About Hooked-on
Hooked-on: Obsessions and Experiences
The name “Hooked-on” reflects my passion for the things and experiences that truly captivate us. This site is a collection of articles centered around those obsessions.
The 100-Year Life
Having passed the age of 50, I am approaching my 60s and entering my senior years. In today’s world, often called the “100-year life,” our longevity has extended significantly.
In the past, I would already be considered an old man, but today, I must look forward to living almost as many years again as I have already lived.
A Modern Take on Oda Nobunaga’s Philosophy
There is a famous passage in the Noh play Atsumori, performed by the 16th-century warlord Oda Nobunaga: “A man’s life of fifty years, under the sky… is but a fleeting dream.
” If we adapt this to the modern era, it becomes “a human life of 100 years.” By this logic, a 50-year-old today is equivalent to a 25-year-old in Nobunaga’s time.
At 25, Nobunaga had not even unified his home province of Owari, and his grand vision of Tenka Fubu (unifying the nation under military rule) was still a distant dream.
I often tell people: “Even in our 50s, we are just beginning, and there is still so much we can achieve.”
Challenging Creativity
With this mindset, I decided to create a simple media platform focused on the things that keep me “hooked.” My decision to launch a lifestyle media site centered on fashion at this age stems from a long-held desire to engage in something truly creative. I handle everything myself—from site design and photography to modeling and writing.
A Focus on Originality
My articles cover lifestyle topics like fashion, watches, hobbies, dining, and health.
I share my personal experiences and impressions of items I have actually purchased and used, or food I eat daily, accompanied by my own photography.
My philosophy is rooted in “things that can be cherished for a long time” and “activities that can be sustained for a lifetime.”
Universal Value in Information
I chose fashion as my primary lens because I realized that most information online or in magazines is driven by sellers.
It is surprisingly difficult to find genuine insights into how real owners actually enjoy their purchases.
I write the articles I wish I had found myself. Rather than chasing fleeting trends, I focus on everyday fashion that can be enjoyed from one’s 50s onward.
I am just an ordinary man in his 50s, standing on the threshold of my later years, sharing my favorite things and experiences through my own lens. I hope the stories told here offer some inspiration or reference to my own generation, those who came before me, and the younger generation alike.
A day in 2023, Shinichiro Takeda in fifties living in Japan.