[Business Trip to Slovenia]
June 16–21
I was invited to the global summit for well-being projects because my work is considered to align with the concept of well-being.
Reviving Kyoto Indigo × Sustainable Craftsmanship Starting from and Returning to the Soil × Ensō Art
The curator of TED Talks strongly advocated for these three interconnected elements of my work. Over the past 10 months, we’ve held monthly meetings to continue the dialogue about what can be achieved through these efforts.
The summit brought together about 1,000 participants from over 90 countries to engage with the concept of well-being.
What is “Well-being” Anyway?
We’ve been hearing about “well-being” more and more recently, but to put it simply, it’s said to be **long-term happiness**.
On the other hand, its opposite is happiness:
Happiness : Short-term happiness
– Eating delicious food, getting a good night’s sleep, watching a movie.
– It’s closer to a fleeting emotional state.
Well-being : Long-term happiness
– Doing work you love.
– Having life goals and working toward achieving them.
– Maintaining a balance between mind and body.
– It’s about enduring satisfaction over time.
Happiness is the joy of a moment, while well-being is the accumulated foundation of those moments, leading to a sense of fulfillment in life.
Even though I only speak Japanese, I didn’t hesitate to jump into this unfamiliar environment, as I always do. I also met a few Japanese people there, who helped me navigate things. No matter where I am, at home or abroad, I’ve managed to get by.
Some Deep Reflections from This Trip
I felt something quite profound during this trip. I haven’t shared it on social media because it felt too heavy, but I’d like to write about it here.
What I realized at the Slovenia Summit is that, in conclusion, Japan is truly a privileged country.
In Japan, we always have an environment where we can challenge ourselves to some extent. This, more than anything, is the greatest luxury.
With over 90 countries represented, I was deeply moved by the diversity of values and the sheer number of problems that are entirely beyond individual control.
Even though I went to the summit intending to showcase my work, I found myself unable to promote it because my activities and existence felt so luxurious and privileged in comparison.
From a personal standpoint, my perspective on creation has greatly broadened, I’ve identified new challenges, and I’ve truly realized how fortunate my environment is. That said, my resolve hasn’t wavered—I’ll continue to pour my heart and soul into what I do without taking this privilege for granted.
The World is Both Simple and Incredibly Complex
Every person, though it may not be visible, carries various problems with them.
Sure, my activities might align with the concept of well-being, but that doesn’t mean my work provides answers for others.
Hearing someone say, “Your thoughts are so profound, and you are such a strong person,” was more painful and empty than anything else.
Growing up in a housing complex, I experienced disparities from a young age, which gave me a chip on my shoulder that has driven me to keep going. During my early days, I focused on turning 1 into 10 through hard work, and now I’ve shifted to creating something from nothing—taking financial risks willingly and coming this far because of it.
I had nothing, so I had no choice but to do my best. Along the way, I’ve thrown away many things and been hurt, but I’ve always transformed those negative feelings into positives, which is why I’m where I am today.
Because I’ve gone through more experiences and pain than many people around me, I thought I could understand others’ feelings to some extent. But in that moment, their words made me feel distant, as if I had been pushed away.
Without realizing it, I had forgotten the hardships and struggles of my earlier life. I didn’t even know what words to offer them.
My Resolve Despite It All
I have dreams, and I live with the resolve to give up everything for them. I’ve lived thinking it’s fine to die at any moment.
But on this trip, I realized that in Japan, the “exchange of life” is something that exists only on an individual level.
Chasing a dream in Japan is easy—in the end, only you might fail or even die. That realization made me feel that this is the ultimate privilege.
Even so, as I’ve written above, my determination hasn’t changed. I won’t take my environment for granted, and I’ll continue to give everything I have, burning my life’s energy to do so.
I believe there’s a reason I was born into this era in Japan.
Kyoai dyeing master
Riku Matsuzaki
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