Part of this week went into a messy incident and data-recovery operation. I’m actively thinking about architectural interventions to prevent scenarios exactly like this one, so this was very timely.
With my plate clearer, I had an uninterrupted day to work on strategy, and made good progress. The hardest part is always starting, so I’ve begun with Will Larson’s “Write five, then synthesize” approach which is very JFDI-minded.
One afternoon, instead of lunch, on the way to the office I make a pit-stop in Toranomon Hills for a long-anticipated coffee where I learn a lot about fin-tech, a lot about founding a company in Japan and also get a great pep-talk.
Amongst serious songs, at karaoke I do the He-Man duet of “What's Up?” with DS. Later I pray that the only recording of this moment is the one now forever etched into my brain.
After two false starts - which involve walking to okubo and helping set up a bunch of accounts - Friday night we end up playing Counter-Strike in a gaming cafe. I haven’t touched CS since secondary school and I start out very rusty but we end up winning.
Went to Ultra Japan on Saturday, staying at the techno stage. Along with repeats of Artbat, Amelie Lens & Drunken Kong, I got to see Adam Beyer. His style has changed a lot since I started following him, but PATT is an actual banger I’ve had on repeat several times this summer and it hits different live. Highlights reel here.
Sunday had two parts: The part involving going to the bank, and the good part. I wasted a lot of time at the bank trying to resolve a problem which it turned out was not a problem. Things like this are incredibly humbling as I realise just how little I still know about the day-to-day systems of this place I now call home.
The good part involved trying shika sashi (鹿刺し) for the first time (it’s good!), accidentally almost going to a listening bar I’ve had pinned for seven(!) years, and one of the best things I’ve ever heard anyone say.
Unfortunately I lost track of time and missed all three of my last connecting trains from Shinjuku, so I ran home: It’s 15 minutes, punctuated by traffic lights, which seems like a useful thing to know.
Not sure if just runner’s high, but the good part made the week. The other parts were very good too.
