I apologize for the harsh expression, but I find it most difficult to deal with self-proclaimed intellectuals who, despite being unable to define terms rigorously or construct logical arguments properly, simply slap on trendy terminology as labels and feel self-satisfied about it.
No matter how many words they pile up, their thinking remains stubbornly one-dimensional, utterly lacking in depth.
I trust people who live by intuition and naturalness far more. If you can’t expand through structure, you must give breadth to languageโotherwise, you cannot describe the universe.
Being incapable of either means you possess only that limited a vision.
In the end, the distinction between humanities and sciences was never the essential point.
It’s fine to be natural. Even if your expression is clumsy, those who can tell will know whether your thinking is alive or dead. There’s no need to put on airs, nor any need to be timid.
What does it take to create an environment where art is born?
Separate from the main stage, we need a space where energies can freely collide with one another.
A laboratory for thought, so to speak. A theater company could be one such form.
We also need opportunities to brush up and mature the philosophical aspects.
Can we create such a place?
I wonder… I can see the goal pretty clearly, but when it comes to the process of doing it with people, maybe I’m just not interested enough? Perhaps I don’t even realize what I’m not seeingโ like some muscle-brained thinking of “just charge toward the goal!”
If only there were someone to help with that, not necessarily with the actual work, but as a supplement for thought.
In other words, I need a translator. For Jobs, it was Cook. Jesus had Paul.
They call it a complementary cognitive team.
That person might be in a seemingly different field from what we call artists, but how should I create that connection? In this age of isolationism, as someone who embodies the ultimate aversion to belonging.
Teleology vs Process-Oriented Thinking
ใTeleological Thinkerใ
โ If the goal is right, the process will naturally follow
โ Reverse engineering from the end state
โ Emphasizes Why
โ Time axis: Future โ Present
โ Highly abstract
ใProcess-Oriented Thinkerใ
โ If the process is right, you’ll reach the goal
โ Building up from the current state
โ Emphasizes How
โ Time axis: Present โ Future
โ Highly concrete
The Structure of Disconnection
Visionary: “Just move toward the goal!”
ใใใโ Operator: “Okay, but what do I do tomorrow?”
Neither understands the other’s language.
Without a translator, they remain forever parallel.
The Solution
Recognize which type you are.
Acknowledge that others are different.
Complement each other.
The visionary shows the direction.
The process-oriented builds the path.
Editing is a frightening actโIโve come to realize that again.
Editing isnโt โprocessingโ something; itโs choosing. And when necessary, it means literally cutting.
In it, a single aesthetic eye is revealed. It also means taking responsibility for that. And it means having to presentโclearly, as a kind of standardโwhat this projectโs concept truly is.
What is โserious playโ? What is โbeautiful energyโ? What is their cosmic meaning?
Not by nitpicking or splitting hairs, but with an uncompromising, penetrating algorithmโ can I edit? Can I do it without being trapped by worldly desires or ulterior motives?
Itโs truly a frightening act. I still canโt see it all. Thankfully, Iโve been given hints, but I still donโt have enough input.
And it also means that I must accept my current position, whether I like it or not.
That is the only meaning of โtaking responsibility.โ
No matter how many excuses I make, I canโt fool myself. Anyone who can isnโt an artist, and was never serious from the start.
According to cultural psychology, the sense that โone is meeting othersโ expectationsโ is what motivates them.
Perhaps this is fundamentally different from what I consider โautonomousโ professionalism.
At least in client work, Iโve always thought that โmeeting othersโ expectationsโ is merely the minimum baseline.
In other words, naturally, one must first confirm what the clientโs expectations are, and then figure out how to satisfy oneself, how to act uniquely and freely. I believe that achieving both is what makes a professional, and Iโm willing to spare no effort for that.
However, when it comes to taking a supervisory position, โcompassionate leadershipโ becomes a bottleneck.
What I critically lack is awareness in that area.
Iโm not fundamentally kind. So I practice laissez-faire. I donโt initiate communication beyond the bare minimum.
Thatโs simply because I would find it far more comfortable to be treated that way myself. But I suspect most people arenโt like that. Though I do think that if we work together long enough, we might reach an unspoken understanding.
