Forem: Buono Make Studio

Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Learn About Zen

Buono Make Studio — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:25:25 +0000

Hey it's Buono. I'm not a Zen expert by any stretch. This post is basically me thinking out loud. But I had to get it down because something clicked recently and I want to share it.

Here's the thing: right now might be the best moment in modern history to learn about Zen. And I say that as someone who came to this conclusion completely by accident.

Two Waves Are Rewriting Everything

We're in the middle of two massive shifts happening at the same time:

The AI era — obvious, everyone feels this one
The plateau society — the era where growth is no longer the default (I've written about this separately)

A lot of people haven't fully registered the second wave yet, but trust me, it's real.

When TWO waves this big are hitting at the same time, of course the old playbook stops working. How could it not?

And yet most people are still clinging to the old values. Still trying to force the old way of living to work. Still miserable with no exit in sight.

I was there too. Until pretty recently.

Zen Isn't Just About Sitting Cross-Legged

If that sounds like you, I genuinely think learning about Zen could change things.

I don't know the formal philosophy, I don't know the history, I don't know the terminology. But from the fragments I've picked up, it feels like it was made for this exact moment in time.

Here's what's wild. When I was lost and confused about the future — reading everything I could get my hands on, sitting in silence trying to figure out how to live — I kept arriving at certain conclusions about what a good life looks like. Looking back now, those conclusions were basically Zen. I was reinventing Zen from scratch without knowing it.

So at some point I thought: "Wait, why am I doing all this work when the answer already exists in a 1,500-year-old tradition?" Now I low-key recommend it to anyone who'll listen.

The parts of Zen that feel most relevant to right now:

Valuing the process itself, not just the outcome
Living in the present instead of getting stuck in the past or anxious about the future
Finding joy and creativity in small, ordinary things

Just writing those out hits me in the chest. These are exactly the things I've been trying to figure out for 42 years. Zen basically handed me the answer key.

A lot of people think Zen = sitting meditation (zazen). But that's just the form. The actual substance of Zen is a whole way of living that affirms these principles.

I go for runs and stop by temples to pay my respects along the way. That alone feels like enough. There's a temple near me that holds group meditation sessions — I'm curious about those too and might try one. But you don't have to go full monk to get something out of this.

Everyone Lost in the New Era Should Look Into This

Zen isn't for everyone. I get that. But if you're one of the people staring at a future that no longer makes sense — whose entire framework for life just stopped working — I really think Zen is worth exploring.

I took the long way to get here. Years of trial and error. If you're reading this, you get to skip the detour.

And if the word "Zen" feels too religious or spiritual for your taste — don't worry about it. You don't have to call it Zen. Read books like "How to Find the Impulse to Leave the Rails of Life" or "Every Day Is a Good Day." Keep digging into how to live well in this era and I promise you'll end up in basically the same place. The language is different. The destination is the same.

What I really wanted to say is this: if you're struggling right now, a Zen-style way of living might save you. Not as a religion. Just as a framework that actually fits the world we're in.

Give it a shot.

Catch you later ✌️

Subscribe to my YouTube channel!

I'm an electronics YouTuber in Japan.
You can learn how to make your own gadget, what electronics are, and more.
let's check it out!

[Beginner] Start electronics if you want a hobby

https://www.youtube.com/@buonomakestudio

Stop Chasing Virality. It Won't Save You in the AI Era.

Buono Make Studio — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:52:10 +0000

Hey it's Buono. I've been thinking about how to live in the AI era for about two years now. No grand conclusion yet. But after reading a bunch of books and listening to other people in the AI space, one keyword keeps showing up everywhere.

Obsessive love.

What I Mean by Obsessive Love

The Japanese word is "henai" — roughly translated, it means a deep, borderline irrational passion for something that nobody else really understands.

Everyone has at least one thing like this. Something you're weirdly into that you maybe don't even talk about. Something that makes zero sense to the people around you.

In the AI era, that thing might be the most important asset you have.

Why? Because without it, you're going to be lost.

I don't mean you'll starve. Basic survival will probably be fine. But your sense of purpose, your reason to get up in the morning — that's what's at stake.

AI is going to keep absorbing more and more of what humans currently do. Which means the list of things you "need" to do keeps shrinking. Eventually you hit the bottom: "What am I even supposed to do with myself?"

If you have nothing when you reach that point, it's devastating. I know because I've been there. Having money, having free time, having zero obligations — and having absolutely nothing you want to do. It's genuinely one of the worst experiences of my life.

But if you have something you're obsessed with? Something that's entirely yours? You're untouchable.

Virality Is the Opposite of This

Here's where it gets interesting.

Everyone right now is optimizing for virality. "Will this blow up?" has become the default filter for every decision — what to post, what to create, even what to think about.

I was doing this too.

But think about what "going viral" actually means. It's entirely based on what OTHER people think. Whether YOU find it interesting is completely irrelevant. The metric is external validation, not personal meaning.

Live in that mode long enough and something scary happens: you lose yourself. You stop knowing what you actually like. You stop knowing what excites you. Your inner compass disappears because you've been navigating by everyone else's compass for so long.

