The Essence of Shogi as Captured by Habu Yoshiharu

Why is it that in baseball, amateurs' comments like "Why aren't you swinging the bat now?", but why is Shogi perceived "boring to watch if you can't play"? Starting from this question, '羽生善治と現代(Habu Yoshiharu and present day)' is a book that delves into the world of watching shogi matches and the greatness of Habu Yoshiharu, packed with fascinating stories that will make watching shogi matches even more enjoyable.

Movie ”V siti”: How to Protect Your Child Online (Director Barbora Chalupova)

The shocking documentary film "V siti" moved the police in the Czech Republic, and is filled with the ugliness of middle-aged men who take advantage of a girl's "loneliness". We should realize the reality that simply "restricting internet access" is not enough to protect children.

[Summary] For Sama: A Mother’s Struggle in War-Torn Syria (Director Waad Al-Kateab)

I was so shocked by "For Sama" that I thought such a movie could never exist again. The journalist, who is also a mother and a revolutionary, documented the city in Syria that was continuously bombed and raised her daughter in the same city. This is not a reality that can be dismissed as "I didn't know."

[Review] The Beauty of a Distorted Relationship: “Let Me Eat Your Pancreas” (Sumino Yoru)

Relationships with others usually end up being labeled as "friend," "lover," or "family," and once labeled, we're bound by those terms. I'll be writing about "the miracle of an unnamed relationship" and "how to express strong feelings for someone" based on the novel "Let Me Eat Your Pancreas."

Rutger Bregman’s Vision for a Better Society: “Utopia for Realists”

In modern times, we live in a safer, cleaner, and more prosperous society than any other era in the past. However, even in such an age, we can't feel truly "happy". Based on "Utopia for Realists", this article explores why we can't feel happy and why society has become that way. Furthermore it also touches upon solutions to social issues in order to envision a better life.

[Summary] What “Convenience Store Woman” Teaches Us About Being Yourself (Author Murata Sayaka)

Even in her 30s, Furukura-san is still unmarried and works at a convenience store, causing people to view her as an "odd person who deviates from the norm". But is that really the case? Based on "Convenience Store Woman", it is suggested whether the majority of people are not making their own choices in life.

How the Astros Used Big Data to Win the World Series: “Astroball” (Ben Reiter)

The Astros, once called "the worst baseball team in tha last half century," won the championship through the analysis of big data. The feat was accomplished by baseball laypeople. Learn about the revolution of incorporating "human intuition" into "big data" based on "Astroball".

The Sand Crisis: How Concrete is Destroying Our Everyday Life: “The World in a Grain” (Vince Beiser)

Can you believe that "sand is running out?" You might think that there's plenty of sand everywhere, but the sand that can be used for industrial purposes is limited. As a result, sand from beaches around the world is being illegally mined. Learn about an environmental issue that's even more important than oil or plastic trash from "The World in a Grain".

Aum Shinrikyo: A Documentary That Questions Society: “A” (Mori Tatsuya)

The documentary film "A" by Mori Tatsuya, who infiltrated into Aum Shinrikyo, made an impact. However, it was not work about the religious group but about society. It addresses the sadistic nature of society that stops thinking and the reality that cannot be captured by objective facts.

Japanese Society: A Unique and Effective System: “Les lecons du Japon” (Jean-Marie Bouissou)

Living in Japan, it's common to feel dissatisfaction with Japanese society and politics. However, the French author of "Les lecons du Japon," who has been living in Japan for over 20 years, argues that Japan is doing well compared to France. The book discusses Japan's uniqueness in that only "society," not religion or individuals, can determine what is good or bad.

The Spark: How to Nurture Your Child’s Hidden Talent (Author Kristine Barnett)

At the age of 12, a child genius solved an unsolved problem in mathematics. However he was declared that it would be "lucky" if he could tie his shoelaces at the age of 16 when he was 3 years old. We can learn from "The Spark: A Mother's Story of Nurturing, Genius, and Autism" how to develop the talent of a severely autistic child against the opinions of experts.

The Dangers of Believing What We Want Instead of What’s True: “Truth in Our Times” (David E. McCraw) (a true story of the New York Times)

A decade ago, we were supposed to “want the correct information." But somehow, things have changed. People have ended up believing that the “desired information is correct." This shift became even more evident with the rise of former President Trump. From "Truth in Our Times: Inside the Fight for Press Freedom in the Age of Alternative Facts," let's question how we receive information.

Media Bias and the Hidden Truths of the Arab World: “People Like Us”

The media does report "facts" for sure. However, "People Like Us: Misrepresenting the Middle East" teaches us that it's difficult to truly understand the world without including information that isn't covered in the news. We learn about the "limits" and "how to receive" of journalism through the reality of reporting in Arab countries.

