Umi No Kizuna
@uminokizuna.bsky.social
🌊 Dreaming by the sea | of Umi no Kizuna
🌱 Building a space of connection, hope & healing
https://lnk.bio/uminokizuna
🌱 Building a space of connection, hope & healing
https://lnk.bio/uminokizuna
How far would you go for a friend?
This is Mr. Aizawa. He's a 50-year-old seaweed farmer from Ishinomaki. I'm not even a huge seaweed eater, but my God—his seaweed is incredible. You can find it online or at the market by the manga museum. In ishinomaki
This is Mr. Aizawa. He's a 50-year-old seaweed farmer from Ishinomaki. I'm not even a huge seaweed eater, but my God—his seaweed is incredible. You can find it online or at the market by the manga museum. In ishinomaki
September 1, 2025 at 11:50 AM
How far would you go for a friend?
This is Mr. Aizawa. He's a 50-year-old seaweed farmer from Ishinomaki. I'm not even a huge seaweed eater, but my God—his seaweed is incredible. You can find it online or at the market by the manga museum. In ishinomaki
This is Mr. Aizawa. He's a 50-year-old seaweed farmer from Ishinomaki. I'm not even a huge seaweed eater, but my God—his seaweed is incredible. You can find it online or at the market by the manga museum. In ishinomaki
How far would you go for a friend?
This is Mr. Aizawa. He's a 50-year-old seaweed farmer from Ishinomaki. I'm not even a huge seaweed eater, but my God—his seaweed is incredible. You can find it online or at the market by the manga museum. In ishinomaki
This is Mr. Aizawa. He's a 50-year-old seaweed farmer from Ishinomaki. I'm not even a huge seaweed eater, but my God—his seaweed is incredible. You can find it online or at the market by the manga museum. In ishinomaki
September 1, 2025 at 11:50 AM
How far would you go for a friend?
This is Mr. Aizawa. He's a 50-year-old seaweed farmer from Ishinomaki. I'm not even a huge seaweed eater, but my God—his seaweed is incredible. You can find it online or at the market by the manga museum. In ishinomaki
This is Mr. Aizawa. He's a 50-year-old seaweed farmer from Ishinomaki. I'm not even a huge seaweed eater, but my God—his seaweed is incredible. You can find it online or at the market by the manga museum. In ishinomaki
Trying something… what do you think ?
August 31, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Trying something… what do you think ?
I’m thinking of giving out painted sea shells from ishinomaki as rewards for my crowdfunding… what do you think?
August 23, 2025 at 10:25 PM
I’m thinking of giving out painted sea shells from ishinomaki as rewards for my crowdfunding… what do you think?
spent the day exploring locations and found two very different paths:
**Option A: Near the Station**
Lots of spaces for rent! Easy access, built-in foot traffic. Perfect for a cozy, intimate bar.
**Option A: Near the Station**
Lots of spaces for rent! Easy access, built-in foot traffic. Perfect for a cozy, intimate bar.
August 23, 2025 at 9:55 PM
spent the day exploring locations and found two very different paths:
**Option A: Near the Station**
Lots of spaces for rent! Easy access, built-in foot traffic. Perfect for a cozy, intimate bar.
**Option A: Near the Station**
Lots of spaces for rent! Easy access, built-in foot traffic. Perfect for a cozy, intimate bar.
Just 20 minutes from me is this incredible tonkatsu spot run by one of Mr. Aizawa's friends - and let me tell you, it's life-changingly good! The meat is perfectly tender with that golden crisp exterior that just melts in your mouth.
July 30, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Just 20 minutes from me is this incredible tonkatsu spot run by one of Mr. Aizawa's friends - and let me tell you, it's life-changingly good! The meat is perfectly tender with that golden crisp exterior that just melts in your mouth.
Pics from the last night in Osaka (will visit there again soon)
July 19, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Pics from the last night in Osaka (will visit there again soon)
Let the countdown begin… 4 days to go
July 8, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Let the countdown begin… 4 days to go
Day 3…
Omg how can I be making the same thing and it taste sooooooooo different ?!
I made this cocktail “blue moon” and it tasted really bad. The owner did it, it tasted really good! We’re using the same ingredients but completely different!!!
Omg how can I be making the same thing and it taste sooooooooo different ?!
I made this cocktail “blue moon” and it tasted really bad. The owner did it, it tasted really good! We’re using the same ingredients but completely different!!!
June 30, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Day 3…
Omg how can I be making the same thing and it taste sooooooooo different ?!
I made this cocktail “blue moon” and it tasted really bad. The owner did it, it tasted really good! We’re using the same ingredients but completely different!!!