That's the exact opposite of obsessive love.

The Stag Beetle Guy Gets It

I heard this story on Ikehaya's podcast. There's a community of people who are completely obsessed with catching stag beetles. It makes no money. Nobody outside the community cares. Their wives and families look at them like they're crazy.

But these guys don't care. They're out there chasing beetles because something deep inside them says THIS IS IT.

I have zero interest in stag beetles personally. But watching someone that locked in to their thing? Kind of jealous honestly.

What's Your Obsessive Love?

So here's the question: do you have something like that? Something nobody around you understands, but you can't stop thinking about?

Mine right now is 2D animation with motion graphics. I've fallen completely into the rabbit hole and nothing else can hold my attention.

It actually started almost 10 years ago when I made an animation for a friend's wedding. I was supposed to be organizing the whole event but I got so absorbed in the animation that I basically ignored everything else. Classic.

Then life happened and I drifted away from it. Until I discovered Kurzgesagt on YouTube. The moment I saw their work I thought "I want to make stuff like this." Instant obsession.

(Then I found out a single video takes them over 1,200 hours and I wanted to cry. But still.)

Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell - YouTube

Animation videos explaining things with optimistic nihilism since 12,013. We’re a team of illustrators, animators, number crunchers and one dog who aim to spark curiosity about science and the world we live in. To us nothing is boring if you tell a good story. For updates on our videos and other news from the kurzgesagt universe follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

youtube.com

The point is — find your thing. Not the thing that performs well. Not the thing that makes strategic sense. The thing that hijacks your brain and won't let go.

That's what survives the AI era.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got animation to study.

Catch you later ✌️

Subscribe to my YouTube channel!

I'm an electronics YouTuber in Japan.
You can learn how to make your own gadget, what electronics are, and more.
let's check it out!

[Beginner] Start electronics if you want a hobby

https://www.youtube.com/@buonomakestudio

Stop Believing You Have to Do One Job Forever

Buono Make Studio — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:38:44 +0000

(This article is mainly targeting the Japanese because it is believed that doing only one job throughout their lives is a good thing in Japan.)

Hey it's Buono. Quick look at my career history:

10 years — electrical engineer at a precision equipment company
5 years — project manager at a car manufacturer
2 years — IT engineer at an AI startup (currently here)

Yeah. Even I look at this and think "what is this career path." From a strategic standpoint it's a total mess.

But honestly? Zero regrets. Every switch was me choosing what I genuinely wanted to do at that moment. That's it.

Why Doesn't Anyone Switch?

Here's what confuses me. When I look at people I went to high school with, maybe 10% have even changed companies. Changed careers entirely? Nobody.

Why?

If you're staying because you truly love what you do, respect. No one's arguing with that. But if you're staying because of "I don't want to waste my experience" or "you're supposed to stick with one career" or just some vague sense that quitting is wrong — that's a huge waste of your life.

Those aren't real reasons. That's inertia dressed up as logic.

Freedom to Switch = Peace of Mind

I was nervous when I jumped into IT with almost zero experience at 40. Obviously. But I'm so glad I did it.

And now? AI is making the IT engineering role increasingly questionable. Not disappearing overnight, but the math is clear.

From what I've experienced firsthand, productivity has gone up at least 10x. Meaning in theory you only need 1/10th the engineers. Even accounting for new demand that AI unlocks, maybe 1/5th is enough.

That leaves 4 out of 5 engineers on the wrong side of the equation. Specifically:

People who can only do implementation
People locked into one language
People who can't communicate with clients or teammates
People who can't do requirements or high-level design

I check every single box on that list. I can barely write proper code to begin with.

So yeah. I'm clearly on the chopping block.

And I genuinely don't care.

Why I'm Not Worried

My mindset is basically: "Wait, AI can build apps for me now? That's amazing. Guess I'll go do something else."

Here's the backstory. I became an IT engineer at 40 because I wanted to be someone who could build apps. That was the goal. Then AI showed up and Claude Code basically handed me that ability overnight.

So... mission accomplished? My original reason for being here is already fulfilled. Staying in this role just because I'm already here doesn't make much sense anymore.

Now I'm in exploration mode. Trying different things, seeing what sparks something, waiting for the next thing that genuinely excites me.

And that's the key. When you give yourself permission to switch careers freely, "what if I lose my job" stops being scary. It starts feeling more like "what do I get to try next?"

The anxiety doesn't disappear completely. But the excitement wins.

What's Next?

I'm genuinely looking forward to figuring out what I'll do next.

Funny thing — I used to stress about the fact that I could never stick with part-time jobs in college. Thought something was wrong with me. Now I'm starting to think that might actually be a strength.

The internet. AI. Remote work. None of this existed when we were making career decisions as teenagers. Clinging to choices you made in a completely different world is just... not logical.

I get the attachment though. I held onto it for years too. And if you can't fully let go, at least document what you've done — share it on YouTube or wherever. It helps you mentally close that chapter without feeling like it was wasted.