How a Boy with Autism Broke the Silence and Bias: “Ido in Autismland” (Ido Kedar)

Ido, a boy who overturned the experts' assumptions and radically changed the image of autism, is the author of the book "Ido in Autismland: Climbing Out of Autism's Silent Prison". He was thought to have an intellectual disability, but he was able to communicate through his mother and prove his intelligence. This book presents surprising truths about autism.

[Movie explained] The Science Behind “TENET”: Time Reversal and Antimatter (Director Christopher Nolan, Starring John David Washington, Supervisor Kip Thorne)

Christopher Nolan's movie "TENET" is full of knowledge from quantum mechanics such as "positron" and "antimatter." In this article, I will explain the scientific setting of the movie, focusing on the mechanism of the "revolving door" which appears as a time reversal device, rather than the contents of the movie itself.

The Last Debate of Mishima Yukio Before His Death

On May 13, 1969, a debate took place between Mishima Yukio and 1000 members of the Tokyo University's All-Campus Joint Struggle League. The movie "三島由紀夫VS東大全共闘" was created based on the footage shot only by TBS, and it is filled with intellectual excitement. We can learn about the thoughts and stance of Mishima Yukio from the debate, which took place a year and a half before his seppuku.

GMO Food: A Threat to Crop Diversity and Farmers: “Le monde selon Monsanto” (Marie-Monique Robin)

We should pay more attention to “whether it is safe to consume Monsanto Company's herbicides” than “whether Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are dangerous.” The film "Le monde selon Monsanto" reveals the current situation in which Monsanto monopolizes seed sales, plunges farmers into debt, and seeks to eliminate crop diversity worldwide.

Perelman: The Man Behind the Poincaré Conjecture Proof: “Perfect Rigor” (Masha Gessen)

"Perfect Rigor" is a biography that depicts the life of the genius mathematician Perelman who solved the extremely difficult problem in mathematics, the Poincaré conjecture, and declined a million-dollar prize and a Nobel Prize-level honor. The book focuses on his personal life and the struggles of "the gifted" individual who was born and raised in the Soviet Union, with almost no mathematical descriptions.

The Shocking Reality of Private Penitentiaries in America: A Review of American Prison (Author Shane Bauer)

In America, there are "private penitentiaries". "American Prison," written by an author who went undercover as a prison guard in one of them for research, is a non-fiction book that is filled with unbelievable descriptions. It depicts the historical background of how the world of madness, where inhumane acts prevail, came into being, as well as "private penitentiaries".

[VS Einstein] A New Theory to Replace the Big Bang Theory?: “Faster Than the Speed of Light”(Joao Magueijo)

For those who felt that the title "Faster Than the Speed of Light" makes it a fallacious book, rest assured that this is actually a very legitimate work. Regardless of whether the varying speed of light theory (VSL theory) is correct, the book presents a challenging hypothesis that attempts to compensate for the flaws in the Big Bang theory with a different logic than cosmic inflation.

[Film] Is “THE MOLE” Really a Documentary? A Must-Watch Film (Director Mads Brugger)

The movie "THE MOLE" is a film full of shocking footage that makes you wonder, "Is it really a documentary?" If the start of "A Danish ex-cook infiltrates North Korea on his own" is unintelligible, the development of a man with no intelligence or military experience revealing North Korea's secrets one after another is also too mysterious. It is a crazy work.

The Professor and the Madman: A Human Drama Behind a Dictionary (Director P.B. Shemran) (the true story of Oxford English Dictionary)

The world's top dictionary, the "Oxford English Dictionary," was created by a combination of a "self-taught man" without a degree and a "murderer." The unlikely meeting of these two "madmen" led to this great achievement, which teaches us about the reality that only "great accomplishment" can arise from "madness," as shown in the movie "The Professor and the Madman."

What is Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem and Why Did it Matter to Hilbert?

The "Math Girls" series by Yuki Hiroshi are math books for the general public that conveys the interesting aspects of mathematics while delving into quite advanced topics. The third volume's theme is "Gödel's incompleteness theorems." You will learn the theory of a young genius who shattered the ambition of a mathematician named Hilbert.

Feynman: A Book Review of His Scientific Achievements: “Quantum Man” (Lawrence M. Krauss)

"Quantum Man" is a general book that is said to be the first to cover the "achievements as a scientist" made by Feynman, who is known for many interesting episodes. Based on this book, understand the indirect contributions to various fields made by his unique research methods and the impact of the "Feynman diagram".

