Looking back on this year, I had Gemini create a 'monument to myself' that I'd want to display in my room

It seems the 'Kanji of the Year' representing the state of the world in 2025 has been decided as 'Bear' (Kuma), but if I were to choose one for myself personally, it would definitely be the single character 'Walk' (Ho).

My average daily step count this year was about 12,000 steps. Given that the average for my age group is said to be about 6,800 steps, I have been walking a distance far exceeding the average every single day.

Even though I must have heard about the importance of walking many times, and despite having had periods where I lived a sedentary life, this was the year I finally left the house just as I was, started walking, and came to truly realize that 'walking is good'.

Since the Google Gemini × note submission contest '#LookingBackWithAI' is currently being held, I decided to have Gemini analyze the Apple Watch data containing my step records for this past year.

I had the returned results summarized on a single slide.

The evaluation was higher than I imagined, and honestly, even though I was the one who requested it, I was quite taken aback. As I looked over it again and again, thinking, 'Wait, is this my current state...?', my surprise gradually turned into realization, and a sense of joy slowly welled up inside me.

While it might be a bit too much praise, I wanted to preserve this high evaluation in a form other than just a single slide. So, with the image of a 'monument to myself that I'd want to display in my room,' this is what I had Gemini generate.

I also had a horizontal version created for the header image.

It even came up with such a cool tagline that it's almost embarrassing.

* * *

In this article, I have summarized the steps I actually took to look back on the year with Gemini and to preserve the results as a form that symbolizes who I am this year.

For me, what symbolized this year was 'walking.'
But surely, everyone has their own theme that represents this year.

I hope this article serves as an opportunity for you to look back on your year and provides a hint for encountering something you might not have found on your own.

What I did to look back on the year with Gemini and have it take shape

The Gemini features I used for this reflection, in addition to the default chat function, were data analysis via 'Deep Research' and image generation via 'Nano Banana'. Upon checking, these can be used without issues with a Pro account, and depending on the content, it seemed possible to handle them with a free account as well.

The general flow consists of the following three steps. I will explain them in order.

1. Prepare the data you want analyzed

In my case, I wanted to have my Apple Watch data from this year analyzed, so I first consulted Gemini on 'what format would be best to provide the data in.' It then proposed the following two methods.

When I first tried providing the data as text, it still returned sufficiently interesting analysis results. At this point, I felt a positive response and thought, 'In that case, I'll provide it as a CSV and have it look at it in more detail.'

On creating CSV data

There are several ways to prepare data in CSV format from Apple Watch data, but they can be broadly divided into 'using a dedicated app' and 'executing a script.'This time, I chose the 'executing a script' method.

As shogi player Sota Fujii said, 'The thing I got most hooked on this year was vibe coding,' even someone who isn't a professional engineer can achieve quite a lot if they convey 'I want to do this' in natural language. I felt that sense myself through my daily work.

Thinking 'Let's give it a try,' I had Gemini prepare a script to create CSV data based on the exported Apple Watch data, and I executed it. As a result, I was able to successfully obtain the CSV data.

In the process, I noticed a few things, so I will summarize them here.

* * *

Things I was careful about when preparing the data

It is better to convey the purpose of the analysis in advance
In my case, because there was a big change between four years ago and now, I conveyed the purpose of 'wanting to analyze this change' to Gemini in advance.

As background, there is the circumstance that remote work began due to the global spread of the novel coronavirus in 2020, and with the disappearance of commuting, the daily average number of steps had plummeted from about 8,000 to 2,700.

Based on this history, I decided to handle data for the approximately five-year period from 'January 1, 2021, to December 17, 2025.'

It is better to be bold and narrow down the analysis items
Initially, I was thinking, 'I want to provide all the data and learn insights I wouldn't notice myself.' When I conveyed that intention, I received advice from Gemini that 'information tends to become scattered, and analysis takes time, so it is better to narrow it down to major items.'

Following this advice, I decided to limit the analysis items to only 'average steps, total distance, active energy, resting heart rate, VO₂ Max, and walking speed.' As a result, I feel this decision was the right one.

Also, I decided to summarize the data units by year, rather than by day or month. Since this year's data was up to December 17, 2025, I made it a script that also calculates the estimated total and average values based on the results up to that point.

Be careful that step data is 'Apple Watch only'
When I executed the script to export the CSV, I noticed that the number of steps was about twice the actual amount. When I checked, the cause was that the steps from the Apple Watch and iPhone were being combined.

So, I had the script adjusted to use only the Apple Watch data, and it was successfully resolved.

2. Have Gemini analyze the prepared data

I provided the prepared CSV data to Gemini and requested a full-scale analysis using 'Deep Research.' When using features like 'Deep Research' or 'Nano Banana,' it is recommended to treat each as a separate persona and proceed by 'creating a new chat'.

Actually, in my initial request, I had shared step count data that combined figures from my Apple Watch and iPhone. I explained that point, attached the corrected data, and asked for the analysis again.

A few minutes later, a report of about 2,000 characters was returned. The evaluation was higher than I had imagined from the start, to the point where I was a bit bewildered.

Since including the full text would result in too much information, I will excerpt and introduce a few points that left a particular impression here.

* * *

Summary of analysis results (from Gemini Deep Research)

1. Activity level is in the top class among peers
According to the 2025 data, the average daily step count is about 12,000. Compared to the average for my age group, this is about double, and it was evaluated as statistically in the top 5-10% level. It was described as a 'state where you are not overexerting yourself and are consistently maintaining the zone with the highest health benefits'.

