Canon's Diary

June 9th. Last night, I fell asleep in my chair until around 2 a.m.
In a rush, I brushed my teeth, set my alarm, and went back to bed.
However, I had set the wrong time and woke up at 5:30 a.m.
I reset it for 6:30, but ended up half-awake, with a somewhat unpleasant feeling lingering.
The sky was clear.
I washed my face and had my usual breakfast.
I packed the rice I had cooked yesterday into a container and put it in the fridge.
Around 7:30, I left for work.
“It’s a bit hot,” I thought.
The air was already warm enough to make me sweat.
Maybe it’s time to go without a jacket.

At my desk at work, I powered up my PC and opened my email to make sure there were no urgent tasks.
I opened the lid of my coffee pot and was greeted by a familiar, comforting aroma.
I began my usual work routine.
Nearby, someone was participating in a web meeting; I could hear their voice through the mic, the sound of fingers typing, and the gentle whoosh of the air conditioner.
Maybe because my sleep had been shallow, I felt a little foggy-headed, but gradually returned to my normal self as I got into the work.

At lunchtime, I headed to the cafeteria.
After some indecision, I chose fried shrimp fritters, an Italian-style omelet, and a broccoli salad.
It had been a while since I’d had something deep-fried.
The corn kernels were also fried—surprisingly delicious.

Work settled down, and during my lunch break, I opened my phone and came across some disturbing news.
In Los Angeles, the National Guard had been deployed to crack down on undocumented immigrants, and clashes were occurring between authorities and protestors.
About 300 troops had been stationed there.
The footage showed tear gas being fired, people being detained—it was clear that large-scale chaos had erupted.
Harsh sentiments toward illegal immigration are rising in European countries as well.
“It feels like the world is moving in a direction that runs counter to globalization,” I thought.
Even in Japan, due to issues like foreign tourists violating local manners, the government is announcing new policies.
Countries everywhere seem to be growing a bit more sensitive about accepting foreigners.
Still, when people from other countries act rudely, it doesn’t just reflect poorly on the individual—it can affect how the entire country is perceived.
Japan once had a saying, “Traveling allows you to discard your shame,” but that’s just a convenient excuse for irresponsible behavior.
Wherever you are, I believe we should act with dignity and responsibility as members of society.

Trump’s “America First” stance seems to have rippled across the globe, with many countries now prioritizing their own interests.
But perhaps it’s the very existence of borders and separate governments that makes us constantly watch and guard against each other.
When you talk to someone from another country, especially on a personal level, you often find how easy it is to connect.
Will there ever come a day when we can see the world as one united nation?
Hmm, maybe not.
The web of global interests is far too entangled, like a knot that can’t easily be undone.
It feels like that delicate balance is on the verge of collapsing.
Somehow, I can’t shake the feeling that something tremendous may happen within the next four or five years.

By the time I was heading home, the sky had turned cloudy, and a light rain had begun to fall.
I stopped by the supermarket and picked up a frozen hamburger patty, then went home.
For dinner, I stir-fried some leftover pork and flavored it with ginger sauce that had been sitting unused in the fridge.
“Hmm, the ginger flavor isn’t that strong. The mirin doesn’t come through much either.”
Honestly, the sauce I made myself before tasted better.
Ginger pork can be pricey, so maybe next time I’ll just use regular pork belly, season it like ginger pork, and grill it like barbecue.
That could work just as well.
There were some leftover carrots, so I boiled them with a bit of salt.
By the way, how exactly do you shred cabbage properly?
Maybe I’ll look it up online.