Hello there. Have you written anything by hand lately?

Living in a world centered around PCs and smartphones, I think many of you feel that the opportunities to actually put pen to paper have dwindled compared to the past.

I have been in the writing profession for over 20 years. When I first started, everything was handwritten. While writing on a computer is the standard now, back then, I used to grind out manuscripts of 1,000 or 2,000 words using just a pencil! Since it was the norm at the time, I didn’t mind it, but having grown so accustomed to Microsoft Word now, I’m not sure I could do it again.

Looking back, however, I feel I learned so much more because I had to constantly flip through dictionaries to check Kanji and meanings.

The other day, I found one of my old “idea notebooks.” Reading through it, I found pages packed with everything from silly thoughts to serious reflections. It made me feel nostalgic, and at the same time, the memories of those days came rushing back vividly. I truly believe this is the “handwriting effect.”

Even now, I still use a notebook for meeting notes, my children’s schedules, and brainstorming ideas. I also make it a point to write messages on cards when sending thank-you notes or birthday wishes to friends. Being a “Showara-born” (born in the Showa era) individual through and through, perhaps I simply don’t want to forget the beauty of handwriting.

I feel that writing by hand positively influences how I perceive things and how I organize my thoughts. Plus, it’s great brain training! Consistently writing out drafts leads to high-quality input and output.

Writing something every day—even just a little. This is a habit I want to keep forever. Why not try writing something down today, even if it’s just a small memo, and keep the spirit of the “good old days” alive?

You might just discover something new through the tip of your pen.