#113 | Thinking while rice planting in Aizu-Wakamatsu: The limits of tower-mansion style happiness

The time spent in the rice fields felt completely different from everyday life.

Richard and Ryan visited "Mu no Kai," where they grow rice and vegetables completely pesticide-free. The base of their activities was a traditional Shoya residence maintained through the support of many people. Through working in the paddies and spending time away from their smartphones, the two say they felt the "richness of a place with nothing" and the "weight of a single grain of rice" firsthand.

Life in a tower-mansion and the work in the rice fields seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum.

The two compare the efficiency-seeking happiness of tower-mansion living with the collaborative, "bucket brigade" style of mutual support required in rice fields. They delve into the value of adding just one more person to a rural community and the meaning of where humans place their physical bodies in the age of AI. The depth of this experience is conveyed through their reactions to a specific "incident" that occurred during the trip. Please listen to the full episode to hear the rest.

There may be new forms of happiness that go beyond mere efficiency and economics.

Towards the end of the program, the theme expands into how we should choose "where to live" and "how to connect with others" as AI transforms society. The conversation goes much deeper, so be sure to listen to the full episode.