[Book] The Amazing Story of CRISPR-Cas9’s Discovery: “A Crack in Creation” (Jennifer Doudna, Samuel Sternberg)

The developers of genome editing technology "CRISPR-Cas9," which has completely transformed the field of biology, had no intention of inventing such a thing. Based on the book "A Crack In Creation: Gene Editing and the Unthinkable Power to Control Evolution" by the Nobel Prize-winning author, this is the story of their discovery.

The Mystery of Math: Is it Invented or Discovered? (Gödel vs Hilbert): “Is God a Mathematician” (Mario Livio)

In the world of mathematics, there are two schools of thought: those who believe math is created by God, and those who believe it is created by humans. Based on "Is God a Mathematician?", we can learn about the debate of whether math is a discovery or an invention and how each perspective has changed throughout the history of mathematics.

How Nothing Became Everything: The Big Bang Explained: “A Universe from Nothing” (Lawrence M. Krauss)

You probably know that the universe began with the "Big Bang." But do you know how it happened? Based on the book "A Universe from Nothing: Why There Is Something Rather than Nothing," we can learn how the universe was born from "nothing," where there was no space, time, or physical laws.

Did Dark Matter Wipe Out the Dinosaurs? Lisa Randall’s Idea: “Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs”

There has been a mystery associated with "extinction" for some time, and the solution to that mystery might lie in "dark matter", which is currently only a product of scientists' imagination as it has not been observed yet. In "Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs," active scientist proposes a surprising hypothesis.

[Summary] Other Minds: Exploring the Consciousness of Octopuses (Author Peter Godfrey-Smith)

Cephalopoda, such as the octopus, is the only Invertebrata to have evolved a "brain". The author writes that he feels a connection to octopuses despite having followed a completely different path of evolution, and describes them as the living beings that are most similar to extraterrestrial biological entities. In “Other Minds,” we can learn about the evolutionary history of the octopus, which also has a brain in its arm and the nature of consciousness.

[Movie] A True Story About the Origin of “Stockholm” Syndrome (Director Robert Budreau, Starring Ethan Hawke)

The phenomenon where hostages develop feelings of sympathy or affection for their captors during events like robberies or hostage situations is called "Stockholm syndrome," and it's based on a real-life event. Learn about the strange psychology of humans who end up helping their captors from the movie "Stockholm."

[Movie Summary] A Plastic Ocean: How We Eat Microplastics Every Day (Director Craig Leeson)

Marine pollution caused by plastic trash is far beyond our imagination. And the reality is also linked to the problem that "we ingest microplastics on a daily basis." From the movie "A Plastic Ocean," we can learn about the environmental destruction caused by modern civilization.

The Beauty and Mystery of “Symmetry” and Simple Groups (Author Marcus du Sautoy)

The proof by Abel that the quintic formula does not exist and the genius Galois's development of group theory shed new light on the field of symmetry. Based on the book "Symmetry," learn about the development of symmetry and the discovery of the "Monster."

How “Stuntwomen” Overcame Gender Bias in Hollywood (Director April Wright)

The movie "Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story" depicts stuntwomen who are often undervalued in the male-dominated film industry, despite their need for advanced skills and the risks involved. Learn about the tremendous effort and expertise of these women and the history of their struggles.

[Movie review] Mission Mangal: How India Conquered Mars on a Budget (Director Jagan Shakti, Starring Akshay Kumar)

Actually, only India has succeeded in sending a spacecraft to Mars in a single attempt. Both the United States and Russia have failed many times. Furthermore, India's space development budget is overwhelmingly low compared to major countries. Why was India able to accomplish this great feat? Let's learn project management from the movie "Mission Mangal".

Entanglement: How Einstein Helped Us Understand Quantum Mechanics: “The Age of Entanglement” (Louisa Gilder)

Although Einstein never accepted quantum mechanics, his criticisms helped to shed light on important aspects such as the significance of "entanglement." In "The Age of Entanglement: When Quantum Physics was Reborn," we can learn about the phenomena that form the foundation of quantum theory.

Higgs Boson: The Untold Story of a Big Discovery: “The Particle at the End of the Universe” (Sean Carroll)

Science research can no longer be done at an individual level and now requires large-scale "Big Science" collaborations. In this context, based on "The Particle at the End of the Universe," which delves into the behind-the-scenes story of the discovery of the "Higgs boson," I will consider how scientific achievements should be evaluated.

The Quest for Prime Numbers: “The Riemann Hypothesis” (Karl Sabbagh), “The Music of the Primes” (Marcus du Sautoy)

"Prime numbers" have fascinated mathematicians from all over the world for centuries. It was very difficult to find their patterns, but for the first time, it was showed as the "Riemann Hypothesis". From books like "The Music of the Primes" and "The Riemann Hypothesis: The Greatest Unsolved Problem in Mathematics," we can gain a basic understanding of the "Riemann Hypothesis" that genius mathematicians have taken on.

