昨日は朝のうち一時やや細かい雨が見られて心配した天気は、その後持ち直してどんどん晴れ間が広がるような初秋の一日。
　わが家では孫クンが人生初体験の「土俵入り」を果たしました（笑）。
　って、わたしも息子も、兄弟の子どもたちや孫たちの消息でも、土俵に上がったという経験は聞いたことがない。たまたまそういう機会の情報を初めて知って応募したのだそうです。札幌西野神社恒例の「泣き相撲大会」。
　残念ながら息子は東京出張とバッティングしたのでジイジであるわたしに後見役が当てられ、謹んでその任を果たして参りました。事前に下見も済ませて神さまには参拝もさせていただいていた。孫はふだんの様子からして、泣き相撲にはそれほどふさわしくない様子なのですが、しかし「土俵入り」という人生にとっての貴重な機会。しっかり「カタチを整え」て臨戦態勢。そのファッションにおいて、日本古来の相撲伝統文化に敬意を表して、ハダカで参戦させていただきました。
　事前の情報では、北海道のこの時期らしく服装は「ふだん着の上に鉢巻で、会場側でまわしを着ける」でしたが、天候次第で裸になってもよろしいとのことだった。昨日はこの時間では22-23度ほど。キレイさっぱり、ハダカの上に紙おむつ一丁という、神にすべてを真正直にさらしての参戦。
　親族の思いをも超えた、聖なる土俵への礼を込めた凛々しい姿であります。
　戦いの結果としては、土俵に上がる前から泣き続けていた相方に対して、普段どおりの精神安定ぶりのわが孫は敵うべくもなく敗退しましたが、土俵を下りるまで冷静な表情を崩すことがなかったことは、嬉しかった。敗戦後、抱えて下さった力士の方が小さく孫の手を「ガッツポーズ」させてくれていた。
　相撲の神に敬意を込めてハダカで臨んだことは、なによりほかの参加者の親御さんに「響いた」ようで、その後「お宅の様子を見てウチの子も裸になりました（ニコ）」という反応が寄せられた。
　ジジバカとしては望外のよろこびであります（笑）。
　生後８ヶ月の直前。なにより日本文化の伝統に触れられたことが人生の大収穫。土俵・相撲という神事格闘というものを体験できたことは、一族にとっても誇りとなりました。　深く感謝。

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

[Grandchild Competes in “Crying Sumo” at Sapporo Nishino Shrine!]
The twisted headband and sacred straw rope give him a dignified look. Plus, he’s “naked” to show respect for this traditional Japanese “shinto ritual.” He may have lost in the crying contest, but he won big in the fashion department (lol) …

　Yesterday started with a brief spell of light rain in the morning that had me worried, but the weather cleared up afterward, and it turned into a typical early autumn day with sunny spells spreading across the sky.
　At our house, my grandson had his very first “dohyo-iri” experience (lol).
　Come to think of it, neither my son nor I have ever heard of any of our siblings’ children or grandchildren stepping onto the sumo ring. Apparently, he just happened to come across information about this opportunity for the first time and decided to apply. It was the annual “Crying Sumo Tournament” at Sapporo Nishino Shrine.
　Unfortunately, my son’s business trip to Tokyo conflicted with the event, so I, as Grandpa, was assigned the role of guardian, and I humbly fulfilled that duty. I had already done a preliminary visit and paid my respects at the shrine beforehand. Based on his usual demeanor, my grandson didn’t seem like the type for crying sumo, but this was a precious once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to “enter the ring.” He “got himself in proper form” and was ready for battle. As for his attire, to pay respect to Japan’s ancient sumo tradition, he competed completely naked.
According to the information we received beforehand, typical attire for this time of year in Hokkaido is “everyday clothes with a headband, and a mawashi provided by the venue,” but we were told it was acceptable to go naked depending on the weather. Yesterday at that time, it was around 22–23 degrees. Completely bare, wearing nothing but a disposable diaper—I entered the ring, laying everything bare before the gods with complete sincerity.
　It was a dignified stance, filled with reverence for the sacred ring that surpassed even the expectations of my relatives.
　As for the outcome of the match, while my grandson—who remained as calm and composed as ever—was no match for his opponent, who had been crying nonstop even before stepping onto the ring, I was delighted that he never lost his composed expression until he stepped off the ring. After the match, the sumo wrestler who carried him gently raised my grandson’s hand in a small “victory pose.”
　The fact that he competed naked as a sign of respect for the god of sumo seemed to “resonate” most of all with the parents of the other participants; afterward, I received reactions like, “After seeing how your child did it, my child went naked too (smile).”
As a doting grandpa, this was a joy beyond my wildest dreams (laughs).
　Just before he turned 8 months old. Above all, being able to experience this tradition of Japanese culture was a major achievement in my life. Being able to experience the dohyo and sumo—a sacred martial art—has become a source of pride for our entire family. I am deeply grateful.