But if you're still carrying around this idea that you have to do one thing for your entire life — drop it. Start from zero. Ask yourself: "What do I actually want to do right now?"

Not what made sense 10 years ago. Right now.

Catch you later ✌️

Subscribe to my YouTube channel!

I'm an electronics YouTuber in Japan.
You can learn how to make your own gadget, what electronics are, and more.
let's check it out!

[Beginner] Start electronics if you want a hobby

https://www.youtube.com/@buonomakestudio

How I Actually Use AI to Make Life Better (Not Just Productive)

Buono Make Studio — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 15:41:04 +0000

Hey it's Buono. I work at an AI startup so obviously I use AI every single day. At work and in my personal life.

But here's the thing — most of the ways I've used AI have left me feeling empty.

The Stuff That Felt Pointless

I made AI-generated "beautiful woman" videos that got over 1 million views and 10k followers. Started it half out of curiosity, half for the money. It worked. And then I completely lost interest.

I built Pikutan, an English vocab learning app. Payments, auth, analytics — the whole thing. But it was partly motivated by money, so the moment it was done I stopped caring. It's shut down now.

AI can build apps, videos, images, and copy in seconds. But when the goal is money? It just feels hollow. Every single time.

I don't fully understand why. But the pattern is undeniable at this point.

Then I Found a Way That Actually Works

Recently I noticed something. There ARE ways I use AI that don't feel empty — that actually make my life a little richer. And I think the difference comes down to two things: saving time and expanding self-expression.

Not making money. Not chasing metrics. Time and expression.

Saving Time → More Life

I'm a huge Mercari (Japanese marketplace app) addict. Love finding deals. I also sell stuff — mostly books I've finished reading. We're talking 50 to 100 listings at a time.

Managing all that pricing manually was a nightmare. So one day I thought: why not just build a tool for this?

I used Claude Code to make a Chrome extension. Completely custom, just for me. It bulk-adjusts pricing, shows competitor listings, tells me where my items rank. Nothing fancy. Just exactly what I needed.

And it's been incredible. The time I save goes straight into reading — I've been really into English books lately, so I spend that extra time reading or hunting for new ones.

Here's what's interesting: "building an app" felt empty when the goal was money. But "building an app" to save time so I can read more books? Completely different feeling.

I can't explain the psychology behind it. But it's real.

Expanding Self-Expression → Better Mental Health

The other use case that works for me is using AI to push my creative abilities further.

I'm a YouTuber. I love video editing. Always have. And I've always wanted to fully realize what's in my head — turn the vision into something real on screen.

Problem is, my artistic talent is basically zero. Like, I literally got 2 out of 5 in art class all through school. So I've always relied on templates, stock assets, and compromises. The videos turned out fine, but none of them were 100% what I actually wanted to make.

AI changed that. At least partially.

I use After Effects a lot, and there's this feature called expressions — basically programming that controls motion. It used to be a niche thing only a few creators bothered with. I barely touched it.

But now AI can generate pretty advanced expressions (buggy sometimes, but still). And with Claude Code I can build custom extensions for After Effects and Premiere Pro. My creative range has expanded significantly.

It's "just" better expression. But the effect on my mental health has been surprisingly huge. There's something deeply satisfying about getting closer to the thing you actually envisioned.

The Pattern

Here's what I've figured out:

AI for money → empty, every time

AI for saving time → feels great, frees you up for things you care about

AI for self-expression → feels great, genuinely enriching

The tool is the same. The difference is entirely in what you're pointing it at.

If AI has been feeling hollow for you too, maybe it's not about using it less. Maybe it's about using it differently.

Catch you later ✌️

Subscribe to my YouTube channel!

I'm an electronics YouTuber in Japan.
You can learn how to make your own gadget, what electronics are, and more.
let's check it out!

[Beginner] Start electronics if you want a hobby

https://www.youtube.com/@buonomakestudio

Engineers Need to Prepare for a World That Doesn't Need More Stuff

Buono Make Studio — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 09:41:53 +0000

Hey it's Buono. I recently read a book that put words to something I've been feeling for a long time. And I think every engineer needs to hear this.

The book is "The Future of Business" by Shu Yamaguchi. I'd been hearing him use the term "plateau society" on podcasts and radio for a while. Something about it just stuck with me — like it was describing the world I already sensed was coming.

So I finally read it.

What Is the Plateau Society?

In short: a society where growth is over. Not slowing down — over. The baseline assumption is no longer "things will keep getting better" but "things are already good enough."

Yamaguchi's argument is that humanity spent centuries developing civilization — building systems to keep us alive, safe, and comfortable. And we basically succeeded. The data shows it. We're there.

So what comes next? Not more civilization. Culture.

In a plateau society, people have their basic needs met (think universal basic income). And from that foundation, they pursue creative work driven by personal meaning and impulse — not productivity or efficiency.

There's way more to the book than that, but that's the core idea.

Why This Hit Me So Hard

Honestly? Because this book put into words every frustration I've had about the modern economy.

We keep building things nobody asked for. We keep optimizing things that are already fine. We keep treating growth as the default setting when the reality is — we have enough.