String Theory: A New Way to Understand Gravity: “Warped Passages” (Lisa Randall)

Lisa Randall, an active researcher, explains her hypothesis in a way that is easy for the general public to understand in her book "Warped Passages." The book explains the "Warped Passages," which are derived from string theory and describe why gravity is super weak, while delving deeply into the knowledge of General relativity and quantum mechanics.

Nuclear Waste: The Unsolved Problem of Our Time: “Journey to the Safest Place on Earth” (Edgar Hagen)

Our daily lives rely on the electricity generated by nuclear power plants, but the fact remains that no country in the world has yet decided on a final disposal site for nuclear waste. Based on the movie "Journey to the Safest Place on Earth," learn about the history of the issue of "nuclear waste" and the struggle of people who are confronting it.

Boys’ Love: A Review of a Heart-Wrenching Story: “The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese” (Director Yukisada Isao, Original Mizushiro Setona)

I'm not a "FUDANSHI (man who likes Boys' Love)," but I've had some exposure to BL works somewhat with the help of my friends who are "FUJOSHI (women who like Boys' Love)." Among them, outstanding one by far was Mizushiro Setona's "The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese." I will write my thoughts on the movie and the original work.

[Summary] How “They Shall Not Grow Old” Shows the Futility of War (Director Peter Jackson)

"They Shall Not Grow Old" is a film that colorizes and edits a vast amount of black-and-white footage depicting British soldiers in World War I. The film strongly conveys the "realism" that is difficult to feel with black-and-white images. You can realize that "wars are easier to start than expected" and "wars are ultimately miserable."

[Summary] How “The Reason I Jump” Changed the World’s View of Autism (Director Jerry Rothwell, Original Higashida Naoki)

In the film "The Reason I Jump," which also features the man who translated Higashida Naoki's writings into English and spread them around the world (and is raising an autistic child), there is a family who says that their way of treating and thinking about autism changed when they learned about "the world of autism as told by Higashida Naoki." We can realize the great achievement of Higashida Naoki, who showed that "autistic is not mental disability".

[Oscar] How “Nomadland” (Chloé Zhao) Shows Us the Survival and Struggle of Nomads (Starring Frances McDormand)

Through the film "Nomadland," which portrays a woman who lost her town due to the bankruptcy of the company she was working for, and who decided to adopt a nomadic lifestyle without a home, we consider whether we have the strength to face major life changes and how we should live our lives.

Quantum: A Story of Genius and Controversy in Science History (Author Manjit Kumar)

Quantum theory, born in the 20th century, was created from the heated discussions of brilliant scientists who colored the era. Einstein is known for his lifelong opposition to quantum theory, but his criticism also gave birth to new insights. Learn about the history of the birth of quantum theory from "Quantum".

[Attack] The Dilemma of Heroism in “Hotel Mumbai”: A Film Analysis (Director Anthony Maras)

The Cured: A Zombie Movie that Reflects Our Reality (Director David Freyne)

I was surprised how vividly "zombie movies" depicted our reality. Based on the movie "The Cured", we can learn about the fear caused by "invisible facts" and how a situation can cause "division" even if each person takes a correct stance according to their position.

Movie “Skin”: A Racist’s Journey to Change His Life (Director Guy Nattiv)

I dislike "those who do not doubt their righteousness" and “those who try to force their sense of right and wrong onto others.” I dislike “those who disturb those who want to change.” In the movie "Skin," based on a true story about a racist covered in tattoos who turns his life around, we can think about the idea of regeneration.

How “The Public” Shows Us the Conflict between Rules and Justice (Director Emilio Estevez)

Learning about the history of how the socially weak have fought for and won their rights, I believe that rights should be recognized without having to fight for them. And, we are not living in that kind of society, so there are also "situations where we have to break the rules is necessary for justice." From the movie "The Public," let's consider the balance between rules and justice.

The Power of “Violet Evergarden” to Touch the Heart (Director Ishidate Taichi)

I went to see the movie "Violet Evergarden the Movie" without knowing anything about the story or characters because I had never even heard of the TV anime. Despite not typically liking "stories without malice," this piece surprisingly stuck with me and made me weep.

How “Tokyo Trial” Showed Me the Fairness of History

I, who am not well-versed in history, had a vague impression that "in the Tokyo Trial, the victorious countries carried out unjust judgments." However, that impression was completely wrong. Watching the movie "Tokyo Trial Digital Remastered" helped me understand how fairly the Tokyo Trial was conducted.

Big Bang: Simon Singh’s Book on the History of the Universe

From ancient times to the present, the "universe" has been perceived in various ways. And with each new discovery, the “universe” has revealed itself as a mysterious entity that defies common sense. Based on Simon Singh's book “Big Bang,” learn about the transition of the outlook on the universe leading up to the "Big Bang model."