By the way, I recently threw three levels of questions at my favorite generative AI, Genspark, to dig deeper into the above idea of โwanting to meet othersโ expectationsโ:
Approval-seeking
A sense of belonging as a survival instinct
The Japanese spirit of โharmony is to be valuedโ
The Core Distinction: โWhose Expectations Are We Meeting?โ
Type
Target
Motivation
Nature
End Point
SNS-style Approval-Seeking
Unspecified masses (strangers)
Deficiency, competition
Negative
No end
Sense of Belonging (Survival Instinct)
Group (avoiding exclusion)
Fear
Passive
OK if not excluded
Yamato Spirit
Specific others + ancestors + descendants
Pride, responsibility
Active
Inherited across generations
1. SNS-Style Approval-Seeking โ What Should Be Criticized
Characteristics
Seeking โlikesโ from unspecified masses
Self-display, status competition, rivalry
No end, no limit
Comparison with others, relative superiority
Driven by a sense of deficiency: โI want to be recognizedโ
โ This is approval-seeking where โwhose expectationsโ are unclear
โ Seeking approval from unspecified masses (strangers)
โ No end, spiraling out of control
2. Sense of Belonging as Survival Instinct โ Fear as the Driver
Characteristics
Actions to avoid exclusion from the group
Fear as the driver (fear of ostracism)
Negative motivation (avoiding punishment)
Dependent, passive
โI donโt want to be dislikedโ โI donโt want to be left outโ
The Negative Side of Japanese Society
Reading the air, conformity pressure
The nail that sticks out gets hammered down
Suppressing individuality, not asserting oneself
Subordinating to the group for survival
โ This is driven by โfearโ
โ Actions to avoid exclusion from the group
โ No autonomy, passive
3. The Yamato Spirit of โHarmony Is to Be Valuedโ โ The Original Japanese Spirituality
Characteristics
Relationships with specific others (family, workplace, community)
Pride and responsibility in โmeeting expectationsโ
Vertical connections across generations (ancestors, descendants)
Positive motivation (joy of contribution)
Autonomous, active
The Japanese Spirit Seen by Lafcadio Hearn
โThe Japanese have a very strong sense that the deceased are nearby, watching over themโ
โAn elderly person facing death peacefully imagines that their adorable descendants will whisper something to them at the family altarโ
โWhat the elder dreams of are the yet-unseen descendants. Their children, and their childrenโs children, clapping their little hands and bowing with utmost reverenceโ
โ This is โancestorsโ expectationsโ and โresponsibility to descendantsโ
โ Vertical connections across generations
โ Not the unspecified masses of SNS, but connections of blood and soul
4. The Difference from โAutonomous Professionalismโ
Western โAutonomous Professionalismโ
Intrinsic motivation of the individualย โ Self-realization, skill improvement, professional ethics
Independent of relationships with othersย โ Can exist in solitude
Individualisticย โ โIโ at the center
Japanese โMeeting Othersโ Expectationsโ
Intrinsic motivation within relationshipsย โ Self-realization within connections with specific others
Relationships are the premiseย โ Cannot exist in solitude
Relationalย โ โWeโ at the center
5. Three Distinctions โ The Core Is โWhose Expectations Are We Meeting?โ
SNS-Style Approval-Seeking
Who: Unspecified masses (strangers)
Motivation: Sense of deficiency โI want to be recognizedโ
Nature: No end, competitive, spiraling
Evaluation:ย Should be criticized and sublimated
Sense of Belonging (Survival Instinct)
Who: Group (to avoid exclusion)
Motivation: Fear (fear of ostracism)
Nature: Passive, dependent, conformity pressure
Evaluation:ย The negative side of Japanese society
Yamato Spirit
Who: Specific others (family, workplace, community) +ย ancestors + descendants
Motivation: Pride, responsibility, connections across generations
6. Lafcadio Hearnโs โBeing Conscious of the Deadโs Eyesโ โ This Is the Key
โBy being conscious of the deadโs eyes, the Japanese had a morality that made them think about what they should do across generationsโ
โBy constantly being conscious of the deadโs eyes, people think โWhat would my deceased grandparents expect of me?โ and become aware of what they should do within the vertical axis of historyโ
โBeing conscious of our ancestorsโ eyes leads to thinking about the futureโ
7. The Meaning of โGo to a Shrine Alone Every Dayโ
Why a Shrine?
