This is a heartfelt shoutout to anyone who is contemplating or has already made a significant pivot in pursuit of a happier life. Miyamoto-san inspired me. Meeting Keibun Miyamoto was one of the most profound experiences of my life. In the short time that I knew Keibun, he impacted me in ways that are hard to put into words. He is still deeply missed to this very day.

Months had passed since we last heard Keibun's uplifting and optimistic voice, and I began to feel uncertain about how to truly make an impact in Japan, as Keibun had planned with his dream of opening a longboard shop called Urban Longboard in Tokyo—a boutique-style hangout for longboard enthusiasts. He was planning to campaign for change with friends and allies in Japan to create a meaningful impact on mental health by advocating for bike trails to be accessible to longboarders. He also spoke about Urban Angler, a shop for fly fishing enthusiasts in New York City, and how amazing it was that such a niche passion had its own dedicated space in the heart of the city. Inspired by this, Keibun wanted to create a similar community in Japan for longboarding. We began to talk about locations, and I checked out a few spots for him. He confided in me about feeling somewhat unfulfilled in his current career and passionately believed that longboarding could bring positive change—a joy he was eager to share with others, especially those his age who felt similar to him. He loved photography and his work but he wanted to do more for depressed people in Japan who hate their work.

Keibun spoke warmly of his daughter, who he said enjoyed riding his skateboards, reflecting his own passion for the sport. I then told him that snowboarding was my number one and he told me Uika will love snowboarding. He confided in me about feeling somewhat unfulfilled in his current career and passionately believed that longboarding could bring positive change—a joy he was eager to share with others, especially those his age who felt the same void in their lives. He also spoke warmly of his daughter, who enjoyed riding longboards, reflecting his own passion for the sport. I resonated deeply with these visions, which made me grow fond of him quickly.

He treated me to a delicious coffee at his favorite local bean roaster, and we took our longboards to Little Mount Fuji. On our way back to Whisky Studios, a Ferrari sped past us. My jaw dropped, but Keibun paid no attention to it. His indifference to such extravagance humbled me.

I wanted to honor him, but I didn't know how. I tirelessly sought enough support to advance his dream even a little, visiting various people and gaining some support from Keibun's friends. Ultimately, I realized that achieving what he wanted would require unimaginable effort.

At the same time, I was writing the concept plan for the Indoor Longboard League (ILL Sports). I was deeply concerned about two specific groups of children who needed our help: latchkey kids in Japan and Indigenous children attending school in Thunder Bay.

Both groups come from very different backgrounds, yet both could significantly benefit from enriching after-school support programs. These programs would involve mentors with a fantastic pump track skate park and multimedia tools, helping children create their own YouTube videos and podcasts. While I haven't given up on Keibun's dream for Urban Longboard, I had begun to doubt whether someone like me could achieve what he had envisioned. The dream is on hold but not forgotten. The ILL program was designed to garner more respect from Japanese political leaders and support specially tailored after-school programs for children. Like many of my other projects, this too will be a nonprofit. It's something I want to leave behind for future generations.

If you're interested in learning more about this plan and possibly getting involved, please contact me directly for the full plan.