Rebuilding Body & Life

Recoverying from injury. Rebuilding strength, habits, and meaning.

Good morning. I hope everyone is doing well. I’ve been enjoying the gradual arrival of spring these days in Japan.

Today’s title carries a slightly serious tone. The reason is that after rupturing my Achilles tendon, I was forced to step away from the life I had been living. At the moment it happened, my first reaction was, “This is bad 😅.” But at the same time, perhaps somewhere deep down, I had been unconsciously hoping for a turning point — something like a reconstruction of my life.

Over the past four weeks, several significant changes have taken place:

1. I cannot walk freely due to the rupture.
2. I cannot drive.
3. There are things I can and cannot do for work.
4. I now regularly visit the hospital.
5. I experienced hospitalization and surgery.
6. I stopped drinking alcohol.
7. I reviewed my insurance.
8. I have more time for reflection.
9. I am exploring new ways of working and living.

These were all areas I hadn’t paid much attention to before the injury.

Let me briefly explain each point.

1. I cannot walk freely due to the rupture. Quite simply, I cannot walk freely for now. Immediately after the injury, there was pain. After diagnosis, I used a splint and crutches; during surgery, I was confined to a bed; afterward, I transitioned to a brace. Even now, walking is slow and cautious. I am gradually recovering, but it seems I will need at least another month of careful living to avoid re-rupture.

2. I cannot drive. Because the rupture is in my right Achilles tendon, it directly affects my ability to operate the brake and accelerator. Although I’ve had surgery, the tendon is still fragile. Until it regains enough strength to handle sudden braking, driving remains unsafe, and my doctor has not yet cleared me.

3. There are things I can and cannot do for work. As someone engaged in art-related work, I already did a fair amount of desk work. However, meeting people and attending in-person meetings has become difficult. Living in a regional city without extensive public transportation makes this even more challenging. I had to give up certain opportunities, including a part-time job at a campsite just as the spring season was beginning. On the other hand, I’ve been relying more on online meetings and communication.

4. I now regularly visit the hospital. Previously, my hospital visits were limited to things like eye care or seasonal allergies. Now, I regularly visit a general hospital located about a 15-minute walk from my home — one I used to pass by daily without much thought. This experience has given me insight into how hospitals operate, the roles of medical staff, and the realities patients face, including the mental and physical challenges of hospitalization.

5. I experienced hospitalization and surgery. This was my first significant hospital stay and my first surgery as an adult. It was a completely new experience, including undergoing general anesthesia. I had to understand the risks and sign consent forms — something that made the experience feel very real.

6. I stopped drinking alcohol. In some ways, this might have been something I unconsciously wanted. For about 20 years, I’ve worked in the art world, both in Japan and abroad, living a life with many ups and downs — financially, professionally, and emotionally. I often relied on alcohol, drinking almost daily. Although I tried to maintain my health through exercise and diet, controlling my drinking was difficult.

After the injury, I initially remained optimistic, but at some point, I decided to stop drinking altogether. My doctor warned me not to put weight on my foot and about the risk of re-rupture. I realized that if I drank and accidentally fell or stumbled, I could prolong this difficult situation. That thought was enough to make me stop.

There has been a positive side effect: I had long suspected issues with my liver due to years of drinking and overeating. Since quitting alcohol, I’ve lost about 3 kg in 3–4 weeks, and my blood pressure appears to be improving.

7. I reviewed my insurance. I hadn’t paid much attention to my insurance before, but this unexpected situation required financial support. Both public and private insurance helped cover hospitalization, surgery, and equipment costs. This experience prompted me to reassess my coverage, including life insurance. I consulted with a professional and gained a clearer understanding of how insurance works and what suits my current life.

8. I have more time for reflection. Although I’ve always valued introspection, quitting alcohol has made it easier to focus. I’ve taken this injury as an opportunity for deeper reflection and learning. Books, including one by Mr. Seikan Kobayashi, conversations with friends via SNS— including one who practices Vedic astrology in Nepal — and tools like ChatGPT have all helped me rethink my life and mindset.

9. I am exploring new ways of working and living. Finally, I’ve begun exploring new ways of working and living. Given my current limitations, I’ve had to reconsider how I can generate income. I’ve studied entrepreneurship before but struggled to build something sustainable. Living in a regional city, combined with mental fatigue and uncertainty about my true goals, contributed to that.

Recently, however, I’ve noticed — through algorithms and online platforms like YouTube — that more people are successfully earning a living by simply doing what they love. There are diverse lifestyles around the world, and many people are sharing them openly.

This made me realize that although I’ve pursued freedom as an artist, my own vision had become unclear. I now see the need to realign both my purpose and my methods. At the moment, I’m focusing on strengthening my presence on platforms like note, Medium, and Patreon, and I’ve also started experimenting with new tools.

If you are interested, please check out my page on Patreon, though I have just started and it needs improvements!!!

[embed]Keijiro | Patreon Social Art Projectswww.patreon.com

In closing, this Achilles tendon rupture has unexpectedly become a valuable opportunity for insight and growth. Interestingly, a friend practicing Vedic astrology in Nepal had told me that things would improve starting in March or April — right before this happened.

Now, I feel that this experience is helping me recalibrate my life, notice what I had overlooked, and move forward in a better direction.

So, this has been about “fortune for the body and accumulation of life.”

Have a great day.