminishing returns.

"Who you eat with, who you laugh with, and who you share silence with" determines human happiness.

The medium for this is "the meal."

The act of sharing a meal is more than just nutritional intake.

It is the oldest and most primitive ritual where people open up to each other and confirm their mutual existence.

Many human relationships begin at the dining table and end at the dining table.

Family, friends, and lovers alike.

Whether or not you have someone to share a meal with determines the richness of your life.

The reality of single men

However, the reality in Japan is harsh.

Statistically speaking, unmarried men have overwhelmingly lower levels of happiness than married men or women.

The rate of social isolation is also high, and many cases of solitary death are concentrated among middle-aged and elderly men.

The reason is simple: men have fewer "circuits for making friends" than women,

and the moment they leave the workplace, their social interactions decrease drastically.

In the first place, for men, because their communication style is based on "information exchange" and "debate" rather than "empathy" and "acceptance," the hurdle for interpersonal relationships is fundamentally high.
And once you fall, you are not easily taken seriously by others.

This applies to both men and women, but in the case of women, even if they fall, they have abundant social networks of both the same and opposite sex, as well as safety nets, so they are, in a sense, "easier to fail" and "easier to fall" than men.
In other words, the risk of falling is lower for them than for men, and that is reflected in the freedom of their life planning. Men are not really permitted to fail, be defeated, or fall within their gender.
They are constantly required to "make an effort" and "win" (after entering the workforce, "friendship" is difficult to establish). In short, they are focused on competition and its results, living in a world different from women, who prioritize conformity and the process.

Even if one has been successful economically.

Living in a luxury apartment, earning an annual income that requires a tax return, and seeing assets in stocks and real estate increase steadily every month.

However, there is no one to share a meal with.

Even if you go to a high-end restaurant alone on your day off,

delicious food is just "taste" and does not become a "memory."

For memories, the presence of others is necessary.

Die with Zero

In Bill Perkins' masterpiece "Die With Zero",

"Money is meaningless if you don't spend it" is preached.

The purpose of life is not the maximization of assets, but the maximization of memories.

The essence of life lies in the travels, friendships, romances, and meals experienced in one's youth, rather than the money saved for old age.

In other words, "money is fuel for memories," and

if you save too much, you become a car with a full fuel tank that can never start driving.

Before we know it, we are spellbound by the term "asset formation" and

have lost the ability to savor the "here and now."

An evening at an izakaya laughing with someone,

a casual afternoon at a cafe,

a simple bowl of ramen eaten with someone you love.

These might be the very moments that make you feel "I'm glad I lived" when you look back later.

Unless there is an illness, no one can truly predict when they will die.

Every day could potentially be your "last supper."

Asset formation and happiness

Of course, money is necessary.

Without money, you cannot gain freedom or choices.

However, money only guarantees happiness when it is used with others.

In solitude, money is nothing more than a number.

Even if the Nikkei Stock Average rises or the US Federal Reserve decides to cut interest rates,
a night when your LINE doesn't ring is far too quiet.

The reason the food tastes bland is not due to your sense of taste, but a "lack of sharing."

If you have someone to share a plate with and laugh together,

even instant ramen tastes delicious.

And those memories are what become your 'life assets'.

In conclusion

In the coming era, I believe a truly wealthy person is someone who,

has accumulated not just financial assets, but 'memory assets' as well.

It is important to earn, protect, and grow your money.

But just as much, or perhaps even more,

I want to cherish 'who I eat with'.

Money may accumulate, but the meal tastes bland.

That is precisely why you need the courage to use money as a 'tool to create memories'.

The level of happiness in life is not determined by the thickness of your wallet,

but by 'who you laughed and ate with'.

…So, for a while, I'm going abroad to enjoy local food with the locals.