A lot of people will read this and think "that's just idealism." But look at the problems modern society is actually facing. Look at how exhausted everyone is. Look at what's happening to the environment.

This isn't idealism. It might be the only viable direction. And if we dismiss it as a fantasy, I think we're in serious trouble — especially in Japan.

The Problem for Engineers

Here's the catch. The plateau society only works for people who've found something meaningful to pursue. If you have that, it's paradise. Unlimited time and stability to do what you care about.

If you don't have that? It's hell.

I'm not guessing here. I lived it.

During my year of paternity leave, I had financial stability, free time, zero obligations. And I nearly lost my mind. Having nothing to work toward while everything is technically "fine" is one of the worst feelings I've ever experienced. A year of that and your brain starts to break.

Now think about engineers specifically. Most of us were trained for one thing: build useful stuff. That was the entire identity. The entire purpose.

Take that away and what's left? For a lot of engineers — nothing. And I mean that in the most literal sense possible.

If the plateau society arrives and most engineers haven't found something beyond "being useful," it's going to be a crisis. A real one.

The Answer Is "Impulse"

So what do you do? Unfortunately there's no plug-and-play solution. I can't tell you "just do X and you'll be fine."

But there IS a method for finding your thing. And the keyword is impulse.

This concept keeps showing up in everything I read lately — across completely different books, different contexts, different authors. It has to be hitting on something real.

Impulse means: stop overthinking. Follow what pulls you. Try things without knowing why. Move before you have a reason.

I know "impulse" has a bad reputation — like impulse buying. Forget that association. What I'm talking about is something much deeper.

Think about how kids behave. Nobody tells them what to do. They don't understand why they're doing it. They just move toward whatever grabs their attention. It's irrational, unexplainable, and completely honest.

That's the energy we need to rediscover.

Let Go of "Useful"

The idea that engineering must produce something useful? Time to let that go.

Try something. If it doesn't stick, try the next thing. That's it. That's the whole strategy.

I'm still figuring this out myself. But I'm trying to be as honest as possible with what actually excites me, even when it doesn't make logical sense.

That's all any of us can do right now.

Catch you later ✌️

subscribe my YouTube channel!

I'm an electronics YouTuber in Japan.
you can learn how to make your own gadget, what electronics is, and more.
let's check it out!

[Beginner] Start electronics if you want a hobby

https://www.youtube.com/@buonomakestudio

The Sweet Spot Is 30% AI, 70% Human

Buono Make Studio — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:55:17 +0000

Hey it's Buono. I switched careers to IT engineering at 40. Wanted to use tech to help the people around me. And at first? It was genuinely fun.

But lately it's become painfully boring. And the reason is obvious.

AI ruined it.

AI Took the Part I Actually Loved

Here's the thing about me — I love the process of building. That's why I got into electronics, why I built websites and apps from scratch, why I made animation videos for my gadget projects. All of it was about the journey, not the destination.

AI took almost all of that away.

Specs, architecture, infrastructure, implementation, testing — it's all AI now. I haven't written a single line of code in two years. Not exaggerating. Literally zero lines.

I'd estimate AI can handle about 90% of the entire app development process at this point. What's left for humans? Planning, requirements, some design tweaks. That's it.

For someone who lives for the process, this is miserable.

That heavy feeling I'd been carrying around for months — "why isn't this fun anymore?" — this was the answer.

Don't get me wrong. My original reason for getting into IT — helping people through technology — hasn't changed. I still want to do that. But you don't need decades of hands-on engineering experience for that anymore. The craft part is gone.

The career I was so excited about lost its shine.

So What's the Right Balance?

I've been thinking about this a lot. And I landed on something that feels right: 30% AI, 70% human.

That ratio means there's still enough human involvement to enjoy the process. But there's also enough AI to feel things gradually getting easier and more efficient over time. That sense of progress matters — it's the same energy that powered entire economic booms.

Let me map out why the extremes don't work:

100% human (like farming) — Still exists, still valuable. But without any AI involvement, you miss that feeling of your workflow slowly improving. That gets heavy over time.

50/50 or 70% AI — Feels okay today, but give it a couple years and AI will eat the rest. You end up right back where IT is now.

30% AI, 70% human — Enough process to stay engaged. Enough AI to keep improving. And because AI's share is still small, this ratio actually has staying power.

Where Do You Even Find a 30/70 Job?

Fair question. I don't have a complete map of every industry's AI ratio. Still figuring it out myself.

But I recently noticed something. Motion graphics — which I've been deep into lately — hits this ratio almost perfectly.

The planning, overall structure, asset creation, and motion work? That's all human. But AI helps with things like drafting initial assets, generating narration, writing helper scripts, and creating expressions (code that controls motion). That's roughly 30% AI, 70% me.

I didn't plan for this ratio. I just noticed it after I was already hooked. Which kind of proves the point — this balance is where the fun is.

Digital Content Creation Might Be the Move

Zooming out a bit, I think digital content creation in general lands close to this sweet spot. The "digital" part is key — traditional analog work like hand-drawn animation would push the AI ratio way lower.

