“JUNKAN” Here, “JUNKAN” There. Embark on a Journey Through a Cycle of X Meters from Within Me.

“JUNKAN” here, “JUNKAN” there. Embark on a journey through a cycle of X meters from within me.

What defines a cycle? It exists within your body, within the cityscape, amidst the mountains, in the vast expanse of the universe, and conceivably beyond. Indeed, everything we perceive in our daily lives comprises various cycles. The X meters expedition through the cycles of this world commences at 0 meters, nestled within our very beings. From the intimate confines of my home spanning a 10-meter radius, to the far reaches of the globe, extending beyond the earthly bounds into the vast expanse of the cosmos. Thus commences an eternal odyssey of cycles!

My Essence Pulsates with Cycles!

You might believe you know yourself to a certain degree, yet the true hue of your heart remains a mystery. Beating approximately once per second, the heart orchestrates the symphony of circulation, propelling blood throughout the intricate network of arteries, veins, and capillaries. Oxygen and nutrients are transported to cells while carbon dioxide and waste products are collected. The human body is ingeniously designed around the mechanism of circulation. This fundamental truth extends not only to humans but to all living organisms.

Renowned biologist Shin-ichi Fukuoka, in his acclaimed book “Seibutsu to Museibutsu no Aida (Between Living and Non-living Things),” proposes that “living organisms are flows in dynamic equilibrium, never actualities as individual secured entities.” Thus, we embark upon a journey both familiar and magnificent, interwoven into the tapestry of cycles and circulation.

Fermentation: Nature’s Culinary Alchemy

Fermented delicacies like natto, sake, soy sauce, and yogurt hold such a familiar place on our dining tables that they've become indispensable, but what’s the secret behind their magic?

Fermentation is a fascinating process wherein microorganisms such as yeast, bacteria, and molds metabolize organic compounds like carbohydrates and proteins, yielding alcohols, organic acids, and carbon dioxide to fuel their energy needs. This transformative process not only enhances the nutritional profile of foods but also imbues them with rich, complex flavors. Indeed, fermentation has been an integral aspect of culinary tradition since time immemorial.

While we often associate fermentation with culinary delights, it’s essential to recognize that its underlying mechanism is akin to that of “putrefaction.” The actions of microorganisms can either elevate food to delectable heights or render it inedible. Despite ongoing global research on microorganisms, there remain numerous mysteries yet to unravel. Indeed, the estimated count of microorganisms inhabiting Earth ranges from 415 to 615 x 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. Or perhaps even more.
What remains unequivocal, however, is the symbiotic relationship between humans and the microscopic world of microorganisms. By indulging in fermented fare, we partake in the bounty of nature’s microbial artisans, enriching our culinary experiences in the process.

The Resale Market: Driving the Circulation of Goods

Long-utilized items that have outlived their usefulness find new homes, igniting a fresh cycle of value and purpose. This phenomenon has persisted since ancient times, exemplified by practices dating back to the Edo period. Take, for instance, the tradition of furugi-gai, or secondhand clothes buying where garments are procured from the public for reuse. Candle buyers, who gathered melted candles, and the practice of shimogoe-gai, which involved selling collected excrement to farmers as fertilizer, further underscore the ingenuity of resource circulation during that era. Interestingly, it was believed that excrement from the upper class was more nutrient-rich and therefore fetched a higher price.

Fast forward to the year 2024, and we witness the burgeoning landscape of the internet resale market. Platforms like Mercari, a prominent player in Japan, have experienced exponential growth, with last year marking its most successful performance since inception. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Mercari has embarked on a new mission: “Circulate all forms of value to unleash the potential in all people.”

As goods circulate, the very fabric of our world undergoes rapid transformation, revitalizing economies and reshaping individual lives. Embrace the dynamism of this circulating ecosystem within arm’s reach, beginning with items within a 5-meter radius of your room, and witness firsthand the power of cycles in action.

The Agricultural Cycle Begins: Cultivating Rooftop Gardens

In recent years, there has been a burgeoning movement to establish regional hubs known as community gardens. Sprouting up across urban landscapes worldwide, these community gardens serve as catalysts for sustainable community development, fostering local interaction, enriching food culture, and addressing environmental concerns.

Notably, numerous initiatives are tackling food-related issues, a trend resonating strongly in Japan. One such endeavor is the Edible KAYABAEN project, which envisions transforming Nihonbashi Kayabacho into an edible enclave by harnessing composting to convert food waste into fertilizer. The garden, which sprouted on the rooftop of Tokyo Shoken Kaikan, was crafted by Phil Cashman, a practitioner and researcher of permaculture in Japan—a design ethos aimed at fostering symbiotic relationships between humans and nature, under the mentorship of Bill Mollison, widely acclaimed as the “father of permaculture.”

Under the umbrella of Edible Schoolyard Japan, the organization behind Edible KAYABAEN, the Edible Schoolyard Project—originating from the organic movement in California—partners with public elementary schools to deliver food education.

Students actively participate in growing, cooking, and consuming the produce cultivated within the schoolyard, fostering a deeper connection to their food and environment. Edible KAYABAEN aspires to cultivate a community where children thrive in health and safety, nurturing their vitality through food-centric learning experiences. From the humble beginnings of a rooftop garden atop a building, emerges a sustainable food cycle that paves the way for a promising future.

Architectural Artifacts: Timeless Creations

Allow me to introduce a cycle that traverses not only space but also time, bridging the gap between us and the object in an instant. Is time truly a linear progression? Old trends and sentiments often resurface like echoes of the past. Indeed, phenomena do not merely unfold along a single temporal axis; rather, they spiral akin to the structure of DNA. In this context, labeling something that once existed as merely “old-fashioned” may be overly simplistic.