● Announcement
My book, “Writers and Living Spaces,” has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.

Posted on 9月 21st, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »

　先日、機会があって札幌市の中心部にある「大通公園」を通りがかっていた。
　わたしは３歳から17歳くらいまで現在の札幌市中央区北３条西11丁目に家があったので、大通公園は独特の血肉感が感じられる公共空間です。その距離スパン感覚や通路と緑地のバランスなど、ほとんど気がつかないような部分で「原初的」な空間認識となっている。
　そんな空間だけれど、仔細にしげしげと全部を記憶しているわけではない。
　で、ふと見上げた「開拓紀念碑」につい目が引き込まれていた。子どもの頃にはたしかこういう石碑はあったよな、という記憶程度。再見した今回も、あ、そうだ、ちょっと見ておくか、という軽い認識。
　そこで気付かされたのが、「記」ではなく「紀」と書かれていることの軽い気付き。こういうのは子ども時代にはあんまり気付くことはないでしょう。しかしよく見ていると、これらの文字の書き下し方というか、個別の文字の「配置バランス」にちょっとした違和感は感じてしまった。
　そこで、台座のヨコに置かれていた説明を読んでいた。「え、なに？王羲之？」

　子ども時代に「王羲之」という名前は気付くわけもない。
　多少は歴史に興味を持つようになって、漢字という文字文化、書聖としてその人名を知った。石碑に彼の生きた時代（303〜361年）の記載があるように、北海道開拓時期とは、1500年以上の時間差がある。
　え、どういうこと？と、時間認識の迷宮に突き落とされてしまったが、説明文でようやくその経緯を知った次第。「題字は、王羲之の書から５文字を＜拾い＞刻まれたもの」。
　なんだ、そういうことかよ、であります。
　そのような「事情」を知った上で再度碑文の文字バランスを再見すると、謎解きの部分は解消されて、その「拾った」行為と全体の整合性という部分に「不整合」を感じさせられてしまう。
　北海道開拓という明治国家としての大プロジェクト、そしてわたしの血脈もそのワンピースではある国家事業へのある種の「祈念碑」的なものを、という気持ちは十分にわかる。しかし・・・。王羲之の書という思いもわかるのだけれど、いかにものバランスの失いぶりに無念感が感じられる。
　この石碑が、今日に至るもあまり札幌市民、北海道民に伝承されていないことが深く理解されてくるに至っていた。現実にはハッキリと向き合う必要がある。

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

[Huh? Wang Xizhi wrote the inscription on Hokkaido’s “Pioneer Memorial”?…]
An inscription by the “Sage of Calligraphy,” transcending some 1,500 years of time. No way! As a Hokkaido resident, I felt a bit deflated after learning the truth. What should we do with it for future generations?…

　The other day, I happened to pass by “Odori Park” in downtown Sapporo.
Since I lived at what is now Kita 3-jo Nishi 11-chome in Chuo Ward, Sapporo, from the age of three until I was about 17, Odori Park is a public space that feels uniquely familiar to me. Its sense of spatial scale and the balance between walkways and green spaces—details I hardly even notice—have become part of my “primordial” perception of space.
　Even though it’s a space like that, I don’t remember every single detail in minute detail.
So, when I happened to look up, my eyes were drawn to the “Pioneer Monument.” My memory of it was merely a vague recollection from childhood—something like, “I’m pretty sure a stone monument like this was here back then.” Even upon seeing it again this time, my reaction was a casual, “Oh, right—I guess I’ll take a quick look.”
　That’s when I noticed something: the character was written as “紀” rather than “記.” You probably wouldn’t notice something like this as a child. But looking closely, I felt a slight sense of unease about the way these characters were written—or rather, the “compositional balance” of the individual characters.
So I read the explanation placed next to the pedestal. “Huh? What? Wang Xizhi?”