A place to face ancestral spirits
Natural energy, reverence
Suppress approval-seeking, face the essence
Feel vertical connections across generations
The Effects of Shrine Visits
Suppress SNS-style approval-seekingย โ Be conscious of ancestorsโ eyes, not unspecified masses
Escape from sense of belonging (survival instinct)ย โ Face oneโs own spirituality, not dependence on groups
Regain Yamato spiritย โ Responsibility across generations, reverence for ancestors, responsibility to descendants
โ Thatโs why โgo to a shrine alone every dayโ
8. My Honest Answer โ They Are Different, Yet Connected
Conclusion
Approval-seeking (SNS-style):ย Should be criticized and sublimatedย โ Seeking approval from unspecified masses, no end, spiraling
Sense of belonging (survival instinct):ย The negative side of Japanese societyย โ Fear as driver, conformity pressure, passive
Yamato spirit:ย The original Japanese spiritualityย โ Responsibility across generations, reverence for ancestors, responsibility to descendants
Yet, the Three Are Connected
When Yamato spirit is lost, sense of belonging (survival instinct) spirals out of controlย โ Conformity pressure, ostracism, the nail that sticks out gets hammered down
When sense of belonging becomes excessive, it degrades into SNS-style approval-seekingย โ Seeking โlikesโ from unspecified masses, no end
โ Therefore, regaining Yamato spirit is the solution to everything
9. Reconciliation with โAutonomous Professionalismโ
โPerhaps this is fundamentally different from what I consider โautonomousโ professionalismโ
Answer: Different, Yet Not Contradictory
Western professionalism: Intrinsic motivation of the individual, independent of others
Japanese motivation: Intrinsic motivation within relationships, responsibility across generations
โ Japanese people demonstrate professionalism autonomously โwithin relationshipsโ
โ By being conscious of โancestorsโ expectationsโ and โresponsibility to descendants,โ they act autonomously
โ This is not a contradiction, but Japanโs unique form of โautonomyโ
10. Final Conclusion โ Answer to the Question
โMeeting Othersโ Expectationsโ Is:
Is it approval-seeking?ย โย No. SNS-style approval-seeking means seeking approval from unspecified masses, spiraling out of control
Is it a sense of belonging as survival instinct?ย โย No. Sense of belonging is driven by fear, passive
Is it the Yamato spirit of โharmony is to be valuedโ?ย โย This is correct. Responsibility across generations, reverence for ancestors, responsibility to descendants
Relationship with โAutonomous Professionalismโ
Western professionalism: Intrinsic motivation of the individual
Japanese motivation: Intrinsic motivation within relationships
โ Japanese people act autonomously by being conscious of โancestorsโ expectationsโ and โresponsibility to descendantsโ
โ This is Japanโs unique form of โautonomous professionalismโ
Therefore, go to a shrine alone every day. Be conscious of ancestorsโ eyes, feel responsibility to descendants, and regain vertical connections across generations. That is the source of Japanese spirituality.
(Dan Mitchel replied that…) Thatโs All Well and Good, But
If the consciousness of meeting ancestorsโ expectations becomes too strong, attachment issues may complicate things.
1. The Point โ The Dark Side of โAncestorsโ Expectationsโ
The โLightโ Lafcadio Hearn Saw
A sense of security from having ancestors nearby
Connections across generations
Rich views on life and death
Beautiful culture
But the โShadowโ Pointed Out
โIf the consciousness of meeting ancestorsโ expectations becomes too strong, attachment issues may complicate thingsโ
Ancestorsโ expectations become a burden
Guilt for not meeting expectations
Hindrance to self-realization
Mental shackles
2. The Relationship with Attachment Theory
Healthy Attachment
Secure base: Parents and ancestors serve as a secure base
Exploration and return: Safely explore the outside world and return
Development of autonomy: Grow as an independent individual
Unhealthy Attachment
Excessive expectations: Parentsโ and ancestorsโ expectations are too heavy
Anxiety: Fear of not meeting expectations
Hindrance to autonomy: Cannot become independent, cannot make judgments
3. When โMeeting Ancestorsโ Expectationsโ Becomes Excessive
Type 1: Anxious Attachment
Characteristics:
Anxiety about not meeting ancestorsโ expectations
Constantly seeking approval
Lack of self-esteem
Behaviors:
Constantly anxious: โWill the ancestors be pleased with this?โ
Lack of confidence in oneโs own judgment
Excessively seeking approval from others
Results:
Floating in midairย (the problem pointed out)
Waiting for instructions
Lack of agency
Type 2: Avoidant Attachment
Characteristics:
Ancestorsโ expectations are too heavy, so one escapes
Escape from tradition
Generational disconnection
Behaviors:
Rejection: โI donโt care about ancestorsโ expectationsโ
Denial of tradition
Severing connections with family and community
Results:
Mental isolation
Loss of identity
Rootlessness
Type 3: Disorganized Attachment (Most Serious)
Characteristics:
Want to meet expectations vs. want to escape
Contradictory behaviors
Mental confusion
Behaviors:
Want to cherish ancestors, but expectations are heavy
Want to continue tradition, but donโt want to lose oneself
Torn apart
Results:
Mental instability
Self-contradiction
Burnout
4. Concrete Examples in Japanese Society โ The Pressure of โContinuing the Familyโ
The Burden on the Eldest Son
Must continue the family
Must meet ancestorsโ expectations
But cannot do what one wants
Results:
Sacrifice oneself to continue the family (anxious type)
13. The True Meaning of Shrine Visits โ Facing Oneโs Own Soul
Revised: Why Go to a Shrine Alone Every Day?