The point is: if you zoom in and actually examine the work you enjoy, you might find pockets where this 30/70 balance already exists. You just haven't named it yet.

Go look for yours.

Catch you later ✌️

Subscribe to my YouTube channel!

I'm an electronics YouTuber in Japan.
You can learn how to make your own gadget, what electronics are, and more.
let's check it out!

[Beginner] Start electronics if you want a hobby

https://www.youtube.com/@buonomakestudio

Are Engineers Even Needed Anymore?

Buono Make Studio — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 13:32:45 +0000

Hey it's Buono. This one's been sitting in my head for a while so I'm just gonna get it out.

Are engineers still needed? Specifically in the AI era — what happens to us?

If you're an IT engineer right now, I know you're thinking about this. And if you're like me — no deep specialization, relatively early in your IT career — the anxiety is even worse.

I don't have a silver bullet. But I do have a sense of where things are heading. And I want to talk about it from the angle of engineering rather than engineers. Because I think that's where the real question is.

Engineering Has Always Had Two Jobs

Think about it. Engineering serves two purposes:

Building things that are useful
Building things that move people

Here's my take: the first one — building useful stuff — is dying. Slowly but definitely.

The second one — building things that move people emotionally — is about to become everything.

We're talking self-expression, self-actualization, personal creativity. Engineering as an extension of culture and hobbies rather than productivity and efficiency.

We Already Have Enough Useful Stuff

Look around you. Be honest. How much of what's in your life actually needs to be improved?

Your phone works. Your fridge works. Your apps work. We've got more convenience than any generation in history. And yet companies are still pumping out new products and startups are still chasing marginal improvements like nothing has changed.

I'm gonna be blunt: most of it is unnecessary. Can we just stop?

People are burning out. The planet is burning up. All for what — shaving 3 seconds off a workflow? A slightly better notification system?

This doesn't last. Everyone knows it deep down.

But Engineering Isn't Dead

Here's where it gets interesting.

In a society that shifts toward people and culture as the center — which I think is where we're headed — engineering still matters. A lot actually.

Because when people start pursuing self-expression and creative projects seriously, they hit walls. Technical walls. And that's where engineering skills become valuable again.

My wife told me about someone she knows who rigged up LEDs on their musical instrument for a performance. That's engineering. But it's not "useful" engineering. It's engineering in service of self-expression. That's the future.

"I Didn't Become an Engineer to Make Toys"

I know some of you are reading this thinking: "I became an engineer to build things that matter. Not hobby projects."

And I get it. That's what we were all taught. Engineering = solving real problems = making useful things. That was the whole identity.

But the world changed. There's already enough useful stuff out there. So what exactly are you trying to build?

I genuinely can't answer that anymore. And I don't think most engineers can either.

I Stopped Calling Myself an Engineer

The shift from "building useful things" to "building things that move people" — that's not a minor tweak. It's a fundamental change in what engineering is for.

And honestly? The person who helps others express themselves, create meaningful things, bring their vision to life — that's not really an engineer. That's a creator.

So I stopped calling myself an engineer. I go by creator now.

Not because engineering doesn't matter. But because the role has evolved and the old label doesn't fit anymore.

Maybe it's time you rethink yours too.

Catch you later ✌️

subscribe my YouTube channel!

I'm an electronics YouTuber in Japan.
you can learn how to make your own gadget, what electronics is, and more.
let's check it out!

[Beginner] Start electronics if you want a hobby

https://www.youtube.com/@buonomakestudio

Every Engineer Needs to Read "Every Day Is a Good Day"

Buono Make Studio — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:35:50 +0000

Hey it's Buono. Today I wanna recommend a book. And no, it's not a tech book.

Here's the thing. Engineers — myself included — have spent our entire careers getting really good at one thing: building stuff that's useful and convenient. That was the game. Build something people need, get rewarded. Simple.

But that game is ending.

AI and what I call the "plateau society" (I've talked about this elsewhere) are flipping everything upside down. Useful things? Convenient things? AI handles that now. Maybe not overnight, but the trend line is clear and it's going down.

So what do engineers do when the thing we trained our whole lives for stops mattering?

I think the answer has something to do with impulse — following what genuinely excites you — and something I'd call the ability to enjoy the ordinary.

And that's where this book comes in.

Every Day a Good Day: Fifteen Lessons I Learned about Happiness from Japanese Tea Culture (JAPAN LIBRARY)

How I Found This Book

During my year of paternity leave, I was basically wandering bookstores with a baby strapped to my chest. No energy to do anything productive. Just reading constantly.

My favorite spot was the Tsutaya Books in Futako-Tamagawa. Their staff picks section was always incredible.

That's where I found "Nichinichi Kore Koujitsu" (Every Day Is a Good Day) — a book about the Japanese tea ceremony.

Now look. I had zero interest in tea. None. But I remembered seeing Nakata from ORIRAJIO on his YouTube channel saying "I'm getting into tea ceremony." And I thought — why would someone so modern and internet-savvy care about something so old?

There had to be something there.

So I picked it up. And honestly? It kind of blew my mind.

