Hinokinoki Notes is my personal journal of rediscovery—a place to jot down thoughts and observations as I explore my own heritage and the culture of Japan.

In my younger years, I often overlooked or dismissed these traditions, finding them overwhelming in their complexity or too rigid in their formality. It was the 1970s and 80s; a time when the country was consumed by industrialization. Everyone was running in the same direction, often without knowing where or why—simply afraid of being left behind. In that era of extreme competition, I felt unfit for that society and found myself drawn instead to cultures from other parts of the world.

During my three decades in North America, I became accustomed to a lifestyle where convenience is everything and mass-produced products are the norm. Yet, I felt something was missing. One day, searching for something natural and chemical-free, I changed my routine. I found what I had been looking for the moment I lifted a handcrafted Hinoki cypress cutting board from a carton shipped directly from Japan. The familiar scent and its solid feel in my hands opened my eyes, reconnecting me to my origins. It was wood in its simplest form, yet I felt an immediate, quiet attachment to it.

Everything changed following a severe accident and a near-death experience. As I lay in recovery, I wondered if I was simply going to be another name joining a list of ancestors. I found myself asking: Where did I actually come from? To pass the time, I began researching my ancestry online. This project was born of equal parts curiosity and obligation—a need to explore my lineage and share these stories, especially for the future generations of my family who do not speak Japanese. I could not bear the thought of being the last one to hold the key to our roots. I know they may one day face questions of identity and belonging, just as my own children did in their teens.

I have come to realize that tracing the footsteps of our ancestors is one of the most powerful ways to understand history. It allows us to see the world through the eyes of the individuals who actually lived it. In a world often marked by hostility and pretense, where so many feel unanchored, I feel a responsibility to tell the truth—my truth. These stories offer a renewed sense of place and a deeper appreciation for both our own culture and those of others. Our histories are more intertwined than we realize, and mutual respect is needed now more than ever.

None of us arrived here by chance. We are here because of the resilience of those who came before us, and the wisdom they carried, adapted, and passed on.

Akian, author

March, 22, 2026