Omg how can I be making the same thing and it taste sooooooooo different ?!
I made this cocktail “blue moon” and it tasted really bad. The owner did it, it tasted really good! We’re using the same ingredients but completely different!!!
For now, I’ll share bits of Ishinomaki’s magic. If you’re the type who’d rather *help* a town than overwhelm it… stick around.
June 4, 2025 at 8:19 PM
For now, I’ll share bits of Ishinomaki’s magic. If you’re the type who’d rather *help* a town than overwhelm it… stick around.
These are the drinks and glasses tourists keep trying to take or break. Look closely. 🍸✨
My friend pours his heart into every cocktail—each one crafted with premium ingredients, served in hand-selected glassware. These aren’t disposable cups or cheap shots; they’re works of art.
My friend pours his heart into every cocktail—each one crafted with premium ingredients, served in hand-selected glassware. These aren’t disposable cups or cheap shots; they’re works of art.
May 31, 2025 at 3:28 AM
These are the drinks and glasses tourists keep trying to take or break. Look closely. 🍸✨
My friend pours his heart into every cocktail—each one crafted with premium ingredients, served in hand-selected glassware. These aren’t disposable cups or cheap shots; they’re works of art.
My friend pours his heart into every cocktail—each one crafted with premium ingredients, served in hand-selected glassware. These aren’t disposable cups or cheap shots; they’re works of art.
Went to a cool/local gallery today.
Art makes me feel better ❤️🩹
Art makes me feel better ❤️🩹
May 22, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Went to a cool/local gallery today.
Art makes me feel better ❤️🩹
Art makes me feel better ❤️🩹
Medical Leave vs. Malicious Compliance
When your workplace:
1. Denies your harassment claims
2. Demands unpaid labor during *medical leave*
3. Calls your trauma ‘karma’
When your workplace:
1. Denies your harassment claims
2. Demands unpaid labor during *medical leave*
3. Calls your trauma ‘karma’
May 15, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Medical Leave vs. Malicious Compliance
When your workplace:
1. Denies your harassment claims
2. Demands unpaid labor during *medical leave*
3. Calls your trauma ‘karma’
When your workplace:
1. Denies your harassment claims
2. Demands unpaid labor during *medical leave*
3. Calls your trauma ‘karma’
Ishinomaki deserves a storyteller.
But I hate being on camera, and my animation skills peaked in 2012.
So… meet this boy. He’s my compromise.
**He needs:**
- A name
- A purpose (other than judging my Blender crimes)
- Love
But I hate being on camera, and my animation skills peaked in 2012.
So… meet this boy. He’s my compromise.
**He needs:**
- A name
- A purpose (other than judging my Blender crimes)
- Love
May 12, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Ishinomaki deserves a storyteller.
But I hate being on camera, and my animation skills peaked in 2012.
So… meet this boy. He’s my compromise.
**He needs:**
- A name
- A purpose (other than judging my Blender crimes)
- Love
But I hate being on camera, and my animation skills peaked in 2012.
So… meet this boy. He’s my compromise.
**He needs:**
- A name
- A purpose (other than judging my Blender crimes)
- Love
Sneaky sneak—the (unofficial) spirit of Umi no Kizuna. Still a work in progress, but he already judges my life choices. 🦭✨ #MascotInTheWild #name #namethemascot #uminokizuna
Name suggestions?
1) Yura
2) Umari
3) Kizuku
Name suggestions?
1) Yura
2) Umari
3) Kizuku
May 6, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Sneaky sneak—the (unofficial) spirit of Umi no Kizuna. Still a work in progress, but he already judges my life choices. 🦭✨ #MascotInTheWild #name #namethemascot #uminokizuna
Name suggestions?
1) Yura
2) Umari
3) Kizuku
Name suggestions?
1) Yura
2) Umari
3) Kizuku
Playing with merch designs for the future business. Which one do you prefer?
May 5, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Playing with merch designs for the future business. Which one do you prefer?
My 1st grade student told me:
「先生の背中は饅頭みたい」
Translation: “Your back looks like a manju (steamed bun), sensei.”
I LOST it hahaha 🤣
Yes, they basically called me chubby. But I am fat so it’s fine!
#teachinginjapan
#kids
#elementaryschool
「先生の背中は饅頭みたい」
Translation: “Your back looks like a manju (steamed bun), sensei.”
I LOST it hahaha 🤣
Yes, they basically called me chubby. But I am fat so it’s fine!
#teachinginjapan
#kids
#elementaryschool
April 24, 2025 at 9:22 AM
My 1st grade student told me:
「先生の背中は饅頭みたい」
Translation: “Your back looks like a manju (steamed bun), sensei.”
