Category: Time
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Look Back by Tatsuki Fujimoto: Reflections on Art, Loss, and Society
Read more: Look Back by Tatsuki Fujimoto: Reflections on Art, Loss, and SocietyLook Back, Tatsuki Fujimoto’s emotional one-shot manga and recent anime on Prime Video, explores deep themes of friendship, purpose, and loss. When my wife recommended the manga a few years ago, I didn’t expect how much it would resonate. The adaptation, which spans less than an hour, portrays an intense bond between two friends and…
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Finding Connection and Resilience in Toumei Ningen by Tokyo Jihen
Read more: Finding Connection and Resilience in Toumei Ningen by Tokyo JihenTokyo Jihen’s Toumei Ningen (Invisible Person), released on their 2006 album Adult, portrays the delicate, sometimes paradoxical journey of someone who feels invisible to the world around them. The Japanese band, led by vocalist and lyricist Sheena Ringo, is known for blending various musical styles and complex lyrics. Toumei Ningen is no exception, weaving difficult…
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“Departures” and Life’s Hidden Lessons: Reflections on Work, Death, and Family
Read more: “Departures” and Life’s Hidden Lessons: Reflections on Work, Death, and FamilyDepartures by Yōjirō Takita, originally titled Okuribito (“one who sends off”), follows a cellist who loses his job and returns to his hometown with his wife. He unexpectedly finds work “assisting departures,” which he assumes is in travel. Instead, he prepares bodies for cremation ceremonies. This thought-provoking film examines themes of prejudice, our relationship with…
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Living with Purpose: Reflections on Steve Jobs’ Life Lessons
Read more: Living with Purpose: Reflections on Steve Jobs’ Life LessonsSteve Jobs, known for founding and reviving Apple, reshaped our world with innovations like the iPhone and iPad. His worldview and approach to life contributed to his success, and he famously shared his insights as a Stanford commencement speaker. In his speech, Jobs highlighted a powerful lesson: “Remembering that you are going to die is…
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Rediscovering Life’s Purpose: Reflections on Living by Oliver Hermanus
Read more: Rediscovering Life’s Purpose: Reflections on Living by Oliver HermanusIn Living, directed by Oliver Hermanus and adapted from Akira Kurosawa’s Ikiru, Bill Nighy portrays a bureaucrat in a public works office who, upon learning of his terminal illness, confronts the monotony that has defined his life. Once called a “Zombie” by a former colleague—a woman he admires for her lively spirit—he realizes he’s lost…
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“Can’t Stop” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Embracing Life with Passion and Purpose
Read more: “Can’t Stop” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Embracing Life with Passion and PurposeFrom their 2002 album By the Way, Can’t Stop by the Red Hot Chili Peppers (RHCP) has become one of the band’s most iconic songs, renowned for its electrifying energy and creative spirit. Like much of RHCP’s work, it merges an upbeat, high-octane sound with lyrics that invite introspection. Anthony Kiedis, the band’s lead vocalist,…
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Embracing Change and Time: Lessons from Groundhog Day
Read more: Embracing Change and Time: Lessons from Groundhog DayGroundhog Day is a film from my childhood that has always stood out to me. The story follows a self-centered weatherman, played by Bill Murray, who is sent to a small town to cover the annual Groundhog Day event. What he doesn’t expect is to become trapped in an infinite time loop, reliving the same…
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Awakenings: A Reflection on Consciousness and Society
Read more: Awakenings: A Reflection on Consciousness and SocietyAwakenings, directed by Penny Marshall and based on a true story, centers around a doctor who, as one of many researchers, struggles with social interactions and prefers the solitude of his laboratory. He takes a position at a psychiatric hospital where he encounters catatonic patients—individuals who have been unresponsive for years. The doctor begins experimenting…
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Kefka and the Question of Meaning in Final Fantasy VI
Read more: Kefka and the Question of Meaning in Final Fantasy VIKefka, the main antagonist of Final Fantasy VI by Square Enix, stands out as one of the most memorable and chilling villains in gaming. His journey from being the first human experiment infused with magic to becoming a nihilistic psychopath is central to the story’s depth. He nearly succeeds in his vision of destruction, reshaping…
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GACKT: A Role Model for Personal Growth and Global Awareness
Read more: GACKT: A Role Model for Personal Growth and Global AwarenessGACKT is a Japanese singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor. Although I had heard his name before, my interest in him grew after watching a TV program where he appeared as a special guest. In the show, guests were tasked with identifying the highest-quality item among various meals, drinks, musical instruments, and other objects. GACKT…