iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 5h

Had Fish & Chips in 🇹🇼 last night.

0110

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

For me there is a comfort to contemplation by the sea.

0182

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

So I see the Financial Times has purged it’s archive of interviews with me. First thought : Good. Don’t want AI making me hostage to the mistakes of my past. Second thought: Feel sorry for the young today who get locked into their identities early and making it hard to grow.

1121

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Floating World🇯🇵 Sanjūsangen-dō in Kyoto(京都三十三間堂景) Artist: 🇯🇵Sadanobu Date: 1870 By the time the artist painted this temple in 1870 the red paint had been weathered away, but he “artificially” reimagined it in its original glory for his print. So a next step…

0162

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

So my understanding from the "leak" of the Anthropic Financials is they are saying they will never recover the investment at the levels needed to make a profit, but are hoping that the AI itself will do something spectacular like cure cancer, and will be profitable from that. 😬

5152

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

There are 8 international kindergartens within 200m of my 🇹🇼 apartment, and today I saw they are building another one. Not sure what’s driving demand around here🤷‍♂️

160

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Then & Now🇯🇵 Back Hall of Sanjūsangendō (三十三間堂後堂之図) Artist: 🇯🇵Sadanobu Then: When rebuilt in 1266 after a fire was painted in vermilion red. Then: 1870 aging stripped the paint, but the artist restored it in the print. Now: A favourite Kyoto temple, with 1000 statues.

0184

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Also been thinking - how can I inject a bit humour into my funeral? These Taoist paper iPad and iPhone 17 facsimiles, that get cremated at funerals, had me tickled when I first saw them, so I have added them to my wish list also.

070

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Floating World🇯🇵 Sailing Boats – Afternoon (帆船午後) Artist: 🇯🇵Hiroshi Yoshida Date: 1926 Yoshida created a series of prints depicting these same wooden sailing vessels at different times of day -such as Morning, Afternoon, Evening, and Night. For me seemed like a dead calm.

1192

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Ok so my funeral wishes are: 1. No open coffin, no wake 2. Cremation to dust 3. Play Mozart 4. Art collection to my niece 5. Antique collection to my nephew 6. Ashes in 🇯🇵, around Enoshima, view Fuji 7. Last pint of cider on a bar in 🇬🇧 But I would like a late checkout pls😉

1161

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Floating World🇯🇵 Deer in Kasuga (春日の鹿) Artist: 🇯🇵Hiroshi Yoshida Date: 1928 A young woman in a kimono feeds the famous sacred deer in Nara, near the historic Kasuga Grand Shrine. The background features traditional stone lanterns and lush foliage of the shrine grounds.

0162

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Sometimes my mind creates crap jokes out of nowhere. Todays: “Though he went about things the wrong way, Vlad the Impaler did have a point.” 😬

1141

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

As the seasons turn, contemplating the brevity of life, an evening walk along a beach. Acceptance now of what can never be, waves wash clean the past, but a gratitude for what was.

0346

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I have now entered a language “Grey Zone” In Mandarin, I can say enough to tell them what I want, but not enough to understand any answer that is not a clear “yes” or “no” Also I say enough initially, that they assume I understand all, but I dont I may be here some time😬

0100

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

If you are away more than a year, and you have bought a multi entry visa I mean…

020

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

For permanent residents in 🇯🇵, may know this already, but immigration told me that if you are abroad and your Zairyu Card (not residence, which is permanent) expires, then as long as your multi entry visa is valid, you can get back in & renew it quickly there will be no problem.

162

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

It really is, and they are having a ball!

000

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

My mum sent me a video of her and her friends dancing in a “disco” - where everyone wears headphones to hear their own music. A bunch of old folks laughing, and bobbing around in silence, is delightful, disturbing, and funniest thing I have seen for a while I have to say.

1121

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

🇹🇼For 6 months, whenever I have popped out for a coffee, I have passed this little shrine, but never noticed it before. Today I heard a bird call, so turned my head for the first time, and there it was. Doesn't seem to be on Google maps.

2191

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Floating World🇯🇵 Kudanzaka Night (九段坂夜) Artist : 🇯🇵Kiyochika Date : 1880 Passersby carry paper umbrellas and hand-held lanterns to navigate a dark, rainy night. A rickshaw hustles across the wet, reflective street near the famous stone beacon then visible from Tokyo Bay.

0223

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

When I first came to 🇯🇵 I had no job, no place to stay, and little money. However I said to myself, if I needed to teach English to survive, that would be my signal to leave. Nothing wrong with teaching, both my parents were teachers, but it's just not my thing. But never did.

static.klipy.com

Jeff Goldblum: Life Uh Finds A Way (Jurassic Park)

ALT: Jeff Goldblum: Life Uh Finds A Way (Jurassic Park)

2150

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Then & Now🇯🇵 Ushigome Kagurazaka (牛込神楽坂) #3 Artist : 🇯🇵Tsuchiya, Koitsu Then: 1939 Now: When I first came to 🇯🇵, I got offered 2 jobs, one at Goldmans, and the other at startup. I chose the startup in Kagurazaka, our tiny office was this top floor, above this 🇫🇷bistro.