　As a child, I certainly wouldn’t have recognized the name “Wang Xizhi.”
It wasn’t until I developed a passing interest in history that I learned about the culture of Chinese characters and came to know his name as the “Sage of Calligraphy.” As indicated by the inscriptions on the stone monument detailing the period in which he lived (303–361), there is a time gap of more than 1,500 years between his era and the period of Hokkaido’s settlement.
　“Huh? What does that mean?” I found myself plunged into a labyrinth of temporal confusion, but the explanatory text finally clarified the circumstances: “The inscription was carved by ‘selecting’ five characters from Wang Xizhi’s calligraphy.”
　Oh, so that’s what it was all about.
　Once I learned these “circumstances” and took another look at the balance of the characters in the inscription, the mystery was solved—but I couldn’t help but feel a sense of “inconsistency” between the act of “selecting” those characters and the overall harmony of the piece.
　I fully understand the sentiment behind creating a sort of “commemorative monument” for the Meiji government’s massive project of Hokkaido’s settlement—a national endeavor of which my own lineage is also a part. However… I also understand the desire to incorporate Wang Xizhi’s calligraphy, but the sheer lack of balance leaves me with a sense of regret.
　I’ve come to deeply understand why this monument has not been widely passed down to the citizens of Sapporo or the people of Hokkaido to this day. We must face reality head-on.

● Announcement
My book, *Writers and Living Spaces*, has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.

Posted on 9月 19th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »

　すっかり日本の戸籍システムの最初期段階での「直系尊属」のありようの証拠集めに取り組み中。
　動かぬ証拠物件を固めてから、その「文脈」から立ち上ってくる「生き様」のリアリティにこころが深く沈殿するような気分を味わっています。祖先の先人が立ち会っていた現実が迫ってきてくれて、自分のDNAの何％かの部分の「由来」を確認させられるような道程であります。
　そういうプロセスを体験可能にしてくれている日本の「公文書」システム〜戸籍システムや図書館ネットワークなどに感謝の念を持たされます。先般成立した皇室典範の改正にも繋がっているこうした日本的なシステムの真価を実感している次第。
　そういうなかで、可能な限りの「周辺資料」を探し求めていたら、故地の広島県の広島市中央図書館にあることが明らかになって、そちらと連絡を取って資料のコピーを請求することになった。資料はゼンリンのその地域特定の住宅地図。「可能な限り、最古のものを」とお願いしたら、昭和56年版というものが存在すると聞かされたのです。いわゆる「貸出可能書籍」ではなく、その地域の情報センターとしての図書館の「備え付け資料」ということで、著作権保護の観点からごく限定されたページだけ、コピーして受領できるという決まり。
　そういった打合せの末に「費用は事前にいただいてから作業し郵送します」という、これも決まり。
　こうした公的資料の管理保全システムは、まことに律儀な「日本的システム」ということですべて「整合的」だと思わされますね。ということで、打ち合わせできた「費用」は150円也。「その金額を現金書留でお支払い下さい」との案内。で、昨日郵便局窓口に行って手続きさせていただいた。で、150円送るのにトータル611円、出費することになった次第。すばらしい（笑）。
　費用対効果という観点からはやや残念なことにはなりますが、こういった日本の公的資料管理システム全体としては、すべて「整合的」なのだとわかります。
　家系史関連資料としては、この特定された住所地の地図から深い「人間情報」が得られる可能性があるのですね。もちろんそれは新たな「疑問・ナゾ」の起点にもなる可能性がありますが、直系尊属の生き様が、空間的にも特定されることに繋がる。
　家系史探究って「長尺な時空間旅行」だなぁと実感。ドラえもん的タイムトラベル。