[Summary] The Code Book: Simon Singh’s Guide to the History of Cryptography

"Cryptography" is not just a topic in mystery novels and spy movies, it is a crucial part of our daily lives, especially in internet security. Simon Singh's book, "The Code Book," explores the evolution of cryptography from linguistics to mathematics, and explains how "Public-key cryptography" solved the "key distribution problem."

Simon Singh’s “Fermat’s Last Theorem”: A Mathematical Drama

"Fermat's Last Theorem" is a conjecture left by a mathematician more than 350 years ago. Until it was proved by Wiles in 1995, there were countless dramas surrounding it. From Simon Singh's works and the "Math Girls" series, we can learn about the human drama and mathematical aspects of the theorem.

[Movie review] How “Official Secrets” Shows Us the Courage to Break the Law (Director Gavin Hood, Starring Keira Knightley)

Learn a guideline for living that is more important than "upholding the law" from the movie "Official Secrets," which depicts a real-life woman who was a member of the country's intelligence agency, but who went against her duty of confidentiality to try to reveal the truth because she knew about a huge stratagem to "justify the Iraq War."

What is IUT Theory and Why Does it Matter for the abc Conjecture?

"IUT (Inter-Universal Teichmüller Theory)," which underwent an 8-year review process and was published in a journal, became a hot topic for proving the most important unresolved math problem, the "abc conjecture." Based on "宇宙と宇宙をつなぐ数学(mathematics that connects 宇宙と宇宙) " and " abc予想入門(abc conjecture primer)," it teaches about "IUT" and the "abc conjecture."

The Specials: A Movie that Questions the Role of Rules (Director Eric Toledano, Olivier Nakache)

Following rules is a fundamental principle, but there are always exceptions. The movie “The Specials” depicts a protagonist who passionately tackles problems in an unauthorized facility that even severe autistic patients are not rejected from, making us think about the ideal form of rules.

Natural Gift vs. Effort: A Lesson from Joao’s Story: “Joao, o Maestro” (Mauro Lima) (a movie based on a true story of Joao Carlos Martins)

No matter how much we are blessed with "natural gift," we can't achieve anything without a "talent being able to strive." And if we have that "talent being able to strive," it can turn into the courage to stand up even if we are pushed to the brink of despair. This is the shocking true story that you will learn from the movie "Joao, o Maestro".

Psychology of Failure: Why We Can’t Trust Our Senses and Memory: “The Invisible Gorilla” (Christopher Chabris, Daniel Simons)

We live in society relying on perception and memory, but can we really trust them? From "The Invisible Gorilla" by the authors who devised an experiment that shocked the world of psychology, learn about "inescapable habits of failure".

The Poincaré Conjecture: What Perelman Proved and Why it Matters

Learn about the "Poincaré conjecture," a mathematical conundrum with a 1 million dollars prize. The genius mathematician Perelman solved it but refused both the prize and the Fields Medal. Find out the details of the conundrum and its proof in Yuki Hiroshi's "Math Girls."

[Movie] How “Assassins” Exposes the Reality of Kim Jong-nam’s Murder (Director Ryan White) (a true story of Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong)

The assassination of Kim Jong-nam was reported with surprise all over the world. The two women who carried out the assassination were just ordinary people who were made become assassins by being asked, "Do you want to become famous?" From the movie "Assassins," we can understand the current situation next to danger we live in.

What is Galois Theory and How it Changed Mathematics Forever

The theme of the fifth installment of the "Math Girls" series depicts people who are through mathematics, with a focus on high school students, and it's about "Galois theory." The book traces the thoughts left behind by a genius who single-handedly pioneered the new field of "group theory," but was too pioneering to be understood by the mathematicians of his time, and later died in a duel.

[Film] How “Pad Man” Fought for Women’s Health and Dignity (Director R. Balki)

From the movie "Pad Man," which is based on a real person who developed "inexpensive sanitary napkins" to help his wife, who used ash or dirty cloth to treat her menstrual bleeding in India where the taboo of "not even talking about menstruation" still exists in the 21st century, we can think about "how we want to live."

[Movie] Joker: A Story That Questions the Nature of Evil (Director Todd Phillips, Starring Joaquin Phoenix)

I, who have never watched the "Batman" series, watched the movie "Joker" with zero prior knowledge. This movie reminded that "evil" is often ubiquitous in the "environment" and anyone can fall into it. It makes us think again about the reality that simply condemning the "individual" cannot reduce "evil" in society.

