#Well-being Time: Reading Submitted Works, Part 1

Various voices are gradually being gathered for the currently ongoing "#Well-being Time" submission contest. Today, we will introduce some of the individual #Well-being Time stories that the Cheerful note editors have encountered.

◼︎ Japanese Sweets | Freelance Wagashi Artisan | 12 Months of Wagashi by <<Wa no Kasanou>> [2025] (Kiriko @ Nichinichi Kore Kojitsu)

[A word from the editorial department]
Taking the time to look at, taste, and record the Japanese sweets that arrive each month without rushing.
Such a monthly routine seems to have become a rhythm of life.

◼︎ Travelogue / Totsukawa & Nanki: A Journey of World Heritage Sites, Hot Springs, and Pandas (2025/05) (Nekoyama)

[A word from the editorial department]
The "not-so-good" parts of the trip, such as the weather and the fatigue of traveling, are written about just as they were. Although there are no longer any pandas in Wakayama, I believe there are things in other tourist destinations that change with the seasons and time. In that sense, it might be best to take a trip as soon as you think of it.

◼︎ #001 Pumpkin Rhapsody (Rei Mizushima)

[A word from the editorial department]
This is a story about pumpkins that depicts the conflicts, regrets, and growth of a child. It is a story where, even though emotions sometimes clash, the relationship is never broken, and the bond between parent and child deepens.

◼︎ Talking about "Listening and Speaking" for Caregivers! _ Nobuyuki Koseko x Kodo-Kan _ Collaboration Seminar Report [Part 2] The Background of Children's "Troublesome Behavior" and Cheers for Supporters (Care Support by Chuohoki)

[A word from the editorial department]
The hardships faced by the supporters themselves are also laid out without being hidden, and I felt my posture change a little while reading it. I felt that even on days when things don't go well, the act of continuing the conversation itself becomes a source of support.

◼︎ 10 Classic J-Pop Songs That Make Parents Emotional When Their Children Sing Them (Nonchalant)

[A word from the editorial department]
While there are nostalgic songs and songs that might be a bit too mature for children to sing, I felt that there are masterpieces that shine even brighter precisely because children are the ones singing them.

◼︎ The Story of Turning My Passion into a Career and Realizing It Was About "People" All Along | Becoming a Tour Guide at 45 (An | Expanding the World by Reading, Looking at Myself by Writing)

[A word from the editorial department]
From the perspective of what she thinks about when approaching the job of a tour guide, I caught a glimpse of An-san's own "work satisfaction" and, by extension, her "reason for living."

◼︎ A Casual Trip to Kyushu Part 3 (Kumamoto to Takachiho) (*shoko*asterisc*)

[A word from the editorial department]
From each photo, I felt as if I were re-experiencing the atmosphere of that place. In our busy modern lives, time passes while we think about various things, but I think the time spent on trips like this, reflecting on the era when Japan was once formed, is very precious.

◼︎ Beyond Kabuki with Dark Fantasy. Kabuki NEXT "The Demon Living in the Forest of Oboro" Koshiro Matsumoto Version (Yasaburo Tanaka)

[A word from the editorial department]
It was voluminous, and the sense of presence from the three and a half hours that kept me overwhelmed really came through. I am embarrassed to say that I have never seen a Kabuki performance, but it made me want to see Kabuki and its evolved forms again.

◼︎ 3 Board Games Recommended by a Mother of 5 for the New Year Holidays (Shiimo Takatsuka | Mother of 5)

[A word from the editorial department]
No matter how much electronic games evolve, I felt that the joy of spending time huddled together around a board game or rolling dice remains constant. I personally feel that the time spent taking out the game board, preparing and arranging the pieces, and immersing yourself in the world of the game while moving your hands is also well-being.

◼︎ The Story of London Expat Husbands Gathering at a Spanish Bar (Junichiro Yanagimoto (Yanajun))

[A word from the editorial department]
I realized that conversations with others can be a catalyst for re-examining one's own daily life.
The opening phrase, 'Encounters enrich life, and partings deepen it,' is a sentiment I have engraved in my heart as something to keep in mind at some point in life.

◼︎ 2025/12/31 It's New Year's Eve! Praise Festival Special (Bomb Apocalypse Fujisaki 'Good Scandal')

[A word from the editorial department]
I chuckled at the opening paragraph. My question of 'What kind of festival is a Praise Festival?' (An event where you praise people a lot?) was quickly forgotten, and the author's sense of satisfaction in wrapping up New Year's Eve with a bright mood really came through.

◼︎ December 31, 2025_Seishun 18 Kippu, a head cold, and a New Year's Eve wrapped up with the Hamamatsu sand dunes and a sauna (Goripon @ Meta-Cognition Logger)

[A word from the editorial department]
The author's sense of satisfaction came through, having packed the final day of the year—New Year's Eve—with active events and finishing it off in a sauna.
Even though things didn't go exactly as planned due to health and travel, perhaps the time of year that is the end of December naturally allows for the composure to accept and enjoy those moments.

◼︎ Going with Captain Java Sparrow! A trip around the history and nature of Wakayama Episode ① That thing overflowing with eternal time and romance (Oimo)

[A word from the editorial department]
Shrines and temples at the end of the year have fewer people as they prepare for the first shrine visit of the New Year, and with the clear winter air, they evoke a strangely solemn feeling. I could feel the atmosphere of those shrines and temples through the photos.

Summary

We are very happy as an editorial team that the #Well-being Time contest has been such a success. While the word 'well-being' might feel a bit difficult to approach, we believe it is a term that is spreading as a way for society as a whole to rethink 'happiness'.

Therefore, we hope you will write articles about the happiness each of you feels without being too caught up in the word 'well-being' itself. Even if it's not flashy, please try writing an article about your own '#Well-being Time,' such as a relaxing moment in your daily life or a small, happy event.