0113

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

So I went to a vegetarian buffet, again And they hand me a questionnaire which I though was the usual : how was the food, service, value for money? etc but turns out to be some odd existential questions🤔 Honestly, I think this world is just too fk’n weird for me now.🤷‍♂️

5140

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Floating World🇯🇵 Ushigome Kagurazaka (牛込神楽坂) #2 Artist : 🇯🇵Tsuchiya, Koitsu Date : 1939 A historic geisha district in the Ushigome area of Tokyo. A rainy night, wet stone reflects light spilling from paper lanterns as woman walks down the street in a vibrant blue kimono.

1215

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Floating World🇯🇵 Kagurazaka (神楽坂) Artist : 🇫🇷Noel Nouet Date : 1937 An atmospheric, quiet, evening in Kagurazaka. Warm light glows softly from swaying lanterns as figures in traditional kimonos step down a alleyway. I worked there many years, still has this authentic charm.

1183

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I really like this youtube channel - Fads. youtube.com/@fads?si=mzG... My thoughts on tech, Elon, AI, DCs are completely aligned with this guy. And he is from North England, like me. Only downside is the obvious glee he derives from telling us bad news..😬

youtube.com

Fads

Hi! I am Fadel - a writer, journalist and filmmaker who focuses on the intersection of tech, the economy, and internet culture. I hold an MA in Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour from the Univer...

020

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Pondering life this morning, simultaneously thru the windows of : 🇬🇧London 🇹🇼Taipei 🇯🇵Tokyo Taipei has been great, learned a lot here in the last 6 months, but I am getting ready for a change now, back to 🇯🇵. I can stagnate easily I think.

0172

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Then & Now🇯🇵 Actor Portraits Artist : 🇯🇵Sharaku Then 1794 : A mysterious Sharaku revolutionized art with his raw, personality-filled portraits of actors, but failed to gain popularity & disappeared in 10 months. Then costing ¥500 in todays money. Now : some reach ¥50M each.

1122

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

A typhoon seems to have pulled one of the trees outside down into the swimming pool area. Also now the pool is pretty icy every day, and the wind sets up harmonics that make it a bit of a battle. I guess time to switch indoors. As in life, too short a season.

180

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Floating World🇮🇳 Ajmer Gate, Jaipur (ジャイプールのアジュメル門) Artist : 🇯🇵Yoshida Date : 1931 Features the vibrant pink-sandstone Ajmer Gate in Jaipur, Rajasthan, with elephants carrying riders passing through the main archway alongside local townspeople and animals resting.

1263

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

🇬🇧Dawn has quite subtle colors at Canary Wharf this morning…

0121

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Then & Now🇯🇵 Night View of Sumigawa River, Tokyo Artist : 🇯🇵Yasuji Then : 1884 a 🇯🇵man in a bowler ponders Now : Looking forward to returning to my home in 🇯🇵 soon, on my deck overlooking Sumigawa river, pondering, glass of wine in hand & listening to jazz on a balmy evening.

082

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Floating World🇯🇵 Imperial Departure from the New Imperial Palace" (新皇居御出門之圖) Artist : 🇯🇵 Chikanobu Date : 1888 Emperor Meiji and procession departing from the newly constructed Meiji Palace in ornate western-style horse-drawn carriages surrounded by military guards.

1122

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

If its any consolation, I am 100% sure this will never work and go into production, sadly the money will be spent, but the underlying technology is inherently non deterministic, not appropriate here.

110

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Seen runaway M&A before. When acquirers continue to buy and strip companies of cash to pay for the previous acquisition fail. Now in AI, the debt is ballooning to get compute, so they want to slow down, but give the reason of human threat rather than their unsustainable business model.

1132

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Floating World🇪🇬 The Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt Artist : 🇯🇵Hiroshi Yoshida Date : 1925 The Great Sphinx (prior to restorations). Shown under a bright cobalt-blue daytime sky with a caravan of travelers and locals riding camels and mules across the desert foreground.

1133

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Japanese🇯🇵 buffet did not disappoint. Especially the Wagyu, which was exquisite, and unlimited.

0100

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Floating World🇯🇵 Brick Western Buildings on the Yokohama Coast (横浜海岸外国館煉瓦造図) Artist : 🇯🇵Ikumaru Date: 1898 A multi-story red-brick building with foreign architecture. Outside horse-drawn carriages, rickshaws, and people in both traditional kimonos & Western clothes.

1132

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Well if its any consolation, after working on application of AI at an industrial scale for a while now, I honestly believe that the biggest threat from AI is the hype, leading to the current immense capital destruction. Now (over)valued at 40% of the US market I heard…

150

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Then & Now🇯🇵 General MacArthur's HQ - Tokyo in Spring/Dai-ichi Life building, facing Palace Artist : 🇯🇵Hokuto,Tamamura Then 1946 : An example of his work during the occupation era. Now : In Dai-ichi, MacArthur’s office is still maintained as a museum, but not open to the public.

1145

RedSamurai @redsamurai.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Floating World🇯🇵 Battle of Ueno (上野戦争) - 3 of 9 panels Artist :🇯🇵Yoshitora Date :1868 (Contemporaneous print) The temple is engulfed in fire as samurai and the government military clash in chaotic hand-to-hand combat on the forested slope of Ueno hill in the 1868 civil war.

0141