2. Cardiorespiratory fitness is at a level significantly younger than actual age
VO₂ Max (maximal oxygen consumption) far exceeds the standards for the late 40s and is at a 'Superior' level. Numerically, it is equivalent to someone in their late 20s, and the evaluation was that the effects of long-term aerobic exercise are clearly evident.

3. Resting heart rate is closer to that of an athlete
The average resting heart rate is in the mid-50s. This is significantly lower than the typical value for my age group, and it was noted that there are signs of a tendency toward an athletic heart, a state where the heart is working efficiently.

4. What happened over 5 years is a change in 'quality' rather than 'quantity'
Comparing 2021 and 2025, while the number of steps has increased significantly, the energy expenditure per step has decreased. This means that I have adapted to a body that can move longer with less energy, which Gemini described as 'a significant improvement in activity fuel efficiency'.

5. Overall evaluation is a dramatic improvement in lifestyle habits
The overall evaluation was that what was considered an 'inactive' level in 2021 has changed by 2025 to a state close to an ideal model case for maximizing health span.

* * *

What left the biggest impression on me personally was the evaluation 3. Resting heart rate is closer to that of an athlete. Actually, I have frequently received 'low heart rate notifications' where my heart rate drops below 50 bpm, and while I thought it was likely a tendency toward an athletic heart, it was also a point of slight concern.

Seeing the comprehensive analysis results this time, including step counts and VO₂ Max, I found that this tendency is supported by data, and honestly, I felt relieved.

To make this text report easier to understand intuitively, I also had a 'web page' generated. Here it is.

Regarding the '2021 vs 2025 Growth Analysis (Annual Projection)' graph, items with different units were displayed as raw numbers, which felt a bit off. So, I requested a correction to compare each item using relative values, and here is what was generated again.

While the graph itself became much easier to read, this time, even the numerical parts outside the graph were replaced with relative displays.

Through this interaction, I realized that it is important to clearly communicate in advance 'what should be relativized and what should remain as raw numbers'.

I digressed a bit, but with this, the preparations to create a 'form that symbolizes myself this year' are complete.

3. Having Gemini give shape to the analysis results

Since image generation requires a request to a different persona called 'Nano Banana,' I handled it by 'creating a new chat.' In fact, I have a 'channel for image generation' prepared in advance, and whenever I want to create an image, I always make sure to ask in that channel.

This time, I shared an analysis report of about 2,000 characters along with the comment, 'Could you please summarize the following report into a single slide-style presentation document as an image?'

Then, the image I introduced at the beginning appeared from the very first attempt.

It was quite high quality from the start, and while I thought, 'Wow...', I wanted to see designs with a slightly different direction, so I made a few additional requests.

For example, a design summarized in a magazine style.

A design summarized in a handwritten notebook style.

The notebook-style design had many coffee cup stains drawn on it, which made me want to rewatch the movie 'The Usual Suspects' for the first time in a while.

All of them were satisfying enough, but I felt I wanted something that went a step further. So, I conveyed the image of a 'monument to myself that I'd want to display in my room,' and this is what Gemini generated for me again.

I also had it create a horizontal version for a header image.

It even came with a tagline so cool it made me a little embarrassed, but as 'a piece that symbolizes myself in 2025,' it was a very convincing finish.

Not just this time, but I've recently started thinking that it might be nice to actually print out the data that I've had shaped like this every year and display it in my room.

For reference, I have included the prompt I actually used when requesting the 'monument to myself that I'd want to display in my room.'

（添付のデータをもとに、）以下の方向で画像作成をお願いできますでしょうか。
ミニマリスト・アートポスター風
テーマ：「部屋に飾りたくなる、自分への記念碑」
文字や情報を極限まで削ぎ落とし、1つの象徴的なビジュアル（例：大きな円や波形）だけで
変化を語るスタイルです。

Summary

If I were to personally choose the 'Kanji of the Year' to represent the state of the world in 2025, it would undoubtedly be the character '歩' (walk/step). This project of 'creating a monument to myself for this year' started from that idea.

Four years ago, I averaged about 2,700 steps a day; now, it's about 12,000. Just looking at the change in step count, I felt that my body was changing in a positive direction. However, by having Gemini analyze it and compare it with people of the same age, realizing the fact that 'I am in a much better state than I thought' was a major harvest.

What I felt strongly through this initiative is that AI is not so much an entity that 'does something for you' as it is an entity that helps you organize your thoughts and give them shape.

In the process of refining the script specifications and deciding on the approach for the analysis, I was able to organize my thoughts naturally through repeated dialogue, which was very helpful.

Initially, I proceeded with this project assuming that I would just summarize the analysis results into a single slide. However, as I looked at the actual finished slide, the feeling of 'I want to see some different expressions' arose, and I decided to ask for a few additions.

During that process, when I consulted Gemini about 'what other images might be interesting,' one of the suggestions that came up was the idea of a 'monument to myself that I'd want to display in my room.' In fact, this form, which is my favorite this time, was born from Gemini's suggestion.

The reports and visuals created this time are merely a snapshot as of 2025. I feel that by continuing to look back on each year and giving it form in this way, I will be able to observe my 'state of being' for each passing year.

I wonder what kind of piece will be created next year. Looking forward to that, I would like to continue with this year's theme of walking for a while longer.

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