The SHIROIYA HOTEL, inaugurated in Maebashi in December 2020, has garnered widespread attention beyond the realm of construction. Born from the renovation of the Shiroiya Ryokan—an inn established during the Edo period, transitioned to a hotel in late 1970's, and ceased operations in 2008—the hotel pays homage to its storied past. Drawing inspiration from its history of hosting numerous artists and dignitaries, the interior was meticulously crafted by Sou Fujimoto and an international team of creators, adorned with artworks by luminaries such as Hiroshi Sugimoto.

While recycling and renovation techniques have become commonplace worldwide, the SHIROIYA HOTEL revitalizes the very essence and allure of its establishment. Embedded within the local community, it fosters an ecosystem that nurtures art and intellectual discourse—a cultural, societal, and ecological cycle uniquely achievable on the grand canvas of architecture. Within the confines of your own neighborhood, within a 5,000-meter radius, you’re bound to encounter architectural marvels that transcend time, reborn anew in your own backyard.

The Brain's Information Circulation: The Blueprint for Deep Learning

permeated our lives, finding its implementation in PCs, smartphones, household appliances, and beyond. At its nucleus lies deep learning, a machine learning technology.

What sets deep learning apart is its capacity for autonomous problem-solving through the absorption of vast datasets. Much like humans acquire knowledge and expertise, machines learn autonomously from data inputs.

Kunihiko Fukushima, esteemed as the “father of deep learning,” pioneered the foundational structure of deep learning with his creation, the neocognitron, unveiled in 1979. This groundbreaking innovation forms the bedrock of contemporary artificial intelligence, enabling the learning of diverse information domains, encompassing speech, video, and natural language.

Remarkably, the neural networks powering AI were inspired by the intricate neural networks of the human brain. With billions of interconnected neurons facilitating information exchange, the brain serves as a paradigm for information circulation. Similarly, technological advancements have led to the formation of a global network, perpetuating the circulation of information.

Once relegated to the realms of storybooks, the prospect of cohabiting with robots seemed far-fetched. Yet, the day we surpass the futuristic visions portrayed in science fiction films may be imminent.

Atmospheric Circulation

While checking the morning weather forecast has become routine, the method for predicting weather was only discovered a few decades ago.

In the late 1960s, Shukuro Manabe, Nobel laureate in Physics (2021), pioneered the Atmospheric General Circulation Model (AGCM), revolutionizing climate prediction. Dr. Manabe’s model, which integrates atmosphere and ocean dynamics, highlighted the correlation between rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and global warming. Derived from fundamental laws, including principles commonly taught in high school, this model has significantly influenced climate studies.

In response to escalating global warming concerns, Dr. Manabe merged the AGCM with the Ocean General Circulation Model (OGCM), which determines the state of the oceans based on water temperature and salinity, to create the Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere General Circulation Model (COA-GCM). Remarkably, this model accurately replicates real climate patterns without historical meteorological data, serving as a vital tool in climate change prediction.

Dr. Manabe, motivated by a desire to understand Earth’s climate rather than mitigate global warming, underscores the intellectual curiosity that propelled his research. His pioneering work continues to shape climate modeling for years to come.

Galaxies Are Born from Enigmatic Cycles

The notion that various phenomena are shaped by cyclical processes extends far beyond our own planet. Recent studies have unveiled that the very framework of galaxies, the building blocks of the universe, emerges from the intricate circulation of matter.

In November 2023, Takuma Izumi, an associate professor at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, unveiled groundbreaking findings. Using the ALMA telescope, capable of capturing radio waves emitted by celestial objects over 13 billion light-years away, Izumi conducted high-resolution observations near the heart of the Circinus Galaxy, situated approximately 14 million light-years from Earth. Through meticulous scrutiny of molecules, atoms, and plasma, Izumi achieved a world-first: an in-depth exploration of the flow and structure of gas within the galaxy.
Galaxies, vast cosmic tapestries, are comprised of stars, stellar remnants, gaseous elements, cosmic dust, and the enigmatic substance known as dark matter. It is believed that these elements, crucial components of space dust and organic material, originate within stars and evolve through the dynamic circulation within and between disc galaxies.

Merely 63 years have passed since humanity first ventured into the great beyond. Yet, the once seemingly boundless expanse of space now feels within reach, with private space travel ventures on the horizon. While mysteries persist, the unveiling of the galaxy’s secrets and the origins of the universe may be closer than we dare to imagine.

The Cycle of Life and Death in Buddhist Philosophy

In Buddhism, the concept of jobutsu, or resting in peace, holds significant meaning. It suggests that upon death, individuals merge with the universe, dispersing and intermingling throughout existence. This idea is vividly portrayed in Sokyu Genyu’s novel “Chuin no Hana,” the winner of the 125th Akutagawa Prize. In it, Keiko, the wife of Norimichi, a Buddhist monk, reflects on the presence of the departed in her daily life and contemplates the notion of jobutsu.

She articulates, “Resentment, sadness, and other emotions dissolve into the vast expanse of the sky, becoming minuscule until there is no ‘self,’ merging and spreading endlessly. That’s the essence of jobutsu... It’s about attaining purity...and I believe there are no distinctions in this purification. Some may struggle to let go of these feelings, unable to dissolve them easily...but ultimately, it all leads to the same outcome once they do.”

Dying and living are indeed perceived as opposing concepts, like antonyms or the dual forces of yin and yang. Such is the inherent duality we perceive. Yet, when viewed through the lens of jobutsu, we recognize that death and life are integral components of a unified cycle. This cycle unfolds in a realm seemingly distant from one’s self, yet intimately intertwined with one’s essence.