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

[A “serious” Japanese system that charges 611 yen for a 150-yen transfer (lol)]
In terms of value for money, you might ask, “What is this?” (lol), but the public’s “right to know” is protected by a system like this that prioritizes consistency above all else. …

　I am currently fully immersed in gathering evidence regarding the nature of “direct lineal ancestors” during the very earliest stages of Japan’s family registry system.
　As I solidify this irrefutable evidence, I find myself experiencing a profound sense of my heart sinking deeply into the reality of their “way of life” that emerges from that “context.” It is a journey in which the reality my ancestors witnessed comes rushing toward me, allowing me to confirm the “origin” of a certain percentage of my own DNA.
　I am filled with gratitude for Japan’s “public records” system—including the family registry system and library networks—which makes it possible to experience this process. I am truly coming to appreciate the true value of these uniquely Japanese systems, which are also linked to the recent amendments to the Imperial House Law.
　In the course of this work, while searching for as many “related materials” as possible, I discovered that some were held at the Hiroshima City Central Library in my hometown of Hiroshima Prefecture. I contacted them and requested copies of the materials. The materials in question were Zenrin’s residential maps specific to that area. When I requested “the oldest version available,” I was informed that a Showa 56 edition existed. Since these were not “books available for loan” but rather “reference materials” held by the library in its capacity as a regional information center, the rules stipulated that, from a copyright protection standpoint, I could only receive copies of a very limited number of pages.
　Following these discussions, we were also informed of another rule: “We will process and mail the copies only after receiving payment in advance.”
　This system for managing and preserving public records is a truly meticulous “Japanese system,” and it makes one feel that everything is “consistent.” So, the “fee” agreed upon was 150 yen. I was instructed to “pay that amount via cash registered mail.” So, yesterday I went to the post office counter to complete the procedure. As a result, sending 150 yen ended up costing me a total of 611 yen. Wonderful (laughs).
　While it’s a bit disappointing from a cost-effectiveness standpoint, I realize that, taken as a whole, Japan’s public records management system is entirely “consistent.”
　As far as genealogical materials are concerned, there’s potential to glean deep “human insights” from this map of the specified address. Of course, this could also serve as the starting point for new “questions and mysteries,” but it allows us to pinpoint the lives of our direct ancestors in a specific spatial context.
　I’ve really come to realize that exploring family history is like a “long journey through time and space.” It’s like Doraemon-style time travel.

● Announcement
My book, “Writers and Living Spaces,” has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.

Posted on 9月 17th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »

　先週、相次いで広島県の故地・２自治体に「戸籍謄本」の取得願いを提出していましたが、その反応が昨日寄せられていました。札幌市西区役所では「保存期間終了しているのでムリです」とあっさり問答無用処理されていた一件です。
　で、昨日寄せられた返信では、大都市の「福山市」の方の対応は「保存期間が終了して、破棄されています」という西区と似たような対応ぶり。悲しいけれどまぁしょうがない。
　一方で先般直接訪問していた「神石高原町」からは、２件の申請のウチ１件についてきわめて詳細な情報内容が寄せられて、アタマがクラクラするほどに紙面とにらめっこ状態に突入しています（笑）。昔人とはいえ、家系の関連人物なのでしっかり「個人情報」に配慮しながら、実相を探っているところ。
　という進展の中で、申請への「費用支払い」についても公的機関らしいマジメそのものの精算ぶりが送られてきました。写真は、お願いした作業が進まなかったことで「返金処理」されて送付されてきた「定額小為替」。
　これはなぜか「上限金額」が1,000円に設定されていて、その１シートごとに200円の手数料が掛かる。これは1,000円券ですが、最低は50円設定なので、手数料の方が高くなると言うナゾの制度設計。
　今回の返金にあたっては250円の残額が発生したのですが、さすが「公的機関」としての信頼性を最優先して200円額面の「定額小為替」と「切手」が帰ってきていた。さすがに50円はムダということなのでしょう（笑）。あ、どちらの自治体とは特定いたしません・・・。
　しかし、日本の「戸籍制度」のマジメな運用ぶりには、まことに脱帽の思い。
　今後の「家系史探索」にあたってはいよいよ、寺院の過去帳という最後の砦に突入するしかなくなった。まぁ一部ではすでに行ってきているのですが、同和差別などの問題もあって、なかなか門戸は鎖されているのが実態。まぁわが家系に残されている「文書類」の整理整頓が中心になってきます。
　さて、アタマがクラクラする難問に、日本人としてはかなり「マジメさ」の点において劣位と思えるわたしも、肝を固めて向かい合うしかない、と思っております。う〜む。

