Letters Across Three Kingdoms: Why I’m Writing

I'm starting this blog because I can't shake certain questions.

For the past half decade, multiple health scares forced me to confront what I actually believe—not what I inherited, but what holds up under pressure. Since then, I've been caught between three worlds: the American work life I'm piecing together, the Japanese culture that shaped my upbringing, and a Christian faith I'm still trying to understand with a scientific mind.

These worlds don't sit comfortably next to each other. They create friction. And I think that friction is where the interesting questions live:

• How does the Kingdom of God bridge Japan and the US—or does it?
• What values are distinctly American versus Kingdom values?
• What can Americans learn from Japanese approaches to community, work, mortality?
• Where does AI fit in all this—the biggest transformation of our generation?
• Can digital spaces actually foster real connection, or are we fooling ourselves?

I don't have answers yet. I'm a student, not a teacher. But I'm writing to think out loud, make connections I wouldn't see otherwise, and invite others who are asking similar questions.

What You'll Find Here:

Most posts will be free—short field notes, longer letters, and weekly Sunday examen reflections. Deeper dossiers exploring all three lenses (faith, culture, tech) will be subscriber-only, along with archives and bonus commentary.

The blog is called Letters Across Three Kingdoms: Japan, the United States, and the Kingdom of God. I'm writing to figure out how these worlds intersect—and what they need to learn from each other.

If you're curious too, I'm glad you're here.

- Ren