7:00 AM – A Cup of Milk Tea

The best part of a holiday is sleeping in, but lately, I unfortunately wake up around 6:30 AM. I can’t fall back asleep even if I try. So, I get up and make myself a cup of milk tea. The cup in the photo is the one I use. It’s a coffee cup, so some might scold me for not being well-versed in British culture, but I think drinking it however you like is the most enjoyable. If it were an antique-style cup with obvious floral patterns, I’d feel like I’d have to stick out my pinky (laughs).

Anyway, about this cup. It was designed by Raymond Loewy, a product designer born in France and active in America. He also designed the cigarette brand “Peace,” and as the saying goes, “From lipstick to locomotives,” he worked on a wide range of product designs.

I think using gray for tableware is unusual, but I like this neutral hue. And this design, at first glance, appears to be made of straight lines, but there are actually very few perfectly straight sections. If it were designed with completely straight lines, it would have a much harsher impression. The subtlety in this softness is exquisite. It’s meticulously calculated.

7:30 AM – Turn on the TV and Lounge Around

After my morning tea time, I have nothing else to do, so I go back to bed. Whether I’m watching anything or not, I just turn on the TV and lounge around. The remote is always in my left hand. I change channels incessantly, muttering complaints about the programs.

And this remote control. I grip it literally all the time, except when I go to the bathroom, but as you can see, the design...! It makes me think of a hospital room. It’s not something I show to others, but I sincerely wish it could be designed for more comfortable use… after all, it’s the product I’m most intimately familiar with on my days off.

11:00 AM – A Beer with a Sandwich

When I start to feel a bit hungry, I get up again and head to the kitchen. I make a sandwich and busily prepare a beer glass. Beer in the afternoon! It’s a luxury only permitted on holidays.

This tumbler was made as a novelty item for the brand “Baloo” by Scoopman. Inspired by the glasses used for panaché, a mix of beer and lemonade common in Parisian cafes, it features an illustration of the map of Bora Bora, Tahiti. The shape and material are standard, and it’s certainly not luxurious, but it’s just right for enjoying drinks casually. After drinking my beer, I drift back into a nap; that’s my usual routine.

3:00 PM – Birdwatching

It sounds fancy to call it birdwatching, but I love scattering breadcrumbs on the balcony and watching the birds come. Perhaps because there’s the Jindaiji Botanical Gardens nearby, various birds visit. My favorite is the wagtail. Its expression is truly adorable.

The binoculars are Leica. When I bought them, I was torn between them and products from Carl Zeiss, another German optical equipment manufacturer, but I chose these because they had a more classic binocular design. Mood over function. I always take them on picnics too.

6:00 PM – While Eating Takoyaki

I pick up groceries at the supermarket. I return home by 4 PM and enjoy an aperitif while watching the sunset.

Then, for the evening’s enjoyment, I move on to making takoyaki. Using a hot plate might be the easiest way, but I’m not too keen on a overly domestic atmosphere… So, I favor a cast iron plate. It requires some effort, like oiling it and creating an oxide film, but after about the third time, the takoyaki start to turn smoothly, almost as if it were non-stick.

The diatomaceous earth stove is a standard commercial item with no particular features, but an alcohol lamp fits perfectly, making it convenient. It also matches the casual nature of takoyaki perfectly.

By the way, has anyone tried making takoyaki with ingredients other than octopus? I’ve experimented with things like shelled clams, but octopus is still the most delicious. I’ve also tried various sauces, like mixing Yoshino kudzu into dashi broth, but it just doesn’t work. It’s tasty, but it loses the unique charm and familiarity of takoyaki. I really admire the person who invented takoyaki. That was a digression.

Finishing with a highball!

Searching for a drink that pairs well with takoyaki led me to a highball. For the brand, I stick with the affordable and classic red Johnny Walker. While white wine also pairs well, oil splattering onto a wine glass isn’t pleasant, and it doesn’t quite match the mood of takoyaki. In that regard, the unpretentious “Johnny Red” is perfect in both taste and compatibility.

I favor cut glass tumblers I bought in Paris. The glass quality isn’t great, and these aren’t exactly high-end items either, but they pair exceptionally well with the casual feel of takoyaki.

By around 8 PM, I’m full and pleasantly tipsy.
That concludes my personal guide to the happiest way to spend a holiday.