Happy New Year — My 2026 Resolutions and To-Do List
Happy New Year! Work wasn’t quite wrapped up, but I’m taking it easy for the first three days of the year.
Last year was extremely busy—whether because there was too much to do, I was inefficient, or I took on too many new challenges. I steadily handled what needed to be done, and I feel I’ve built a foundation for welcoming more customers.
This is the Year of the Horse, said to bring great progress. Things will probably move forward quickly and get busy. So this year I’ll consciously rest, play, and have fun. My resolution is: “Keep myself cheerful and smiling so I can meet our customers’ needs!” Looking back, I was so busy last year that my smile faded.
This year I’d like to expand the HAPPY TUNE shop, adding a room to store skis and another for new equipment. Thank you for your continued support. Let’s go have fun together!
New Year To-Do List
Old Storehouse Workshop: Repair the earthquake-damaged exterior wall; seal gaps after plaster painting; add trim to sliding doors; install outdoor lights; build a paint booth and router table; install a second-floor stair door; level the grounds; build an outdoor shed; repair the handcart; and add an outdoor table using signboard lumber.
Prototype skis (I couldn’t make them this season; ⭐ = high priority):
- Mega-fat ski, darkmatter210, perhaps 160 mm waist: black paint with a window, white silkscreen logo, decide whether to use a psycho-shaped template, lightweight core and powder flex, 2 mm flat camber or full rocker.
- ⭐ Narrow Ski No. 2 Type R: bubinga sidewalls, veneer sheet, thick laser-engraved logo, magnolia and keyaki core, cut processing, powder rocker.
- Rebuild a snowboard: clear laser engraving or printed-sheet design; cut the “TOTAN” core; decide sidecut; Japanese ash and Douglas fir wood beam; add inserts to the sample board to make testing easier.
- ⭐ Metal alpine ski No. 1: 173 cm carving ski, about 78 mm waist; dyed fabric, all white, or clear titanal; Douglas fir and slim keyaki core, titanal top and bottom.
- Touring ski: Tateyama cedar and carbon, 96 mm waist, target under 1,500 g.
Templates: Update the template for metal under bindings and insert-hole routing; perhaps use separate toe and heel pieces. Mill insert plates (about 600 × 70 mm) from bubinga, wenge, beech, or mizunara oak.
Design and printing room: Test laser engraving, install insulation, test roll printing and AI design, test the roll printer, and test pigment-ink graphics.
Attic workshop: Full delamination repair and add door trim to the press room.
Website, PR, and marketing: Build out the website, produce flyers and brochures and interview videos, present the work as a tourism product, and create story content about wood.
Digital: Build a CAD-based ordering system for the standard course, explain design and file-submission points, and create a production schedule with a clear goal.
Tour program development: Develop tours called “My Childhood” and “An Adventure Among Garden Trees.” Plan the Ananotani SBNR tour, beginning with an itinerary. Develop a mountain-faith tour from Kurokawa village, learning about temples and artifacts excavated there and connecting them with ski ascents as a modern staff.
Shop expansion: Concrete floor and roof framing.
Management: Develop inbound-tourism programs, decide on a business plan, apply for financing, and prepare sales materials for inbound travel agencies.
Tuning workshop: Apply to replace machines and line the interior with plywood.