What the Book Actually Taught Me

The book talks about things like how to bow properly, types of flowers, the shift between seasons. Tiny things I'd never once paid attention to in my life.

That was the whole world of tea ceremony. Finding beauty and meaning in the smallest, most ordinary moments.

Normally I would've read that and gone "cool I guess" and moved on. But at the time I was deep in a motivational void — months into paternity leave with nothing to work toward. I think I was subconsciously desperate for some kind of stimulation.

And then this book made me realize: stimulation was everywhere. I just wasn't looking.

The ordinary stuff I'd been ignoring my whole life — seasons changing, the way light hits a room, the rhythm of a daily routine — all of it could be interesting if I actually paid attention.

I never started doing tea ceremony after reading it. I still don't care about flowers tbh. But knowing that the everyday can be a source of genuine enjoyment? That shifted something in how I think about life.

By the way — "日日是好日" comes from Zen Buddhism. It roughly means: "Sunny days and rainy days, every single day is irreplaceable. Living fully in the present is what makes a day truly good."

Pretty hard to argue with that.

Find Your Own North Star

Here's why this matters for engineers right now.

In the AI era, the old north star — "build useful, convenient things" — is fading fast. You used to be able to just follow that and you'd be fine. Not anymore.

Now you need to find your OWN north star. Something AI can't replicate. Something that's yours.

And that starts with learning how to find what genuinely moves you — even in the most ordinary moments. This book doesn't hand you the answer, but it gives you the mindset to start looking.

It's an essay-style book, super easy to read. If any of this resonated, give it a shot.

Catch you later ✌️

subscribe my YouTube channel!

I'm an electronics YouTuber in Japan.
you can learn how to make your own gadget, what electronics is, and more.
let's check it out!

[Beginner] Start electronics if you want a hobby

https://www.youtube.com/@buonomakestudio

I Changed Careers at 40. Here's How It Actually Went.

Buono Make Studio — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:50:07 +0000

I Changed Careers at 40. Here's How It Actually Went.

Hey it's Buono. Today I wanna talk about something pretty personal — how I completely switched careers at 40 and ended up in IT.

The Backstory

Right now I'm working as an IT systems engineer at an AI startup. But before this? I spent 15+ years as a hardware engineer in manufacturing.

First decade was at a precision equipment company doing circuit design and noise evaluation. Then I got caught up in the EV hype and jumped to an automaker. And now I'm in a completely different world — IT.

Wild pivot. But it made sense at the time and still does.

Why I Made the Switch

COVID Changed How I Saw My Job

Being a hardware engineer during COVID was rough. The job requires physical presence — you literally can't do circuit design from your couch. So while everyone else was going remote, I was still commuting to the office every day.

With a family at home and infection risks everywhere, that stress hit different.

A Year of Paternity Leave Changed My Brain

I took a full year off for parental leave. Had free time, had financial stability, had zero social connection. And honestly? I lost all motivation.

That experience taught me something important: I need to feel like I'm contributing to something. I need to be deep in a problem. Without that, I just drift.

So I started seriously thinking about what's next.

The 40-Year-Old Problem

Let's be real — IT is a young person's game. At least that's the perception. Walking into this industry at 40 with zero IT experience felt insane.

But the desire to do it was stronger than the fear. So I just started reaching out.

How It Actually Happened

I talked to a ton of companies, mostly startups and venture-stage businesses. Most conversations went nowhere. But one company saw something interesting in my background.

Their pitch was basically: "You've got deep hardware experience. Why not bring that perspective into IT?"

That reframe was everything. I wasn't starting from zero — I was bringing 15 years of engineering thinking into a new domain.

And that's how I got in.

What Made It Work

Just Start Moving

You don't need to have it all figured out. I definitely didn't. My IT skills were basically non-existent when I started. But I showed up, stayed curious, and kept learning.

Overthinking kills more career changes than lack of skill ever will.

Put Yourself Out There

This one's huge. I'd been sharing my projects and ideas on YouTube and social media for a while before the switch. Nothing crazy — just documenting what I was working on.

Turns out, companies noticed. In interviews, people would bring up my content. It built trust before I even walked in the room.

If you're thinking about a career change, start posting about what you're learning NOW. It compounds in ways you don't expect.

The Takeaway

Switching careers at 40 isn't easy. I'm not gonna sugarcoat it. But it's absolutely doable if you're willing to move first and figure it out along the way.

Stop waiting for the perfect moment. Start talking to people. Start sharing what you know. The opportunity will find you — but only if you're already in motion.

If you're going through something similar, I hope this helps even a little. We're all figuring it out together.

Catch you later ✌️

subscribe my YouTube channel!

I'm an electronics YouTuber in Japan.
you can learn how to make your own gadget, what electronics is, and more.
let's check it out!

[Beginner] Start electronics if you want a hobby

https://www.youtube.com/@buonomakestudio

Your "Not-To-Do List" Matters More Than Your Goals

Buono Make Studio — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 07:47:11 +0000

My Not-To-Do List Changed Everything

Hey it's Buono. Been quiet for a few months but I promise I wasn't just sleeping lol. Been doing a ton of research, testing ideas, and figuring out what's next.