I LOST it hahaha 🤣
Yes, they basically called me chubby. But I am fat so it’s fine!
#teachinginjapan
#kids
#elementaryschool
「先生の背中は饅頭みたい」
Translation: “Your back looks like a manju (steamed bun), sensei.”
I LOST it hahaha 🤣
Yes, they basically called me chubby. But I am fat so it’s fine!
#teachinginjapan
#kids
#elementaryschool
Met with Mr Aizawa
He was shocked I came.
Thought I was a little crazy.
But also… kinda touched.
I met his wife and son.
And then he told me his story…
#HumanConnection #WhyAmIHere #LifeChangingMoments
He was shocked I came.
Thought I was a little crazy.
But also… kinda touched.
I met his wife and son.
And then he told me his story…
#HumanConnection #WhyAmIHere #LifeChangingMoments
April 23, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Met with Mr Aizawa
He was shocked I came.
Thought I was a little crazy.
But also… kinda touched.
I met his wife and son.
And then he told me his story…
#HumanConnection #WhyAmIHere #LifeChangingMoments
He was shocked I came.
Thought I was a little crazy.
But also… kinda touched.
I met his wife and son.
And then he told me his story…
#HumanConnection #WhyAmIHere #LifeChangingMoments
2 weeks later, I hopped on a plane to Ishinomaki.
No big plans. No prior research.
Just a feeling.
#SoloTravel #NewBeginnings #JapanJourney
No big plans. No prior research.
Just a feeling.
#SoloTravel #NewBeginnings #JapanJourney
April 23, 2025 at 12:18 PM
2 weeks later, I hopped on a plane to Ishinomaki.
No big plans. No prior research.
Just a feeling.
#SoloTravel #NewBeginnings #JapanJourney
No big plans. No prior research.
Just a feeling.
#SoloTravel #NewBeginnings #JapanJourney
Yasu had volunteered in Ishinomaki after the 2011 earthquake.
They took care of him back then.
That friend Mr. Aizawa. He told me stories about how hard it was, no baths for months, and how the volunteers helped them stay hopeful.
#TohokuStrong #2011Tsunami #VolunteerWork
They took care of him back then.
That friend Mr. Aizawa. He told me stories about how hard it was, no baths for months, and how the volunteers helped them stay hopeful.
#TohokuStrong #2011Tsunami #VolunteerWork
April 22, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Yasu had volunteered in Ishinomaki after the 2011 earthquake.
They took care of him back then.
That friend Mr. Aizawa. He told me stories about how hard it was, no baths for months, and how the volunteers helped them stay hopeful.
#TohokuStrong #2011Tsunami #VolunteerWork
They took care of him back then.
That friend Mr. Aizawa. He told me stories about how hard it was, no baths for months, and how the volunteers helped them stay hopeful.
#TohokuStrong #2011Tsunami #VolunteerWork
One night I brought cake to thank Yasu.
A few people walked into the bar…
And suddenly Yasu was like
“NO WAY!! Are you serious?!”
I was like ??
Turns out—they were from Ishinomaki.
#SmallWorld #Serendipity #Ishinomaki
A few people walked into the bar…
And suddenly Yasu was like
“NO WAY!! Are you serious?!”
I was like ??
Turns out—they were from Ishinomaki.
#SmallWorld #Serendipity #Ishinomaki
April 22, 2025 at 11:00 AM
One night I brought cake to thank Yasu.
A few people walked into the bar…
And suddenly Yasu was like
“NO WAY!! Are you serious?!”
I was like ??
Turns out—they were from Ishinomaki.
#SmallWorld #Serendipity #Ishinomaki
A few people walked into the bar…
And suddenly Yasu was like
“NO WAY!! Are you serious?!”
I was like ??
Turns out—they were from Ishinomaki.
#SmallWorld #Serendipity #Ishinomaki
April 22, 2025 at 9:30 AM
I started going to the bar a lot.
I was going through an extremely tough time, and Yasu really helped me.
He even helped one of my students.
He didn’t have to.
But he did.
#GoodPeopleExist #SupportMatters #BarMagic
I was going through an extremely tough time, and Yasu really helped me.
He even helped one of my students.
He didn’t have to.
But he did.
#GoodPeopleExist #SupportMatters #BarMagic
April 22, 2025 at 9:22 AM
I started going to the bar a lot.
I was going through an extremely tough time, and Yasu really helped me.
He even helped one of my students.
He didn’t have to.
But he did.
#GoodPeopleExist #SupportMatters #BarMagic
I was going through an extremely tough time, and Yasu really helped me.
He even helped one of my students.
He didn’t have to.
But he did.
#GoodPeopleExist #SupportMatters #BarMagic