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xlix.me
Hiro Ohta
@xlix.me
4.1K followers 1.1K following 1.8K posts
Investor. Author. Tokyo explorer. Lounge musings chronicler.

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Hiro Ohta @xlix.me · Apr 17
If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.

- Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood
PHOTO by Quang Vuong - A narrow aisle stretches deep into a monochrome labyrinth of tall bookshelves, packed tightly with aged spines and endless stories. Overhead signs mark categories—Poetry, U.S. History, Literary Bios—dangling above the quiet corridor. A lone step ladder waits mid-path, inviting the seeker upward. Fluorescent lights cast a sterile glow, yet the space feels timeless, suspended between thought and memory. The silence is thick, broken only by the imagined rustle of turning pages.
xlix.me
A cafe is the most public place to be private, and the most private place to be public.

Capitol Hotel, Tokyo
February 10, 2026 at 1:32 AM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
xlix.me
With each stroke, let go of the past and pull yourself into the present moment.
Photo by Parsa Mahmoudi. Four rowers in perfect synchronization glide through the calm, dark water in a sleek red boat. Their oars create rhythmic ripples, merging with the stillness of the vast surface. The scene embodies unity, focus, and the silent power of collective motion.
January 26, 2026 at 9:18 AM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
xlix.me
Purple is the magical hue where night meets morning. Dressed in noble garments, the sky heralds a new dawn.
Photo by Léna Muin. The last rays of a setting sun illuminate the facade of a grand building, casting warm golden tones against its cool stone architecture. Above, a dramatic sky of purple and pink clouds drifts, contrasting with the structured lines of the building. The moment feels both serene and powerful, a balance between human design and nature's artistry.
January 26, 2026 at 9:18 AM
xlix.me
Even beneath the city's chaos, delicate beauty blossoms.
Photo by WENCHENG JIANG. A tranquil urban street adorned with blooming cherry blossoms forming a natural canopy overhead. The wet pavement reflects the soft, overcast light of a rainy day. A black car waits at a pedestrian crossing while a person with an umbrella walks past, adding a sense of quiet motion. To the left, pink lanterns line a festive walkway, contrasting with the greenery and muted tones. On the right, parked cars and pedestrians in formal attire hint at a celebratory or seasonal event.
February 9, 2026 at 12:46 PM
xlix.me
Colors mean the world is smiling.
Photo by Adonyi Gábor. An assortment of fresh vegetables rests on weathered wooden planks—plump tomatoes, glossy red peppers, pale yellow peppers, cherry tomatoes, garlic bulbs and cloves, a red onion, spinach leaves, and a potato—arranged in a scattered pattern, their colors vivid against the rustic grey background.
February 9, 2026 at 12:45 PM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
xlix.me
The mirror shows a fragment of you. The rest stays hidden inside. That’s why you never look the same twice.
Photo by Mihman Duğanlı. A delicate hand holds a broken shard of a mirror, reflecting the face of a woman with wind-swept hair. In the background, gentle waves kiss the sandy shore, merging the serenity of the sea with the introspection of the fragmented reflection. The image speaks of duality—fragility and strength, chaos and calm.
January 25, 2026 at 9:50 AM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
xlix.me
Countless students assume "I am suited for office work." Start with self-analysis. Your bones and muscles weren’t designed to sit for hours operating a computer. Not a single Homo sapiens on this planet is suited for office work.
Gemini-generated image. X-ray–style figure slumps in an office chair, spine rounded and neck craned toward a monitor, hands on the keyboard; glowing blue bones against a black void, a quiet reminder about posture.
January 25, 2026 at 9:48 AM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
warp9.bsky.social
#apperòchefoto
xlix.me Hiro Ohta @xlix.me · 1d
Life is a mountain — never-ending uphill, never-ending onward, never-ending becoming.
Photo by 8moments. A breathtaking view of layered mountain ridges stretching into the distance, bathed in soft pastel hues of pink, orange, and purple as the sun rises or sets. The sky transitions from a warm yellow near the horizon to a serene blue at the top, scattered with wispy clouds. A lone figure stands on a rugged foreground ridge, gazing out over the tranquil expanse, evoking a sense of solitude and connection to nature.
February 8, 2026 at 11:37 AM
xlix.me
Life is a mountain — never-ending uphill, never-ending onward, never-ending becoming.
Photo by 8moments. A breathtaking view of layered mountain ridges stretching into the distance, bathed in soft pastel hues of pink, orange, and purple as the sun rises or sets. The sky transitions from a warm yellow near the horizon to a serene blue at the top, scattered with wispy clouds. A lone figure stands on a rugged foreground ridge, gazing out over the tranquil expanse, evoking a sense of solitude and connection to nature.
February 8, 2026 at 10:22 AM
xlix.me
In the flame’s whisper, time bends. In the mountain’s gaze, time sleeps.
Photo by Aleksey Kuprikov. A glowing campfire in the foreground casts warm, flickering light against the surrounding snow. Beyond the fire, a serene mountain range fades into shadow, with a solitary, majestic peak standing tall under a vivid, multicolored sunset. The sky transitions from deep purple to fiery orange, creating a dramatic contrast between the warmth of the flames and the cool stillness of the distant landscape.
February 8, 2026 at 10:22 AM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
xlix.me
The night is more alive and richly colored than the day.

