Organizing 35 Years of Work Records

First, I’m organizing a vast amount of magazine feature pages and my own work from the past 35 years. I store these in binders, and I’m reviewing them, deciding “keep or discard” for each page. I’ve managed to reduce the binders by 25 so far, but I aim to reduce them further to keep only those I absolutely want to preserve. I’m still working on this as I write this article.

Evernote and Scanners Accelerate Danshari

I’m also intensifying my Danshari of magazine clippings and materials from home. For items I decide to keep, I scan them and save them into an app called Evernote. The camera function within Evernote is also an indispensable tool for Danshari. I had been using this app for a while, but I only recently discovered the camera feature on Evernote for iPhone and iPad. Since then, my organizing has gained significant momentum.

When I take photos with this camera function, it automatically crops them and easily transfers them within Evernote. Furthermore, when I photograph business cards, it instantly categorizes and digitizes all the addresses, phone numbers, and locations without manual input (this seems to be a perk for premium members). Isn’t that amazing!? I’m not trying to promote Evernote, but it’s so convenient that I regret not realizing this feature sooner. Previously, any materials that didn’t fit into my scanner had to be cut with scissors or a cutter before scanning, but that’s no longer necessary. Even brochures can now be photographed without being taken apart, drastically reducing the effort involved.

That said, when I need to scan dozens of pages at once, a scanner is still more convenient. The scanner I use is the “CANON imageFORMULA.” After transferring the scans to my PC, I organize them within Evernote. In fact, I scanned all my magazine serializations, which freed up considerable space on my bookshelves. Plus, I can easily search for past articles, and I can check them on my PC, iPhone, or iPad, even when I’m out. Since I started using tools like these, the effectiveness and convenience of my Danshari have greatly improved.

My Criterion for Clothes: Items That Don't Match My Skin Age

Speaking of Danshari, clothes are also a major item, aren’t they? My criterion this time is set as: “I still like it, but it’s undeniably unsuitable for my current age.” In our photography industry, dress codes are relaxed, so many people dress younger than their age, and I myself don’t believe in limiting my style by age. Therefore, I have to be careful not to let my appearance clash with my skin’s condition…!

For me, the standard isn’t so much about matching my actual age as it is about whether my attire aligns with my skin’s age. For example, no matter how stylish and youthful an outfit is, if it’s too far removed from one’s skin, it looks less chic and more like trying too hard to appear young. However, it’s difficult to make this judgment about oneself. That’s precisely why it’s challenging. So, I try to follow the proverb, “Observe others to correct yourself,” and reflect, “How do I appear?” I also try to view myself objectively by taking photos. Therefore, in addition to my usual Danshari criterion of “items that no longer fit my current mood,” I’ve added the item: “things that contradict my skin’s age.”

Aiming for Danshari That Connects to the Future

By doing Danshari and confirming what remains with my own eyes, I can see what I currently value and what kind of person I want to become in the future. I believe this is the significance and importance of practicing Danshari. Moreover, it is within the space created by this process that new things can enter… Perhaps it sounds dramatic, but it’s an active stance to connect the present to the future. I believe that’s what Danshari is. Or rather, I’m intensifying my Danshari with that goal in mind.

※ The bookshelf shown is from my home, but I also have a goal of arranging the binders of past works from my office on this empty shelf. Perhaps having a concrete goal is also necessary for motivating my Danshari efforts.