Diagnosed with a 1-in-100000 Cancer. Giving up Stability to Become a Grape Farmer in 1000 Days: Zeno’s Manifesto.
こんにちは、Zeno（ゼノ）です。
本日より多言語対応が始まりました。
それに伴い、僕のプロフィールを
英語で表現しました。
Hello, and lovely to meet you.
Thank you so much for finding me among the countless posts on note. m(_ _)m
[Introduction]
My Life Began the Moment I Faced Death
I left the private sector to become a civil servant — what many would call the pinnacle of job security. But behind that stable facade lay seven grueling years at my previous company, followed by a devastating blow: a cancer diagnosis so rare it strikes only one in a hundred thousand people.
"What on earth am I working so hard for?"
Sitting alone in that hospital ward, confronting the very real possibility that my life might be ending, I looked in the mirror and met myself — truly, honestly — for the very first time.
[The Turning Point]
"Ha-Hi-Fu-He-Ho": The Magical Words My Grandmother Left Behind
What pulled me out of that darkness was a handful of words from my late grandmother.
"Don’t push yourself too hard, just do enough.
Take care."
Her little philosophy — what I call the “Ha-Hi-Fu-He-Ho” of happiness — dissolved the rigid perfectionism that had driven me to compete with everyone around me.
The "Ha-Hi-Fu-He-Ho" of Happiness taught by my grandmother:
Ha - Hanbun de ii (Half is more than enough)
Hi - Hitonami de ii (Being ordinary is fine)
Fu - Futsuu de ii (Normal is perfectly good)
He - Heibon de ii (A peaceful, unremarkable life is wonderful)
Ho - Hodohodo de ii (Moderation is just right)
“This is your secret to happiness,”
she would say, with the warmest smile.
Holding those words close, I chose to leave the noise and pace of city life behind. With no experience whatsoever, I decided to relocate to the countryside and start completely fresh — as a grape farmer — to reclaim myself and the life I wanted for my family.
[The Resolve]
Bringing You the Finest Grapes in 1000 Days
I have no intention of letting this become a romanticized “slow life” fantasy. I am fully committed to building a real, sustainable business — while living a healthy and free life.
Proving "Happy Farming" with an annual income of 5 million yen: I will share every single step of my 1000-day struggle leading up to our relocation and farming venture in 2026.
Data-Driven Management: Grounded in my studies at a school for aspiring farmers, I am currently challenging myself to pass the Level 3 Agricultural Bookkeeping exam. I aim to be a farmer who speaks with data, not just intuition.
The Reality of Relocation: As a member of the Regional Revitalization Volunteer Corps, I will share the unvarnished reality of moving to the countryside.
[Photos]
My Favorite Scenery
🍂 A Path for a Stroll
There’s nothing quite like a walk in the crisp quiet of early morning, or in the soft golden light of dusk. City walks have their own energy, but it’s countryside strolls — where you can smell the earth and hear leaves whispering in the breeze — that truly settle my heart. This is my absolute favorite walking path.
🗼 Tokyo Tower
This photo captures the moment I steeled myself — standing before this view, making a silent promise to return here once my chemotherapy was decided.
In that moment of resolve,
I held a certain motto close to my heart.
🌊 The Coast and Pebbles
Wandering along the shore and hunting for the perfect pebble is one of my favorite simple pleasures. Cheering over little finds like children — that kind of joy is what happiness is made of, for us as a couple.
🌄 The Sunrise of Resolve: Into the Light Since That Day
The first sunrise of the New Year, watched on a hospital television. That light once kept me company through the searing pain of chemotherapy. Today, it has become a symbol of the joy of being alive — something I now watch side by side with my wife.
The promise I made to myself that day — never to give up on life — has led me to the radiant happiness I live in now.
[Magazines]
What I Will Share on This Note
The unfiltered reality of starting over in my thirties.
１．The Reality of Countryside Relocation 🏡
From the preparation stages to the eye-opening gap between city and rural life.
２．Wisdom of a Healthy, Free Spirit 💪
Putting “Ha-Hi-Fu-He-Ho” into daily practice, for both mind and body.
３．The Road to Becoming a Grape Farmer 🍇
Farmer — A chronicle of the 1,000-day struggle.
４．AI Grape Library | The "Cultivation × Innovation" Archive
Innovation” Archive — Organizing and sharing 1,000+ insights I’ve gathered along the way (still growing).
[Note]
Zeno's Philosophy
This article is a reflection written about six months into my time on note — a chance to revisit the direction of my blog and reaffirm what matters most to me: every single connection I make here.
A wonderful person I met through note has written a beautiful piece about me, and it truly captures the heart of what I’m all about.
You only live once. If you’re feeling a little worn down by your current life right now — just as I once was — nothing would make me happier than if my 1,000-day challenge could make your tomorrow feel even just a little bit lighter.
In 1,000 days, I will deliver the finest grapes — grown beneath an open blue sky — straight to you.
Won’t you join me,
and become a witness to this journey?
The AI Grape Couple:
Zeno & Wife/ ZENO FARM
I would be delighted if this article provided a little "breather for your soul".
If you enjoyed it, please give the ♡ Like button a cheeky little tap—it would make us jump for joy as a couple! 🍇
Furthermore,
ZENO FARM holds another dream close to our hearts.
On that dark day in my hospital bed, it was a single grape that gave me the strength to live. I want children—who know nothing of complex words—to experience that very same wonder, purely and simply. To taste it, to smile, and to say "delicious!" That is more than enough.
Delivering our grapes to local schools is one of the ways ZENO FARM hopes to give back to society. Dreaming of the day when the life born from our fields brings a smile to a child's face, we will continue to tend to our soil with the utmost care.