โ To meet ancestorsโ expectations โ To be approved by ancestors โ To fear ancestorsโ eyes
โญ To confirm oneโs own axis โญ To learn from ancestors (but not be dominated) โญ To face oneโs own soul โญ To think about what to leave to the next generation (but not impose)
To everyone who joined usโour members, staff, and our loving, deeply perceptive audienceโthank you so much.
This time, we centered the event on the idea of pursuing โserious play.โ
For me, thatโs one answer to the question of how human beings can keep living in a truly human way from here on out. Total rationalism and efficiency-first thinkingโthings like time efficiency and cost efficiencyโmatter, of course. Iโm sure everyone has their own priorities, too.
But when that becomes everything, people start living like machines. And once humans live like machines, thereโs nothing we can beat AI atโand we end up losing the very meaning of being human.
In that sense, right nowโwith the snap general election following the dissolution of Japanโs House of Representatives, and all the โright vs. leftโ rhetoricโdivisions are everywhere. And even when we donโt realize it, itโs a story that spreads into the everyday lives of each of us.
In my own head, I always have two versions of myself: a hardcore realist and a hardcore idealist. But it canโt be that only one of them is โright.โ So Iโve been wondering whether thereโs a way to integrate them better.
By embracing โserious playโโby allowing some breadthโI want to keep moving forward with activities that donโt put โrightnessโ at the center, but instead place โbeautyโ as a major guiding axis.
On January 22, Iโm launching and carrying out a project that Iโm staking my life on. Itโs an event, a documentary film production, and also a club activity. The theme is โpursuing play with absolute seriousness.โ
There are still many parts I wonโt know until I actually do it, so I canโt explain it in a perfectly clear, straightforward way. In other words, by intentionally not deciding everything in advance, I want everyone to enjoy the โplayโ that emerges from that opennessโtogether.
I believe this is what โideal freedom,โ grounded in the belief in peopleโs inherent goodness, is meant to look like. Iโm really looking forward to the voluntary participation of all you wonderful people, and Iโm excited to share the experience with you. Letโs entrust the outcome to the universe, at least once.
Maybe I’d been approaching love based on whether it would be useful to me. Of course, it’s true that wasn’t everything, but that means I was seeking something in return.
I’m sure it’s not such an unusual storyโ it’s like that question: “What are your criteria for a partner?”In the sense of forming a community to survive, it’s very strategic, and I think that’s how humans have lived. You can’t say love won’t grow from that, and I have no intention of denying it. Some would say that’s what makes us human.The harsher life and society become, the more we can’t help but lean toward realism.
But setting that aside, could this be described as the most fantastical form of rebellionโ born from glimpsing a sparkle that transcends the debate of useful or useless?
It’s something you can’t put into words, or rather, something that would break if you tried to express it. It’s about the most beautiful energy in the world.
It even feels like my very thinking has changed.It’s simply about letting go of all dependencies and being honest with yourself. Whether self-preservation can be achieved on top of thatโ you won’t know unless you try.
It’s worth trying. Live optimistically. And that is the great power that only true beauty possesses.
