Living as an "Associator." The true intention behind Re:Tech Japan's challenge to the Amazon Associates program.

Hello! This is Re:NISSAN from Re:Tech Japan. Thank you for always reading.

As I reported the other day, I have finally been accepted into the Amazon Associates program. Receiving this acceptance felt like a good opportunity to re-examine my own position. For me, this acceptance is more than just "permission to post advertisements"; it feels like I have gained some kind of guiding principle.

■ The words I encountered beyond the hurdle of being a "designer"

My main job is as an engineer at a small, humble company, but recently my design work has increased, and just as I was raising the bar for myself and starting to call myself an "industrial designer," I encountered a NOTE by the renowned conceptor Naoki Sakai titled "Episode 1: Why I am a 'Conceptor' and not a 'Designer'," which left a deep impression on me.

To "call oneself" something is not just a presentation of a role, but a declaration of where one places their own "philosophy."

■ Engineer, designer, and DIYer. As a point of integration for these.

Come to think of it, my main job as an engineer and industrial designer, my side jobs as a blogger and YouTuber, and my life's work as a DIYer—these activities, which seem disparate, were connected by a single thread at their core.

That was when I came up with a new word to define our position. That word is "Associator." (I apologize if this word already exists!)

■ What is an Associator?

The world is overflowing with the term "affiliate." However, that is not what I am aiming for.

An Associator is not someone who simply posts links, but someone who is in "association" (symbiosis) with the product, verifies it with their own hands, and connects its value to the real world (Associate).

Most of the equipment at Re:Tech Japan is purchased with my own money. I sweat, get my fingers dirty, and sometimes despair while failing, but I repeat the verification process in the real world, not just by installing it on my beloved Avenir. I believe that only with this backing of "real experience" can I become an "Associator" of that product.

■ The founding spirit of Re:Tech Japan: The resistance called "modernization retrofitting"

When I launched Re:Tech Japan, the spirit at its core was "not giving up just because something is old." Even if manufacturers discontinue parts, stop providing software, and try to swallow things in a wave of "planned obsolescence," we resist with the weapon of DIY.

Equipping a 25-year-old car with the latest around-view monitor and building the best sound system. It is a small, yet firm exercise of "individual freedom" (an antithesis) against a modern society that prioritizes efficiency above all else.

■ The scenery seen beyond the gritty effort

Actually, when I was rejected during the second screening, I was so shocked that I even considered quitting. However, the faces of everyone who supports me came to mind, and I resolved that "it would be rude to run away now." I rewrote all my articles for the Associates program, and after months of struggle, I finally grasped those two characters for "accepted."

This gritty process is the true essence of Re:Tech Japan.

■ Continuing on as an Associator.

I will continue to send only the things I am convinced of out into the world as an "Associator." While I may laugh and say "tehepero," behind the scenes, I will continue to thoroughly verify things and present the "reasons and evidence" that will make your car life and real life even a little bit richer. (I hope you will kindly forgive me if I am sometimes biased.)

Partnering with Amazon is the "wings" to further accelerate our activities. Re:Tech Japan will continue to run forward with all of you and with our beloved cars.

So we don't get called 'Associ-scum'... (lol)

■Hashtags

#Associator #AmazonAssociates #FoundingSpirit #PhilosophyOfDIY #ModernizationRetrofit #SelfFundedReview #Avenir #W11 #ReTechJapan #DIYIsAtYourOwnRisk

The equipment introduced on the Re:Tech Japan blog is primarily purchased, installed, and verified by Re:NISSAN at their own expense. Re:Tech Japan earns income from qualifying sales as an Amazon Associate.

※Warning: Always follow the instruction manual for correct usage. The challenge known as DIY is always performed at one's own risk. #DIYIsAtYourOwnRisk