Today I wanna talk about something that's been a huge unlock for me personally.

Everyone Has a To-Do List. Where's Your Not-To-Do List?

Most people are obsessed with what they want to DO. Become a CEO, travel the world, build a startup, whatever.

And yeah I have goals too. But honestly? What's made the biggest difference in my quality of life isn't what I've chosen to do — it's what I've chosen to never do.

I keep a running list. Every time I catch myself thinking "yeah I really don't want that in my life," I write it down. I've got like 20-30 items at this point.

Sounds negative right? It's not. It's the opposite. Knowing what you refuse to do makes it crystal clear what you actually care about.

My Not-To-Do List (Yes It's Bold)

Here are some of mine:

No real-time communication (when I can avoid it)
No taking on responsibility for others
No leadership positions
No sacrificing family
No fighting battles I don't need to fight
No recurring revenue business models (flow-type biz)
No hard things just because they're "supposed to be" hard
No doing things that don't excite me

I know. Reading that you're probably thinking "this guy is a walking red flag" or "bro is literally running from life" lmao

And honestly? I don't disagree. On paper it looks like I'm dodging everything.

But I'm not ashamed of it at all. If anything, I think most people are fighting way too many battles head-on. Sometimes the smartest move is just... not playing that game.

Why I Avoid Real-Time Communication

I'm recording a podcast right now but the truth is — I'm terrible at real-time conversations. Like genuinely bad.

Mid-conversation I'll lose track of what I'm even saying. I have to ask people to repeat themselves constantly. And meetings with multiple people? My brain just short-circuits trying to process everything at once.

The only times I've ever led a good meeting were when I prepped an entire script beforehand. And even then it was barely survivable.

So why would I build my career around something I'm objectively bad at? Consulting gigs, live seminars, live streams — tried some of it, not for me.

I'd rather play to my strengths. That's not running away. That's strategy.

Why I Refuse to Take on Responsibility

This one sounds wild but hear me out.

The moment you move up even ONE level in a company, you inherit other people's problems. Lead a team of 3? You own their mistakes. Become a manager? Multiply that by 10.

And what happens? You lose control of your own time. The pressure stacks up. You start sacrificing the things you actually want to do for things you HAVE to do.

I'm the type of person who — when I get an idea or find a new tool — I need to try it RIGHT NOW. Like I will literally drop everything. If I had a team depending on me, I'd have to suppress that instinct constantly. And over time that kills your energy and your joy.

41 Years Old. Still an Individual Contributor. By Choice.

I'm 41, turning 42 this year, and I'm still a regular staff member. Not a team lead. Not a manager. Just me.

I've told my company in every review: I'm not interested in moving up. This is intentional.

The pay is whatever. But my time and freedom? Non-negotiable. I fill the gaps with side projects, content creation, and whatever else I'm excited about. That's where the real upside is anyway.

Make Your Own Not-To-Do List

I'm not saying copy mine. Everyone's list is different.

But try this: open your notes app right now and write down 5 things you refuse to do. Things that drain you, stress you out, or just don't align with who you actually are.

It's not negative. It's you deciding what matters. That's one of the most powerful things you can do.

Especially Now

We're living through a time where the old playbook for life is getting thrown out completely. Climb the ladder, get the title, retire at 65 — that whole script is breaking down.

AI is accelerating everything. The rules are changing fast. So you better figure out what YOUR rules are before someone else's rules run your life.

Figure out what you won't do. The rest gets a lot simpler.

Catch you in the next one ✌️

subscribe my YouTube channel!

I'm an electronics YouTuber in Japan.
you can learn how to make your own gadget, what electronics is, and more.
let's check it out!

[Beginner] Start electronics if you want a hobby

https://www.youtube.com/@buonomakestudio

What should we do in AI era?

Buono Make Studio — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 11:46:14 +0000

Hello, I'm Buono. went with a dramatic title but bear with me lol

the dream vs reality

how do you live in the AI era? is your role getting replaced? I think about this constantly and I know a lot of you do too.

I switched careers to become an IT engineer at 40. literally chased the dream of working remotely from anywhere. location independence, freedom, the whole thing.

finally got the job... and then AI hit. already getting swept up in the chaos.

I haven't written a single line of code

not one. recently at least.

all I do now is write instructions. "do this, make that work like this." I don't even properly review the code anymore. if it passes the tests, ship it. done.

is this really ok?? but the reality is... the work gets done. and it gets done well. so what was the point of becoming an engineer...

the tasks I'm completing are stuff I could NEVER have done on my own without AI. but once you actually pull it off, this weird emptiness hits you.

