Because we have "Why?", we can be free.

@mikisakai.mua

Last time (#03 ), we discussed the "Why?" found in Miki Sakai's seemingly ordinary daily life. The feeling of "Why?" can sometimes make people negative. So, in my case, I try to think about the "Why?" that lies beyond it. Therefore, this time, let me talk about "The Why? Beyond the Why?"

Why I'm Fascinated by History

Speaking of "the 'why?' beyond the 'why?'," what draws me in is the fascination of history. Last summer, I visited Egypt again. While the sheer scale of the landscapes before me is undeniably overwhelming, what I truly love is encountering the ancient Egyptians' view of life and death. The way "death" and "living" are truly two sides of the same coin, and how seeing that polarity makes you feel alive... that aspect is profound. It makes me feel like I've become a philosopher challenging the universal truths of the cosmos, or perhaps a scientist—it simultaneously shakes my mind and heart.

Egypt holds another charm: being enveloped by the sensation that "the present exists atop an unimaginably vast accumulation of time." We didn't just warp from the world of history textbooks into the modern age, did we? Countless dramas unfolded there, intricately intertwining to connect to the "now." While I enjoy imagining all sorts of futures, isn't the discovery and joy of realizing, "Hey, while researching this and that, I connected this point to that point!" truly the unique thrill of history?

Here's a part of my collection on Egypt. My top recommendation is the "Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt" (!). It's a fantastic book that answers all my basic "Why?" questions. Exhibition catalogs are wonderful too.

My Egypt-related collection isn't just books, you know. I gather all sorts of goods like this. My favorite is probably Egyptian fabric. Its texture is lovely, and the soft, smooth feel against the skin is just the best. Egyptian cotton is one of the world's three major cottons!

I mentioned before how much I love soft, fluffy blankets, but it seems I'm fond of "fabric" itself, not just blankets. Why is that? Well, as the lyrics of Miyuki Nakajima's "Ito" (Thread) suggest, I think I love the world created by the warp and weft threads (including the texture of the material). When wrapped in these delicate threads bravely intertwined, that gentle feeling from the lyrics wells up inside me, and I feel incredibly relaxed.

I went ahead and got my archaeological investigator certification!

This digression about collections took us a bit off track, but in 2016, I had the chance to visit an Egyptian excavation site for a TV program. Since then, I've developed a connection with Egyptian archaeologists and have been participating in excavation surveys. To study archaeology more professionally, I took the Archaeological Investigator course. This past summer, I went to Egypt carrying my "Level 2 Archaeological Investigator" qualification. Archaeology is the science of reconstructing the past from material artifacts and data unearthed at sites. This photo shows surveying at an excavation site. Since archaeological sites can never be restored to their original state, it's essential to record the condition of the site and the artifacts as accurately as possible.

Seeing the actual artifacts on-site sparks my imagination about what kind of funerary rituals ancient Egyptians performed. Excavating feels like having a conversation with people who lived long ago, far away from Japan. Of course, I don't understand their language, and my knowledge is still full of gaps, but my heart slowly fills with a joy that feels like a connection has been made. I hope that by contributing even a little to the research, I can help preserve the archaeological record of ancient Egypt.

That satisfying feeling of "Ah, I see!" What lies beyond it

I believe the joy felt when conversing with history lies in that "Ah, I see..." feeling. "Ah, I see" means understanding the logic and being convinced, right? What I find important is the sensation of "Ah, I see... and wow." That sigh-like exclamation that just slips out after understanding and acceptance.

Whether it's cooking, theater, an athlete's performance, or anything else, when you witness something that truly moves you from the depths of your heart, after being amazed, you always let out a sigh. It's that feeling of "Wow, I'm blown away." Or that sense of awe, like "Human power is incredible," or "The power of nature is incredible." And somehow, that feeling of "yeah" makes you want to share it with others. You just want to say, "Hey, isn't that amazing?" and have someone reply, "Yeah, you're right."

That sigh of "Wow" seems to hold many emotions. "Awe" is obvious, but "empathy" and "resignation" are there too. I think that feeling of "resignation" is especially important. After thinking things through and trying various approaches, you reach a point where you think, "Wow, this is way beyond my capabilities," and you feel a kind of emptiness. I think that's a really crucial moment. Freeing yourself from those binding preconceptions lightens both your heart and your mind. Then you can feel positive again, thinking, "Alright, let's start from scratch!" For example, right now, besides my work as an actress, I serve as an outside director for the Fujiya company. The things I hear in meetings or at the factories are truly a parade of "Oh, I see..." moments.

When you think of Fujiya, you probably picture "dream-filled sweets" like cakes, candies, and chocolates. But in your everyday life, do you ever find yourself pondering things like "the current state and future of cacao beans"? But behind news like "Cocoa Bean Prices Skyrocket!" lies a web connecting everything: the politics, economy, and daily lives in producing countries like Ghana and Ivory Coast; product development; distribution; and the smiles of children in Japan. Understanding this makes me feel like the various dots that make up my own life—as actress Miki Sakai, as a consumer, and as an outside director at Fujiya—somehow connect too.

Appointed as an Outside Director of Fujiya in 2021. Peko-chan and Poko-chan are precious beings who deliver love and dreams!

The chain of "Why?" sets me free

I believe it's the journey of thought that begins with "Why?" that connects all these different "dots." When you keep asking "Why?" you arrive at "Ah, I see." Beyond that "Ah, I see" lies the next "Why?" And that's how free thinking keeps expanding.

When your thinking becomes free, feelings like "What exactly can I do?" and "Maybe I can do something too" naturally arise. Of course, I can't solve things with my own strength alone, but when your thinking is free, don't people just want to take action? "Why?" is also the source of that motivation.

This column series tends to jump around, doesn't it? This time, we started with "books about Egypt" and somehow ended up landing on "Peko-chan and Poko-chan." But that's part of the fun, right? The journey of thought is a free and whimsical trip that starts with "Why?" Please bear with me a little longer as I continue down this path.