How Mr. Tornado Made Flying Safer with Downburst Theory

Just a few decades ago, airplanes were known as "rides of death", but thanks to the genius meteorologist Fujita Tetsuya, the skies around the world have become safer. Nowadays, airplanes are less prone to fatal accidents than cars. Learn about his turbulent research life in " Mr.トルネード 藤田哲也 航空事故を激減させた男(Mr.Tornado Fujita Tetsuya The Man Who Drastically Reduced Aviation Accidents)".

[Book review] Novacene: James Lovelock’s Radical View of Life and AI

The claim that "the Earth is a kind of living organism" would sound quite dubious. However, the author who advocates for the "Gaia theory" is a well-known scientist who has been awarded numerous awards and degrees. In "Novacene: The Coming Age of Hyperintelligence", we can learn innovative insights about coexisting with AI and humanity.

The Upside: A True Story of Friendship Beyond Labels (Director Neil Burger)

I do not like to be seen with a "label", even if it is a positive one. Philip, One of the main characters, a disabled millionaire, is also that type. Learning to communicate from "The Upside," which depicts Philip's transformation after meeting Dell, an unprincipled ex-criminal.

[Film] Richard Jewell: A Hero Turned into a Villain by Media (Director Clint Eastwood)

The movie "Richard Jewell" is based on a true story where a hero who stopped the damage of a bomb incident was wrongly reported as the culprit due to media's mistake. It makes us think about the pros and cons of “openly criticizing others” and the concept of "justice called recurrence prevention".

[Movie Summary] How “Snowden” and “Citizenfour” Expose the US Surveillance (Director Oliver Stone, Laura Poitras)

Edward Snowden, who could access to the top secret information of the NSA (National Security Agency), made an internal whistleblowing by taking that confidential information out. "America is intercepting communications around the world," he said. From the two works "Citizenfour" and "Snowden," we can learn about his disclosure and the conflicts surrounding it.

How HondaJet Revolutionized the Aviation Industry

The "HondaJet" developed by Honda Motor, an automobile manufacturer, was made possible because the company has kept the spirit of Honda Soichiro, the founder, who had a dream of becoming an aircraft manufacturer. Learn the drama of the revolutionary technology development and operation from "HONDAジェット 開発リーダーが語る30年の全軌跡 (HondaJet The 30-year trajectory as told by the development leader)".

How Ghibli and Miyazaki Hayao Created Masterpieces

Producer Toshio Suzuki, who joined Ghibli by chance through Tokuma Shoten Publishing, tells the story behind the Ghibli works created together with geniuses Miyazaki Hayao and Takahata Isao in "天才の思考 高畑勲と宮崎駿 (What Geniuses Think: Takahata Isao and Miyazaki Hayao)." Discover the miraculous journey of Japan's top anime industry leaders.

[TV] The Milgram Experiment: Why We Obey Evil Orders: “L’experience extreme” (Christophe Nick, Michel Eltchaninoff)

"L'experience extreme" describes the details of the "modern version of the Milgram experiment" conducted by a French TV station. It demonstrates that anyone can commit cruel acts when ordered by a perceived authority figure. It is a must-read for all humanity to learn how to prevent mistakes in advance.

Robert Capa’s Falling Soldier: A Fake or Not?

Robert Capa's "Falling Soldier," one of the most famous war photographs of all time, has been long debated over the question of authenticity: "Was this really taken at the moment of the shooting?" In non-fiction book "キャパの十字架 (Cross of Capa)," Sawaki Kotaro takes on this famous mystery and draws an unexpected conclusion.

Black Hole: The Invisible, Mysterious Brightest and Darkest Star

Based on the book "ブラックホールをのぞいてみたら(If You Look Into a Black Hole)," which active researcher explains the mysterious and still enigmatic "Black Hole" that was directly observed for the first time in 2019, I explain the history of scientists' denial of its existence and the characteristics of this celestial body.

Superstring Theory: May Space Be Just an Illusion?

"大栗先生の超弦理論入門(Introduction to Superstring Theory by Prof. Ooguri)" is a book that explains the cutting-edge science of "Superstring Theory." This article focuses on one of the author's claims that "space might be an illusion." What kind of strange world does this theory, which is the first in human history to limit the applicable dimensions, depict?

Falsifiability and Pseudoscience: What Makes Science Scientific?

What does the phrase "scientifically correct" really mean? Why do scientists refrain from saying something is "absolutely correct" or "100% incorrect"? Let's ponder the question of "What kind of activity is science?" from a philosophical perspective, as well as from the perspective of science itself, as discussed by Yamucha in "哲学的な何か、あと科学とか(Something Philosophical, and Science)".

Do We Really have Free Will? Neuroscientist David Eagleman Explains: “Incognito”

We feel like we make decisions and choices based on our own will, but neuroscience research suggests otherwise. The truth is, we don't have "free will" and a large part of our brain is controlled by something other than our consciousness, which we cannot access, as explained in "Incognito".

