At some point, people in Japan began referring to sweet Western-style confectionery as ‘sweets’. Although the term is now used for traditional Japanese sweets and dishes as well, I have always felt it was a bit off. As I wrote in 019, it’s perhaps less a sense of something being ‘off’ and more a feeling of dislike. This word seems to have come from English, but in English it refers to sweet candies—the sort of cheap sweets that children tend to eat. It conjures up the image of things that aren’t particularly good for you if you eat too many, or that might even lead to obesity. Admittedly, there is something about sweet things that captivates people. I, too, am one of those who find them irresistible, but I simply cannot get used to the word ‘sweets’. I’ve thought long and hard about why this is, and I can’t help but feel that there is a certain ‘artifice’ lurking behind the word ‘sweets’. In other words, I sense that it is a contrived term. I can vaguely make out an underlying intention—perhaps to make something trendy, or the notion that this kind of word sounds more stylish… It’s not that a word is coined after a thing or a trend has emerged; rather, the word is created first, and then various things are forced to fit it. Perhaps it’s just me, as someone who loves sweet things, but I feel a sense of incongruity in this. The term ‘sweets’ is better suited to the kind of cheap sweets that aren’t good for your health but are still irresistible.

If you look closely, the human hand has a fascinating shape. To the untrained eye, it may seem unremarkable, but if you examine it intently, you’ll find it quite intriguing. The human body contains many objects with unusual shapes, but the hand stands out as particularly unique. It can truly be said that this hand is the very tool that has driven human evolution. While recent AI research has made significant progress in unraveling the workings of the human brain, it is precisely this hand that carries out the brain’s commands. I’ve heard that the human hand is also the most challenging part of robot construction. While it’s possible to create something that approximates subtle movements, even with numerous sensor technologies, it remains difficult to replicate the even more nuanced functions, such as the sense of touch and tactile sensation. The technology required to sense touch, temperature, and firmness transmitted through the fingertips and respond accordingly may be just as difficult to master as unraveling the workings of the brain. Hands are also used to express emotions. The photo shows my own hand, and it’s interesting how it also reflects my advancing age.

I do drink beer, but I wouldn’t say I’m particularly fond of it. I first encountered this beer by chance while traveling, when I happened to have a drink with a friend. When I tried it, it had a light flavor and a crisp finish, so I thought it was an easy-to-drink beer. It has a long history—it’s been brewed since 1876—and is such a famous brand that virtually everyone in the U.S. and elsewhere knows it. However, the beer’s name was originally inspired by Weiss, a famous Czech beer-producing region, and there’s still an ongoing dispute over the use of that name. I’ve had beer in the Czech Republic before, and it was indeed a delicious, crisp Pilsner-style beer. The brewing method might be slightly different, but I feel they share a similar character. It’s available in Japan now, but among the countless beer brands lining store shelves, it certainly doesn’t stand out. This can, labeled “King of Beer,” has a crisp taste, but its name still doesn’t seem quite right.