Scour the news for an entirely uninteresting story. Consider how it connects to your life. Write about that.

National affairs, issues of public welfare—these are the things we should care about and talk about every day.

They affect all of us. They shape the kind of future we’re heading toward.

And yet, under the grip of politics, business, and media working hand in hand,

the truly important stories often get buried—replaced by misinformation, or drowned out by trivial headlines.

The front pages are full of eye-catching gossip that, frankly, doesn’t matter.

Who broke up with who. What a celebrity ate. What a streamer said that sparked “nationwide debate.”

Meanwhile, that one policy or budget decision that will change our lives?

It’s two lines, buried in a corner of the page.

Everything seems to be reported, but nothing is really said.

Loud headlines, empty content. Dramatic visuals, distant truth.

Eventually, we go numb.

So—what is truly important?

That’s a good question.

—

Maybe it’s better to return to the small things in life.

This month I’m heading on a trip.

Destination: Kobe, Japan. One of the places I’m looking forward to visiting is the Kitano Ijinkan district—

a scenic area known for its Western-style architecture and cultural blend.

I saw a number of YouTubers talk about it, too.

They said once you leave the main streets, the area becomes eerily quiet.

Some alleys feel deserted, even rundown.

If you wanted to clickbait the title, it might read: “Is Kitano Ijinkan Turning Into a Ghost Town?” 😅

But maybe that’s exactly why I want to go.

Those quiet corners—the ones no one queues for—

they might hold the real rhythm of the place.

A fading wall. A sliver of sunlight on stone. A bench where no one’s sitting.

Sometimes the places that don’t feel “lively” are the ones where life actually breathes.

Just like the stories that aren’t trending might be the ones that matter most.

So I still want to see it for myself.

Even if it turns out to be “a little broken,”

that might be where this trip’s most meaningful moment is waiting.