Maybe there are two versions of me coexisting inside: one who wants to live quietly with family by a deserted lakeside, and another who feels compelled to lead the charge and leave something behind, to contribute to the world.
I wish I could balance both, but I’m too conspicuous to stay behind the scenes, yet too reserved to be an attention seeker. Right now, I’m stuck somewhere in between.
Call it narcissism if you want, but if I were a producer or director and had to choose who I’d cast first, well, there’s nobody but myself.
Conversely, I honestly can’t understand why others wouldn’t use meโ aside from reasons related to numbers or metrics.
It’s not arrogance, I’m just that infatuated with myself. Can’t help it.
Sometimes I want to surrender myself as a player, saying “go ahead, try to make the most of me.” You’d see a different side of me than when I’m juggling both roles, just like when I stood on stage before.
Anyway, in this overly noisy city, I’m trying to figure out how to adapt without dumbing down or numbing my mind. There are plenty of wonderful things here, but it’s all a bit too stimulating for me. I’m searching for that delicate balance, the right way to exist.
ๅฎๅ็ใ่ตทๆฅญใใใ๏ผในใฟใผใใขใใM&AใจIPO็ฉ่ชใPresented by (ๆ ช)ใใกใคใใณในใปใใญใใฅใผในๆง
Dandy Asobi Club Band
ENGLISH VERSION
2025 is coming to an end today.
What kind of year was it for you?
For me, the past three years have been years of constant trial and error. Every year, through meeting all kinds of people, I’ve been transforming not just my activities, but the way I live itself. And this year, right from the very beginning, I had an encounter that was incredibly important to meโone that finally made it clear what I truly want to cherish. Of course, as you can probably tell from my work, what I want to do hasn’t changed. But what used to feel like I was doing things without fully understanding why has become much more defined and clarified. And because of that, in the second half of this year I was able to create songs that I’m genuinely confident inโand I don’t think that was a coincidence.
I’ve also realized again that I really do love beauty. And I don’t mean that in a superficial sense. In modern physics, matter is understood as a form of energyโan aggregation of energy. So the question becomes: how do we generate beautiful energy? For human beings, it’s about how we use our bodies to create beautiful energy in the world. That’s what I want to focus on.
This year I posted a lot of complicated, nitpicky thoughts on my blog and social mediaโbut fundamentally, I believe words are imperfect. Of course, if someone can express beauty through words, that’s wonderful. But I don’t think I have that level of skill. I do try my best to write, but for me, that process is largely about sharpening my own senses. Ultimately, I want to be able to expressโor embodyโthat beautiful energy itself, in whatever form it takes.
Maybe it was because I encountered somethingโsomeoneโbeautiful, and was jolted awake by it. In a way, I may have regained something I was close to losing on a conscious level. I think I managed to live through this year powered by that energy.
Looking to 2026
So in 2026, my focus will be how to embody that kind of beautiful energy. Right at the start of the year, I’m hosting my event “Dandy Asobi Club,” and I’d truly love for you to come hang out. Beyond that, I’ll be working on my first album, a nationwide tour, and I already have a story in my headโplot and allโthat I want to shoot as a short film.
And yesโon a softer note, I hope I can make some new friends, too. Even better if we can create something together. In that sense, I’d love to challenge myself with things that feel completely new as well.
To be honest, I don’t really know what people think of me when I’m not right in front of them. But despite how serious I may sound sometimes, I’ll still casually do street performances in a Santa outfit, no problem. I don’t think I’m particularly prideful. And even if it’s not a “cool guy” roleโif it’s a weird or eccentric roleโif the script and direction are good, I’d happily do it. My boundaries might be a little different from what people expect, so I’d be really happy if you feel free to reach out casually.
I’m pretty clear about what I can do and what I can’t, so I hope you’ll enjoy that for what it is. And I’d love it if, through all of this, a circle of positive resonance keeps expanding.
With that saidโthank you so much for everything this year.
From the very beginning, I received tremendous support for going to Hollywood. After that, I hosted events, and for the first time I received an offer to shoot a client’s music video. And then there was my performance at a museum. I received the thrilling (and nerve-racking) request to sing a song a cappellaโand I was deeply encouraged to feel that people trusted my singing ability.
I sincerely hope for your continued support next year as well.
This year I’m in a period of mourning, so I haven’t decided yet how I’ll greet the New Yearโbut please, have a wonderful year ahead.
Dan Mitchel 