Black Hole: The Epic Quest to Photograph the Invisible: “Einstein’s Shadow” (Seth Fletcher)

"Einstein's Shadow," a behind-the-scenes look at the grand EHT project to "synchronize radio telescopes around the world to photograph the Black Hole," reveals the difficulties of photographing the Black Hole and the human drama in a huge project involving a "Nobel Prize."

Geological Age: What is Chibanian and Why it Matters

The term "Chibanian" became well-known especially in Japan, but many people may not know why it became a topic of discussion or why it's important. From the book "地磁気逆転と「チバニアン」(Geomagnetic Reversal and “Chibanian”)," be which the author who was closely involved in the application for it, you can learn about the true nature of the past mysterious phenomena that occurred on Earth.

Brilliant Blunders: The Unexpected Contributions of Darwin and Einstein (Author Mario Livio)

Even the greatest scientists cannot avoid making mistakes, but these mistakes may not simply end in failure. Incorrect ideas or claims can sometimes have positive effects. From "Brilliant Blunders," learn about the "blunders" of genius scientists and their unexpected "contributions."

[Math] Group Theory: How Galois Changed Math and Died Young

Galois, who single-handedly created "group theory" essential to modern mathematics, died at the young age of 20 in a duel. From "ガロア 天才数学者の生涯(Galois Life of a Genius Mathematician)," we can learn about what his life was like, what led him to become interested in math, and how incredible misfortune changed the course of his life.

[Movie review] The Booksellers: A Fascinating Journey into the Rare Book World (Director D.W. Young)

The movie "The Booksellers" portrays people who hunt the vast world of books like hunters and have an abnormal obsession with their favorite books. Real-life rare book collectors talk about their love for books, discover new values, educate the next generation, and learn how to confront the threat of the internet.

Denise Ho: The Star Singer Who Fought for Hong Kong Democracy (Director Sue Williams)

When the Hong Kong democracy movement is reported in Japan, Agnes Chow Ting is often mentioned, but there is a person in Hong Kong who was recognized as a symbolic figure of the democracy movement before her. The main character of the movie "Denise Ho: Becoming the Song" is a star singer whose tumultuous life we can learn about.

[Summary] How “Hidden Figures” Shows the Value of Diversity (Director Theodore Melfi)

I feel that people who are unable to use others' abilities due to prejudice and discrimination are incompetent. Such people probably still exist in modern society. The movie "Hidden Figures," which depicts a black woman working at NASA during the competition with the Soviet Union in manned spaceflight, makes us think about the path to a society without prejudice and discrimination.

Skovmand: A Hero of Agriculture and Seeds: “The Viking in the Wheat Field” (Susan Dworkin)

From "The Viking in the Wheat Field," which portrays the life of the legendary botanist Skovmand who accurately predicted the risks that "agriculture" would face in a globalized world and established "Gene Bank" as a countermeasure, we can learn how we are living in a fragile world and how "world food" is being protected.

Chim↑Pom: An Amazing and Provocative Art Group

Without knowing much about the artist Chim↑Pom, I went to see "Chim↑Pom Exhibition: Happy Spring" at Mori Art Museum. Because the exhibition stimulated my thoughts so much incredibly, I rushed out to buy a copy of "Bijutsutecho" featuring Chim↑Pom and thought about Chim↑Pom a lot.

[Film] Like Father, Like Son: A Story That Challenges Family Values (Director Koreeda Hirokazu)

Is “blood ties” the only thing that makes a family? Is providing “future happiness” what parenting is all about? Inspired by the actual “baby mix-up case”, Koreeda Hirokazu's film “Like Father, Like Son” portrays a struggling family and prompts us to think about “what is family?” and “how should we approach parenting and happiness?”

[Movie Review] Spotlight: A Story That Exposes the Church’s Scandal (Director Thomas McCarthy) (a movie based on the true story of the Boston Globe)

"The Boston Globe," a local newspaper, revealed the shocking fact that numerous priests had been sexually abusing children for many years and that the entire church had been covering up the truth. The movie "Spotlight" depicts their struggle and helps us understand the importance of "keeping power in check."

[Summary] The Imitation Game: A True Story That Alan Turing Decrypted Enigma (Director Morten Tyldum, Starring Benedict Cumberbatch)

Alan Turing, a brilliant mathematician who developed the basic principles of computers, broke the strongest encryption machine, Enigma, which was once considered "impossible to decipher". After watching the movie "The Imitation Game", I learned about his unfortunate life, which led to his suicide due to prejudice despite having saved more than 14 million lives.