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

[“Fixed-Amount Money Order” for Paying Fees for “Family Register Copies” from Remote Municipalities]
I’d never heard of this kind of “money order” before, but it came back to me as a refund for a payment made on a request that didn’t go through. I’m taking a good, long look at it…

　Last week, I submitted requests for “certified copies of family registers” to two municipalities in my hometown in Hiroshima Prefecture, and I received responses yesterday. In one case, the Nishi Ward Office in Sapporo flatly rejected my request, stating, “The retention period has expired, so it’s impossible,” without any further discussion.
　As for the replies I received yesterday, the response from the larger city of “Fukuyama City” was similar to that of Nishi Ward: “The retention period has expired, and the records have been destroyed.” It’s sad, but I suppose there’s nothing to be done about it.
On the other hand, from “Jinsekikogen Town”—which I had visited in person recently—I received extremely detailed information regarding one of the two applications, and I’ve been poring over the documents to the point where my head is spinning (laughs). Even though these are people from the past, they’re related to my family line, so I’m carefully investigating the facts while being mindful of “personal information.”
Amid these developments, I also received a settlement notice regarding the “payment of fees” for the requests—a document that exemplifies the serious, by-the-book approach typical of a public agency. The photo shows the “fixed-amount postal money order” that was sent to me as a “refund” because the requested work didn’t proceed.
For some reason, the “maximum amount” is set at 1,000 yen, and a 200-yen handling fee applies to each sheet. This is a 1,000-yen voucher, but since the minimum denomination is set at 50 yen, the fee ends up being higher—a rather puzzling system design.
　This refund left a balance of 250 yen, but true to form—prioritizing the credibility of a “public institution” above all else—I received a 200-yen “fixed-amount postal money order” and “stamps” in return. I suppose they figured 50 yen would be a waste (laughs). Oh, and I won’t specify which municipality this was…
　However, I truly take my hat off to the meticulous way Japan’s “family registry system” is administered.
　For my future “family history research,” I’ve finally reached the point where I have no choice but to storm the last bastion: the temple’s death records. Well, I’ve already visited some of them, but due to issues like discrimination against the Burakumin, the reality is that the doors are often firmly locked. So, my main focus will be on organizing and cataloging the “documents” preserved in my family’s archives.
　Well, faced with this dizzying conundrum, even I—who, as a Japanese person, feel I’m at a disadvantage in terms of “diligence”—have no choice but to steel myself and confront it head-on. Hmm…

● Announcement
My book, *Writers and Living Spaces*, has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.

Posted on 9月 15th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »

　昨日は一昨日からのつづきで家族兄弟からの「先祖探索」についての打合せ会議。
　これからの人口減少局面で「いのちの繋がり」をいかに可視化させ子孫に伝えていくか、その方法論と実相のピント合わせを継続的に熱論。次兄とたっぷり３時間ほど打ち合わせ脳味噌も熱を帯びたような状態。あれこれと探索の糸を巡らせていた時間。
　ケータイに着信音。兄弟間で活発に連絡を取り合っている最中だったので即通話モードに。すると、
　「アナタのクレジットカードが、不正利用されている可能性があり、現在利用を停止させています。」というようなアラートから入ってきた電話。咄嗟のことで、通話を続けた。そうしたら案の定クレジットカードの会社名を騙ってこちらの口座番号を問いただしてくる。
　これは・・・間違いなく「詐欺電話」と確信するに至った。
　そこで「オマエの会社の住所を教えろ。間違いなく詐欺だと思うので警察に通報してやるから情報開示しろ」と命令して対応した。「郵便番号から言え」という当方に対して、あきらかに急遽調べはじめたような音声が聞こえて、最初はまったく違う郵便番号を答えてきた。そしてその後「あ、先ほどの番号は実は違いました。ただしくは・・・」と郵便番号を修正までしてきた。さらに「オマエの会社の正式名は？」という質問に対してあるクレジット会社の社名を名乗ったが「まえ（株）か、あと（株）どっちだ？」に対しても最初は言い間違えて、その直後に修正してきた。「自分の会社の正式名を間違えるオマエは、間違いなく詐欺師だな？わかった、すぐに警察に通報するから部署名も教えろ」「はい」と答えてからしばし考えてから「不正＜検知＞システム課です」という答え。思わずホンネかもなぁ。
　ということで、警察に通報するからと再度キッパリ言って電話を切った。
　そこからすぐに警察庁のHPの詐欺対策ページ「通報先」を確認し、その電話番号などを通報させていただきました。詐欺師の電話番号は「＋1」から始まる海外発信のもの。まぁ転々と変えているだろうから追跡は困難でしょうが。
　電話番号は会社として公開している以上、こういう接触自体は完全には避けられない。今回はつい詐欺師との問答を続けてしまったけれど（笑）、警察庁によれば、＋から始まる知らない国際電話には出ないのが第一。出てしまっても個人情報は一切伝えず、即座に切る。どうやらそれが、いちばん確実な「撃退法」のようです。

＜画像は警察庁のHPより＞

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

[I Got a Scam Call! Reported It to the Police Immediately]
I received a scam call right after a lively meeting. I responded by saying, “I’ll report this to the police right away.” The number started with “+1.” When I looked it up, I found that the National Police Agency had also issued a strong warning about phone scams. …

　Yesterday, continuing from the day before, I had a planning meeting with my family and siblings about our “ancestor search.”
　We engaged in a passionate, ongoing discussion about how to visualize the “bonds of life” and pass them on to future generations amid the coming population decline—specifically, aligning our methodology with the reality of the situation. I met with my second-oldest brother for a full three hours or so, and my brain felt like it was on fire. It was a time spent weaving together various threads of our search.
　My cell phone rang. Since we were in the middle of actively communicating with each other, I immediately answered the call. Then,
　the call began with an alert stating something like, “Your credit card may have been used fraudulently, so we have temporarily suspended its use.” It happened so suddenly that I kept the call going. Sure enough, the caller impersonated the credit card company and demanded my account number.
　At that point, I was absolutely certain this was a “scam call.”
So I responded by demanding, “Give me your company’s address. I’m convinced this is a scam, so I’m going to report it to the police—disclose your information.” When I told them, “Start with the ZIP code,” I could hear them clearly scrambling to look it up on the spot, and at first, they gave me a completely different ZIP code. Then they said, “Oh, that number I gave you earlier was actually wrong. The correct one is…” and even went so far as to correct the ZIP code. Furthermore, when I asked, “What’s the official name of your company?” they gave the name of a certain credit card company, but when I pressed, “Is it ‘Mae Co., Ltd.’ or ‘Ato Co., Ltd.’?” they initially got it wrong and corrected themselves immediately afterward. “You, who can’t even get your own company’s official name right, are definitely a scammer, aren’t you? All right, I’m going to report this to the police right away, so tell me your department name.” After answering “Yes,” they paused for a moment and replied, “Fraud Systems Division.” I couldn’t help but think, “Maybe they’re actually telling the truth.”
So, I firmly told them once again that I was going to report this to the police and hung up.
　Right after that, I checked the “Where to Report” section on the National Police Agency’s anti-fraud webpage and reported the phone number and other details. The scammer’s number was an international call starting with “+1.” Well, since they’re probably changing numbers constantly, it’ll be difficult to track them down.
Since the company’s phone number is publicly listed, this kind of contact is impossible to avoid entirely. This time, I ended up continuing the back-and-forth with the scammer (laughs), but according to the National Police Agency, the first rule is to never answer unknown international calls starting with “+.” Even if you do answer, do not disclose any personal information and hang up immediately. Apparently, that’s the most reliable way to fend them off.

● Announcement
My book, “Writers and Living Spaces,” has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.

Posted on 9月 13th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »