Katorisenkou: An Ode

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Anyone who imagines Japan as a tranquil and meditative place has never sat on my porch on an early August morning. To do so would be to submit yourself to a cacophony of neighborhood crows cawing enthusiastically about who knows what, coupled with the drone of all manner of horned-up insects screaming for a mate. The cicadas lead the charge, their love song starting with a low whir that gradually builds into a frantic, ear-splitting scream that resonates in my head well into fall. If the mood strikes, my chickens may get into the act as well. Sitting on the porch, shell-shocked as the coffee brews inside, it’s all enough to addle my uncaffeinated brain.

This daily symphony begins around 4:00 a.m., which means it’s been going on for a while by the time I make it out to the porch. If you are fortunate enough to be able to keep your windows open at night (not an option in my steamy second-floor bedroom, where air conditioning is a prerequisite for sleep), you’ve likely been up for hours as well.

The noise is all well and good, though. It’s a part of summer in Japan that goes hand-in-hand with the stagnating heat and humidity. The heat and the thickness of the air smother your body, while the unceasing bug noise numbs your mind. July, August, and a good chunk of September are spent stumbling along aimlessly in a puddle of sweat, struggling to get from one air-conditioned spot to the next, senses mercifully dulled by the assault of the season.

But this is all a long way of saying that in addition to the heat, the stickiness, and the noise, there are also shitloads of mosquitoes, which brings me to the point of this love song of my own: katorisenkou, AKA mosquito incense.

An AI rendition of lavender mosquito incense since I shockingly haven’t captured a picture of it myself. Everything else in the picture is real!

Mosquito incense is one of those distinctly Japanese aromas for me, like the hint of kerosene on a chilly winter morning, wafted from my neighbor’s heater as I pass by on my way to the gomi station, or the blast of meat smoke you get walking past the exhaust outlet of a yakiniku restaurant on the way from one craft beer bar to the next. It’s a smell that I will find nostalgic if I ever find myself not living in this country (though, to be sure, I will be taking a pallet of the stuff with me when I leave).

Some people decry mosquito incense as being toxic. They probably have a point. And does it even deter mosquitoes? In my experience, not really. But I don’t care. I love the smell. Lighting up a coil as I settle into my hammock with my evening’s beverage is a solemn ritual. Sparking one up IN THE MORNING with my iced coffee feels somehow illicit.

There are various flavors of mosquito incense. “Green” is the most common, though I don’t even know what it’s supposed to smell like, and it is the most mundane of all the options. My favorite is a variety pack that contains a package each of green, citrus, sandalwood, rose, and lavender. Of those, lavender is by far the one I love most. I use it judiciously throughout the summer while cycling through the lesser-desired smells, ensuring that I can end the mosquito season burning nothing but purple coils.

Here at the end of October, the mornings are much quieter. I can once again sleep with my windows open, and it’s getting a bit chilly for iced coffee in the morning. There aren’t many mosquitoes hanging around now either, but you’ll still smell a hint of mosquito incense coming off the front porch.

The Things That I Must Do

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

What compels a 48-year-old man to build a website dedicated to himself? Vanity, surely, but I like to think there’s more to it in this case.

Whenever I find myself on the verge of a new undertaking or a daunting task, it always helps to clean and organize my physical space. Getting that space in order helps me clear my mind and focus on the change. Recently, I’ve not been engaging in the creative things that bring me great happiness – namely, my podcast, making music, and writing (hence this blog). In this case, the daunting task is reinstating these activities on a regular basis, and the website is a form of organizing a physical space where I can collect the fruits of these various labors.

This place is just a jumping-off point, though, because there is more to be done. In no particular order:

1. Stop Drinking So Much

I’m already doing this with some success (no alcohol during the week!). It’s no secret that I’m a fan of the grog, but the negative impacts simply outweigh the benefits of a nice buzz. My sleep suffers greatly, I gain weight (see point two), and I waste time sipping highballs and watching Apple TV when I could be writing songs and playing my guitar.

2. Lose Weight

I exercise constantly and generally eat a healthy diet, but I find myself heavier than I’ve been in years. I blame the booze, mostly. My metabolism has never been amazing, but it’s virtually ground to a halt these days. I can gain two kilograms after a night of drinking and grilling, and it will take a month of stoic living to make them disappear.

3. Make Music Again

I had a really good run a few years ago when, by my standards, I was churning out music. I learned how to record and edit, how to host music online and post it on the big streaming apps. I was writing nearly every day, even if just for a few minutes. I carried a notebook in which I would jot down inspirational turns of phrase or observations that might lend themselves to a song. Those habits and that momentum have slipped away.

4. Make Podcasts Again

My podcast, The Beanpod, for whatever reason, appealed to a decent number of people spread around the globe. I genuinely enjoyed making it every week for years, but work was busy and stressful, the desk where I recorded became cluttered, and it started seeming like too much trouble even though it wasn’t that much effort.

I think the concept of momentum is fascinating, whether the momentum is positive or negative. Banking positive momentum in any aspect of life can put you so far ahead (if you care about that sort of thing) – habits, career, knowledge, health. Negative momentum has the opposite effect. The more momentum you have in either direction, the more effort it takes to dislodge.

What compels a 48-year-old man to build a website dedicated to himself? For me, it’s the first step in course correction. And vanity, of course.