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‘Like a Sketch in the Morning’ — Daily Poems and Essays by JIYUCHO Owner Koyama

今朝の落書き

オーナー小山が日々書く詩やエッセイ
考え事、悩み事の言葉たち

by Shohei Koyama

I Wrote a Letter

I wrote a letter
hiding love in the shadows of the characters

I wrote a letter
hoping it would travel beyond my poor handwriting
hoping it would reach you more beautifully than skill could

I wrote a letter
though I know that English
can actually look cooler than Japanese
though I know that making a draft
and writing slowly
would make the handwriting neater
I wanted words that poured
the present moment of my feelings
straight through the pen
just as they were, right away

I wrote a letter
wanting to send my gratitude

I wrote a letter
wanting to tell you about my travels

I wrote a letter
wishing you joy

Thank you for reading again today. Writing a letter leaves me feeling as though I have finished an important piece of work, and makes me want a beer.

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More to Read

2025-7-29Summer Me / This Morning's Doodles, July 29, 2025 夏 2025-6-28Innocent with Seeds / This Morning's Doodles, June 28, 2025 探求 2025-6-10Be Poetic / This Morning's Doodles, June 10, 2025 探求 2025-5-23方光 / This Morning's Doodles, May 23, 2025 探求 2025-5-1Song / This Morning's Doodles, May 1, 2025 探求 2025-4-22FRAGILE / This Morning's Doodles, April 22, 2025 思い出

JIYUCHO Readings

Dear Future MePoetic words written like letters to a future self, delivered in Japanese and English. Latest: We All For Words / 2026.11.05 LETTERS VIA HAWAIIPhotographs from Honolulu and poems from Kuramae, traveling between Hawaii and Tokyo. Latest: Blue Blur Blues / 2026.09.30 THOUGHTSThoughts, fragments, and poetic notes from JIYUCHO owner Shohei Koyama. Latest: STAY HUMAN / 2026.08.22 MONTHLY LETTERA monthly letter from JIYUCHO with poems, shop notes, recommendations, and upcoming events. Latest: Have good days and good travels... / 2026.08.01
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About JIYUCHO owner Koyama

Began writing poetry as a student. Deeply moved by Shuntaro Tanikawa’s Two Billion Light-Years of Solitude, where physical laws were expressed in beautiful words. While wandering the world, continued writing poetry and founded a company at the age of 27. In May 2018, released TOMOSHIBI POST, a web service that allows people to send letters to their future selves. In August 2019, opened JIYUCHO in Kuramae, Tokyo. In December 2023, opened FUTO, a poetic café and second location. In August 2024, published the poetry collection The World at Last, with You and Me. Graduated from the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Tokyo University of Science. Studied abroad in Seattle, Washington, USA, for one year during university.

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