Hidemi Iizuka
Publisher of Photo Magazine TRACK / Director of Photo Gallery T.A.F

Review 2008
Looking back on 2008, I feel I simply lived my life as usual, chasing work and time, without any major problems.
One could say I was swept along, unable to keep track of my own time.

Preview 2009
As I find myself contemplating next year's resolutions without having realized any of the ones I made at the end of last year, I suspect I'll be thinking about next year's resolutions again this year. Rather than thinking about the future, I want to fully enjoy the present moment, so that by the end of next year, I can say it was a year where I truly savored my own time.

Photography Life
rumors
Track Artwork Factory

Kayoko Higashino
Editor

Review 2008
I was delighted that the July and September issues of Harper's Bazaar sold out.
Also, our colleague A-ko got married! K-ko's daughter got married! T-ko had a baby! It was a series of happy events.
However, soon the number of hospital appointment cards in my wallet might exceed the number of credit cards.

When I meet acquaintances after a long time, we first get excited talking about illnesses, then sigh about retirement plans... When I was a child, I wondered what the adults were discussing so seriously, but now I understand.
Well, since worrying about the future is pointless, we always end up agreeing that we should shop while we have the money and do fun things while we can.

Preview 2009
Learning about the activities of social entrepreneurs and seeing people who continue their charitable work has made me want to do something useful for others as my life's work.
The term 'lifelong learning' seems to be widely misunderstood. Its true meaning is to acquire skills that can be given back to the community and society through one's own learning, but many people seem to think it simply means learning difficult things even in old age.

When you get old, rather than acquiring knowledge you'll take to your grave, you should earnestly pass on the lessons learned from your life experiences to your juniors and the younger generation.
Therefore, I'm thinking of starting a warm-up for the stubborn elderly, who are becoming a rare species these days.

Chizuko Daimon
Company Employee / Music Business

Review 2008
This year, I was involved in numerous concerts and operas, and it was a year where I felt the presence of wonderful talent up close. There were many happy news items, such as artists receiving awards and new CDs being released, and I feel that many people were able to experience the power of the 'voice' beyond the boundaries of classical music.

I performed in more venues outside of concert halls, and despite my best efforts, I often dropped my earrings. This year, I ended up with four pairs of cherished earrings, each missing its mate (laughs).
Still, I managed to visit hot springs about three times during my vacation. During my trip to Hida-Takayama and Shirakawa-go in November, I was lost in the moment, mesmerized by the sparkling autumn leaves at Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine and the spectacular rainbow that appeared in the sky over the mountains after the rain.

Preview 2009
"One must create a desert within oneself." - Arvo Pärt
This quote from Pärt, an Estonian-born composer, was introduced in Naoki Hayashida's new book, 'Classic New Standards: 100 People, 100 Songs,' published in December 2008. The passage that left an impression on me discussed how the excessive information, noise, and distractions swirling in modern society can sometimes deplete human imagination and vitality.
I want to strive daily to block out information, create a desert within myself, and seek and transmit what I wish to pass on to the next generation, rather than being passive.


Music's Hope and Talent

Rumiko Tezuka
Planning Producer

Review 2008
This year marked the 80th anniversary of Osamu Tezuka's birth, which provided a significant impetus and made the surroundings more vibrant than usual.
Amidst this, my own CD project, 'Osamu Tezuka: The Music He Loved,' which had been in the works for a year and a half, was finally completed and released. It was a year that truly made me feel proud to be his daughter.

Preview 2009
The momentum from the 80th anniversary will continue next year, so I hope to release new CD projects from my own music label, 'MusicRobita,' while this wave is still strong.
Without losing my own pace, I intend to continue enjoying the collaboration between Tezuka's works and music as my life's work.

LOUNGE NEWS

Miyoji Okabe
Beauty Scientist

Review 2008 & Preview 2009
"People gather around people, and people are polished by people."
On April 20th this year, I retired from the company I had worked at for many years, ahead of my official retirement age.
The reason was personal circumstances. I had always operated in various activities based on my individual merits rather than relying on my company affiliation, so I wasn't particularly worried about leaving the company. In fact, I felt that my freedom would increase.

And indeed, after leaving the company, I experienced an unprecedented number of encounters with people. These were direct encounters with individuals I had previously only heard about through media or mutual acquaintances. What I felt was that through direct meetings, exchanging information and emotions, I received completely new and stimulating insights.
The stimulation, so intense it felt like a "snap!" and sparks flying, ignited a strong interest in fields I hadn't previously cared about and fueled my curiosity to take on new challenges. I often heard from the people I met that they felt a similar stimulation.

Perhaps it's like comets in the vast universe colliding, absorbing surrounding matter, expanding, and emitting light even more intensely.
We seem to possess a destined attraction to each other, which grows stronger, leading to encounters with new comets – I am experiencing this chain reaction of encounters. And I savor the feeling of being polished by each other, often over a beer.

In 2009, I anticipate that by polishing myself, I will once again encounter new comets, and with this hope,
I am spending the year-end like this.

Hiromi's Beauty Program: Hiromi Kobayashi Dialogue