I swim for the pleasure of it and to unwind — it's a way to clear my head and think about something else, while still getting a good workout.
I wish I could do it at least once a year. I may not be an expert skier, but spending a week in the Alps is the thing that brings me the most joy in life.
I've long been interested in Japan's history, architecture, and landscapes, and especially its language. I value the structure of keigo and keishō and the way grammar can reflect attentiveness to social context.
I'm particularly drawn to the Meiji era — a period when Japan had no choice but to modernize at a relentless pace to avoid becoming easy prey for Western powers.
銭 sen
Until 1953, the yen had a subdivision: the sen (銭), worth one hundredth of a yen. Post-war hyperinflation made it virtually worthless, and the monetary reforms that followed completed the job — the sen was officially abolished, leaving the yen as the sole unit.
EUR → JPY (2025)
That makes 1 yen worth about €0.006 — and 1 sen (¥0.01) a twentieth of a cent. The abolition speaks for itself.
Rice index
Using rice prices as a historical purchasing power reference.
Worth mentioning
Dune (2021)
The aesthetics, the visuals, but above all the soundtrack — I think it's the best and most immersive work Hans Zimmer has ever done. The universe is fascinating too: the fact that Paul becomes an anti-hero, even a potential villain, is great — even if we owe that to the novel's author, not to the film adaptation.
Treasure Planet
Despite being one of Disney's least popular films, it's the one I find the most touching — through Jim's portrayal as a lost yet brave and hardworking teenager, and the relationship that develops between him and the film's villain, Silver, who isn't really a villain at all but a disillusioned man who gave up everything for a dream.
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Worth mentioning
The Simpsons (Seasons 1-10)
Impossible not to mention The Simpsons. I grew up with this series, my DVD collection, but especially the episodes I used to watch on W9 every weekend. I must have seen some episodes almost 10 times.
Futurama
Futurama is basically The Simpsons, but better. The humor is sharper, meaner, and more absurd. From episode 1, we’re shown that in the year 3000 there are suicide booths just like there were phone booths 1,000 years earlier — it really sets the tone.
Altered Carbon (Season 1)
I love science fiction in general, and I find this series' approach very interesting. The world is rather dystopian — as in any self-respecting futuristic universe — but the aesthetics remain carefully crafted.
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Worth mentioning
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Prince of Persia was the first game I ever called “my favorite game,” and it held that title for probably a decade. The Arabian Nights aesthetic, the soundtrack, and the sense of adventure made it a truly unique experience.
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc
A masterful blend of absurdist humour and enchanting worlds — every level felt like stumbling into a fever dream painted by a mad genius.
Pokémon Red
My first game. I think it deserves a mention, as it's probably thanks to this that I'm still passionate about gaming today.
Stellar Blade
This game truly surprised me. There were a few... “art direction” choices that made me hesitate for a long time before buying it, but in the end, I was captivated from start to finish. You can feel a certain sensitivity in this game, especially in the way its music and world were crafted.
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