I built an entire app in 2 weeks (while working my day job)

on the side I recently built Pikutan — a pictogram-based English vocab learning app.

we're talking:

Google auth ✅
payment system ✅
learning analytics with charts ✅
deployed to cloud ✅

stuff that would've taken me a full year 10 years ago. built it in 2 weeks while working my day job. all by giving AI instructions.

first reaction was like "holy shit the payment system actually works?!" I was genuinely hyped. excited about what AI could do.

but then it was done. and that emptiness came back again...

the void no one talks about

I'm technically at the engineering level I dreamed about when I was 30 (with AI doing the heavy lifting obv). so what is this void??

been sitting with that feeling for weeks. couldn't figure it out.

then it clicked.

anything AI can do easily is going to zero

auth? payments? complex backend logic? these used to be impressive, hard-won skills. now AI handles them.

if AI can do it = worthless as a standalone skill. I'll say it.

these were actually difficult problems in software engineering. and if AI is casually solving those now... you already know where this is going.

so here's what I'm doing about it

I'm stepping away from the pure software world.

not quitting my job or anything — IT engineering still has strong demand and pays the bills. but in my own time? I'm going all in on things AI literally cannot do.

physical things. creative things. stuff that requires a human in the loop.

I'm getting back into electronics and YouTube. building real things with my hands. creating content that's inherently human.

I'm pretty sure that's what compounds over the next 5-10 years.

the takeaway

the skills that feel safe right now might not be safe for long. and the things that feel niche or "not scalable" — working with hardware, creating authentic content, building in the physical world — those might be the most valuable skills of the next decade.

if you're not thinking about where you'll be in 5-10 years and acting on it now, you're sleeping on it.

start today. seriously.

catch you later ✌️

subscribe my YouTube channel!

I'm an electronics YouTuber in Japan.
you can learn how to make your own gadget, what electronics is, and more.
let's check it out!

[Beginner] Start electronics if you want a hobby

https://www.youtube.com/@buonomakestudio

Smart Tips for Sourcing Your Electronic Components

Buono Make Studio — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 16:27:22 +0000

Hello, this is Buono! Following up on our last discussion about buying electronic parts online and offline, today I want to share some tips for getting those components more reasonably, maybe even cheaper. Getting the right parts without overspending is key for any electronics project.

I'll cover four main tips today, broken down into basic strategies for everyone and a couple of advanced techniques for those willing to dig a bit deeper.

Basic Tips

1. Start with a Starter Kit

If you're new to electronics or a specific platform like Arduino, starter kits are fantastic. You can find many options online, for example, on Amazon. I particularly like some of the Arduino starter kits available there because they bundle together a wide variety of essential items – microcontrollers, sensors, output devices like motors, wires, breadboards, and more.

Often, you can get a comprehensive kit for under $40 USD. This is an excellent way to get started if you're unsure exactly which individual components you'll need, as it allows you to experiment with inputs, processing, and outputs right out of the box. The value is great, and user reviews are generally decent.

2. Buy Parts Together to Save on Shipping

One unavoidable cost with many online electronic shops (like Digi-Key, Adafruit, etc., unless you have something like Amazon Prime) is the shipping fee, which can often be around $10 or more.

To minimize this impact, plan your projects and try to buy all the components you need in a single order. Many stores offer free shipping if your order total exceeds a certain amount (maybe $40 or $50, the exact threshold varies). Even if you don't reach the free shipping limit, consolidating your purchases means the shipping cost per part becomes much lower compared to placing many small orders. So, think ahead and buy in bulk when possible!

Advanced Tips

3. Learn to Substitute Components

Sometimes, the exact part number you need might be out of stock or unavailable. Don't worry! Many electronic components have very similar substitutes.

For instance, if you need a common NPN transistor like the 2SC1815 but can't find it, parts like the 2SC945 or KTC3198 often have nearly identical specifications and can work as replacements. You'll need to check the datasheets to confirm key parameters, but slight differences are often acceptable for hobbyist projects.

Be mindful, though:

Shape Matters: Substitutes might come in different packages (e.g., through-hole vs. SMD). An SMD component might have much lower power handling than its through-hole counterpart, even if the core function is similar.
Physical Fit: A switch substitute might function identically but have a different footprint or mounting style, requiring you to adapt your connections, perhaps using wires and soldering instead of direct PCB mounting. Always compare datasheets!

4. Salvage Parts from Junk Electronics

For the truly adventurous, scavenging parts from old or broken electronics ("junk") can be a goldmine. You can often acquire non-functional printers, computers, stereos, etc., very cheaply or even for free.

By carefully disassembling them, you can harvest a surprising variety of useful components: resistors, capacitors, connectors, switches, motors, and sometimes even specialized ICs. I live near Akihabara in Japan, which is like a paradise for this, with many shops selling junk products.

Of course, this requires disassembly skills and the tools to safely take things apart and desolder components. But if you're lucky and persistent, you can build up a great collection of parts for next to nothing.

Summary

So, to recap the tips for getting parts effectively:

Basic: Consider a starter kit, and always try to buy components together in one order.
Advanced: Learn to find suitable substitutions, and don't be afraid to salvage parts from junk electronics if you have the skills.

That's all for today. Happy building!

subscribe my YouTube channel!

I'm an electronics YouTuber in Japan.
you can learn how to make your own gadget, what electronics is, and more.
let's check it out!

[Beginner] Start electronics if you want a hobby

https://www.youtube.com/@buonomakestudio