Genocidal Organ: A Movie That Confronts Our Indifference (Director Murase Shuko, Original Project Itoh)

Living in a world that's too convenient, we stop imagining about "how this convenience was created". This "indifference" can definitely make the world worse. From the anime movie "Genocidal Organ" based on Project Itoh's novel, we can learn about the "cruelty of indifference" and the importance of "imagination".

[Movie] Three Billboards: A Critique of Internet Society (Director Martin McDonagh, Starring frances mcdormand)

To argue that something is "correct," we need a "standard of correctness." However, even with that, the question of whether "anything goes if it's not regulated" can be problematic. The movie "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" uses three analog tools, or signboards, to expose the realities of modern internet society and make us think about the “difficulty of ‘correctness’."

[Review] Movie “Detroit”: How Power Corrupts and the Tragedy of Injustice (Director Kathryn Bigelow)

When those in power abuse their authority, the citizens are powerless. In such situations, what choices do we have? The movie "Detroit," which is based on a real event from 50 years ago where a white police officer threatened and killed black men, shows us the horrors of "injustice by those in power."

[Review] Movie “Denial”: The Fight for Holocaust Facts on Trial (Director Mick Jackson, Original Deborah E. Lipstadt)

In a British trial, there was a dispute over whether or not the Holocaust happened. Based on this shocking true story, "Denial" raises questions about "what is the truth?" and "how should we believe information?" In a world where the term "fake news" is commonly used, this is a fact that we should know.

[Book] Umberto Eco Says: How Forgetting Creates Culture: “N’espérez pas vous débarrasser des livres”

Umberto Eco, a world-renowned literary scholar and devotee of the "paper book," makes a truly thrilling argument that "books are valuable because of their function of forgetting". From the conversation in "N'pspérez pas vous débarrasser des livres," we learn about the disadvantages of "electronic data without the property of forgetting" and the possibilities of the "book".

Gautama Buddha Said “Don’t Work” “Don’t Look at the Opposite Sex”

The Buddhism that we are familiar with is "Mahayana Buddhism" which is different from "Hinayana Buddhism" that embodies Gautama Buddha's beliefs. In "講義ライブ だから仏教は面白い！(That's why Buddhism is so interesting!)", the teachings of such "Hinayana Buddhism" are simplified as "Become a NEET person who doesn't even make eye contact with the opposite sex!" and explained.

[Movie summary] How “A Taxi Driver” Can Change Your Worldview (Director Jang Hun, Starring Song Kang-ho) (a true story of the Gwangju Uprising)

We, who are so immersed in "comfortable information" and are not ashamed of not knowing what we should know, know very little about what is happening in the world. From "A Taxi Driver," a film depicting "Gwangju Uprising," we consider about a new view of the world.

[Review] The Natural Unnaturalness of “Drive My Car” (Director Hamaguchi Ryusuke, Original Murakami Haruki)

The movie "Drive My Car" directed by Hamaguchi Ryusuke, based on a short story by Murakami Haruki, creates a similar "natural unnaturalness" atmosphere to Murakami's novels. How he makes the "unnatural" world seem "natural" and what kind of impact the "natural unnaturalness" has on the entire work are explored.

[Movie Review] How a Film Director Creates Magic with Words: “Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy” (Director Hamaguchi Ryusuke)

The elements that make up a "film" as a medium are many, but the film director Ryusuke Hamaguchi's work "Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy" is a remarkable work that produces madness, emotion, and laughter with just the "script" and "actors". It is an omnibus work with three completely different stories, and each one is so wonderful that I feel like I could watch them forever. If you come across the opportunity to see it, I highly recommend it.

[Movie] The Power of Language in a Four-Hour Film: “Intimacies” (Director Hamaguchi Ryusuke)

As a graduation project from a vocational school, Hamaguchi Ryusuke's film "Intimacies" is an ambitious work that incorporates a two-hour and ten-minute play within a play. The film emphasizes the power of words, despite being a visual medium, and I was overwhelmed by the words spoken throughout the film and the play within a play. Although it is very long at four hours, glad I saw it.

[Book review] How “Sapiens” Explains Our History (Author Yuval Noah Harari)

The well-known bestseller "Sapiens" is a book full of intellectual excitement, which explains "why sapiens alone survived among the human race and made a history that no other organisms have made" by focusing on three main themes: "cognitive revolution," "agricultural revolution," and "scientific revolution.

[Film review] Shoplifters: A Movie That Questions Good and Evil (Director Koreeda Hirokazu)

I believe that anyone who breaks the law should be punished, regardless of the reason. However, this is not related to the judgment of good and evil. From the movie "Shoplifters" directed by Koreeda Hirokazu, let us think about the legitimacy of a society where "good and evil" are determined by the "national mood" and a way of living that has "the courage to put on hold good and evil judgments".