- Vincent van Gogh
Photo by Artem Lysenko. Cobblestone streets glisten under the rain-soaked glow of streetlights, reflecting shades of gold and blue. Buildings on either side stand illuminated against the night sky, their facades alive with light and shadow. In the distance, people and tram tracks converge toward a brightly lit square, embodying the quiet rhythm of an evening in motion.
January 24, 2026 at 9:54 AM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
xlix.me
Time is the monster within you since you were born—unstoppable, unsleeping, unrelenting.
Photo by Nothing Ahead. The close-up of a classic round clock in black and white emphasizes the sharp contrast between the bold numerals and the clean white background. The hands of the clock are captured mid-motion, creating a sense of time's silent flow. Subtle shadows add depth, evoking the timeless yet fleeting nature of each moment.
January 24, 2026 at 9:54 AM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
azwatcher.bsky.social
Imagining I can imagine this 🧘🏻‍♀️
xlix.me Hiro Ohta @xlix.me · 18d
We often imagine another version of ourselves. But remember—they're imagining you too.
Photo by Phong Vo. Two individuals cross paths on a weathered concrete staircase outside an urban building. The faded yellow walls, marked with graffiti, contrast with the vibrant orange building in the background. Their brief encounter on the stairs, framed by the geometry of the structure, reflects the transient moments of connection in the everyday rhythm of city life.
February 7, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
michelbestaat.thereforeiam.eu
Without motion there would be nothing.
xlix.me Hiro Ohta @xlix.me · 2d
Motion is the universe’s language, an orchestration of existence itself.
Photo by Anna Tarazevich. A lively scene in a professional kitchen, where a chef is tossing fried rice in a black pan over an open blue flame. The rice, dotted with colorful vegetables like carrots and peas, arches mid-air, capturing a moment of skillful cooking. The background reveals a well-organized workspace with bottles of oil and utensils, softened by warm lighting and a slightly industrial ambiance.
February 7, 2026 at 11:06 AM
xlix.me
Motion is the universe’s language, an orchestration of existence itself.
Photo by Anna Tarazevich. A lively scene in a professional kitchen, where a chef is tossing fried rice in a black pan over an open blue flame. The rice, dotted with colorful vegetables like carrots and peas, arches mid-air, capturing a moment of skillful cooking. The background reveals a well-organized workspace with bottles of oil and utensils, softened by warm lighting and a slightly industrial ambiance.
February 7, 2026 at 9:30 AM
xlix.me
Humans kept pouring liquid into the vessel. One day, it said, “The truth is, I’m not a vessel.” Humans stayed silent and kept pouring. It said, “But if everyone needs me to be one, it’s fine.” Still no answer—only the steady pour. And that was how it became a vessel.

- a Japanese parable
Photo by Eva Bronzini. A small black ceramic bowl sits atop a textured, light beige fabric-covered book, creating a serene composition. The bowl’s matte surface contrasts with the soft background, evoking a sense of minimalism and quiet reflection.
February 7, 2026 at 9:29 AM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
xlix.me
The city’s jungle hides the boundary between nature and civilization — where one ends and the other begins.
Photo by Anh Nguyen. A geometric cityscape frames a towering grid-like building, its reflective surface catching the muted light of a cloudy sky. Below, a covered walkway leads to the distant figures of two people, their small presence emphasizing the vast scale of the surrounding architecture. The scene balances precision and stillness, evoking a sense of urban meditation.
January 23, 2026 at 12:28 PM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
xlix.me
When truth feels distant, man raises a tower.
Photo by ZHENYU LUO. Tokyo Tower glows warmly against the cool blue of early evening, rising like a beacon from the heart of the city. Surrounding skyscrapers fade into twilight, their windows shimmering softly. Streets curve like quiet rivers beneath, guiding the city into nightfall. The calm sky above meets the pulsing lights below in quiet harmony.
January 23, 2026 at 12:27 PM
xlix.me
Fire burns away the illusions of the world, leaving behind only what is essential and true.
CC0 Photo. A glowing bonfire crackles in the dark of night, its flames reaching upward and scattering sparks into the deep blue sky. The wood, charred and engulfed in fire, emits an intense orange glow, contrasting starkly against the shadowy silhouettes of nearby trees. The air seems alive with movement, as embers dance and shimmer in the cool, still darkness of the forest.
February 6, 2026 at 10:12 AM
xlix.me
Local tales, wrapped in Fuji’s misty veil,
Reveal secrets where time shall not fail,
Where spirits dance, and stories set sail.
Photo by Felipe Alves. A serene view of Mount Fuji rising majestically above a quiet townscape on a cloudy day. The snow-capped peak of the mountain contrasts sharply with the misty layers of clouds surrounding its base, creating a dreamlike separation between the mountain and the urban landscape below. The town features neatly arranged buildings, narrow streets, and subtle signs of activity, all framed by the greenery at the edges. The light is soft, with hints of a fading or emerging sun, giving the scene a tranquil, almost timeless quality.
February 6, 2026 at 10:11 AM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
xlix.me
Wealth in Amsterdam is counted not in euro,
But in twilight rides that softly flow,
Past golden windows in evening’s glow.
Photo by Gabriel Guita. Bicycles rest on a quaint bridge overlooking a tranquil canal, bathed in the golden hues of a setting sun. Their shadows stretch long over the cobblestones, intermingling with the soft silhouettes of trees and flower baskets. The scene captures the quiet charm of a European city, where light and reflection intertwine to create a moment of serene beauty.
January 22, 2026 at 8:16 AM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
xlix.me
We often imagine another version of ourselves. But remember—they're imagining you too.
Photo by Phong Vo. Two individuals cross paths on a weathered concrete staircase outside an urban building. The faded yellow walls, marked with graffiti, contrast with the vibrant orange building in the background. Their brief encounter on the stairs, framed by the geometry of the structure, reflects the transient moments of connection in the everyday rhythm of city life.
January 22, 2026 at 8:15 AM
xlix.me
Learn physics to know why it glows. Live life to know why it matters.
PHOTO by Erwan Hesry. A solitary streetlamp glows faintly in a dark, foggy landscape, casting a soft halo of light on the stone pavement below. Beyond the lamp, the ground transitions to sand, and further in the distance, faint waves gently touch the unseen shore. The darkness of the scene is pervasive, with only the streetlamp breaking through, creating a moody, almost ethereal atmosphere. The faint silhouette of an object or structure looms in the distant haze, adding a subtle sense of mystery to the composition.
February 5, 2026 at 10:44 AM
xlix.me
Harbor’s embrace, birds find a space,
Where sea and sky share their grace.
Photo by Atahan Demir. A serene view of a tranquil blue lake dotted with floating seagulls and a few buoys. In the foreground, several seagulls soar gracefully mid-flight, their white feathers contrasting sharply with the dark water and deep blue sky. The background features a majestic range of snow-capped mountains, adding depth and grandeur to the scene. The setting feels calm and expansive, embodying a harmony between the natural elements of air, water, and land.
February 5, 2026 at 10:44 AM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
xlix.me
A bowl. A life. Let both be. Let it be enough.
Photo by Eva Bronzini. A small, dark ceramic bowl with a rough texture rests atop a stack of large, clothbound books. The neutral tones and soft lighting create a calm, minimalist scene, emphasizing balance and quiet presence in everyday objects.
January 21, 2026 at 8:45 AM