Hiro Ohta
LightNews LightNews
banner
xlix.me
Hiro Ohta
@xlix.me
4K followers 1K following 1.6K posts
Investor. Author. Tokyo explorer. Quantum societies chronicler.

Hub xlix.me
X x.xlix.me
Bsky bsky.xlix.me
Blog ohtanotes.w.waseda.jp
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
xlix.me
Hiro Ohta @xlix.me · Apr 17
If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.

- Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood
PHOTO by Quang Vuong - A narrow aisle stretches deep into a monochrome labyrinth of tall bookshelves, packed tightly with aged spines and endless stories. Overhead signs mark categories—Poetry, U.S. History, Literary Bios—dangling above the quiet corridor. A lone step ladder waits mid-path, inviting the seeker upward. Fluorescent lights cast a sterile glow, yet the space feels timeless, suspended between thought and memory. The silence is thick, broken only by the imagined rustle of turning pages.
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
xlix.me
Nothing to own. Everything to be.
Photo by ÉMILE SÉGUIN. A lone figure moves across an open expanse of white, their dark silhouette small against the wide, pale sky. The scene feels spacious and unhurried, with no landmarks except the soft gradations of snow and light. The vastness around the walker suggests stillness and presence in a boundless landscape.
November 15, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
xlix.me
Tokyo never sleeps. Dreams are cheaper than rent here.
Photo by mos design. A narrow city alley illuminated by vivid neon lights in shades of pink and blue, with glowing signs and vending machines lining the sides. A person in a white coat walks away, disappearing into the distance. On the right, a brightly lit wall displays faces, adding to the surreal atmosphere. In the stillness of the night, do you see the light, or does the light see you?
November 15, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
stemgal.bsky.social
Gorgeous shot - and statement. ❤️
xlix.me Hiro Ohta @xlix.me · 13h
Black is both nothing and everything.
Photo by Matthew DeVries. A solitary black church stands in the middle of a lush green field under a moody, overcast sky. White-framed windows punctuate its dark facade, and a small steeple with a weather vane adds elegance to its silhouette. In the background, fog drapes over distant mountains, enhancing the serene and contemplative atmosphere of the scene.
November 29, 2025 at 3:11 PM
xlix.me
Black is both nothing and everything.
Photo by Matthew DeVries. A solitary black church stands in the middle of a lush green field under a moody, overcast sky. White-framed windows punctuate its dark facade, and a small steeple with a weather vane adds elegance to its silhouette. In the background, fog drapes over distant mountains, enhancing the serene and contemplative atmosphere of the scene.
November 29, 2025 at 12:07 PM
xlix.me
The more we seek certainty, the deeper we dive into uncertainty.
Photo by Jakob Boman. A lone freediver moves upward through deep blue water, one hand guiding along a rope that fades into the distance. Their body is streamlined, fins angled toward the unseen depths below. Light from the surface softens above, creating a gentle gradient that surrounds the diver in a calm, suspended moment.
November 29, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
xlix.me
Where you live shapes everything—who you meet, what you see, what you do. It may be life’s most important choice. Your location is your liberty. Don’t sell it cheaply.
Photo by Trace Hudson. A striking cityscape showing a person walking along a waterfront with a dramatic skyline in the background, mirrored perfectly in a still puddle below. The reflection creates a surreal sense of symmetry, blending reality and illusion. Is the reflection a mere copy, or a world of its own?
November 14, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
xlix.me
Sit. Breathe. Be.
Photo by PJH. A raked gravel garden holds small islands of moss and stone, their forms arranged with gentle balance. A weathered earthen wall runs behind them, and beyond it stands a mix of pale cherry blossoms and fresh spring greens under a muted sky, creating a scene of calm presence.
November 14, 2025 at 10:11 AM
xlix.me
Harmony is chaos wearing order.
Photo by Aleksandar Pasaric. A symmetrical facade of a high-rise building with a colorful arrangement of balconies and windows. Each floor alternates pastel shades of yellow, green, pink, and blue, creating a striking geometric pattern. In the center, a vertical strip of red brick adds contrast. Clothes, air conditioning units, and personal items hang on some balconies, hinting at life within.
November 28, 2025 at 8:25 AM
xlix.me
Time is what keeps everything from happening at once.

- Ray Cummings
Photo by Andrey Grushnikov. A monochrome image showcasing an array of wall clocks overlapping each other in a dense, intricate pattern. The clocks vary in design, size, and numbering styles, with some featuring decorative elements like owls. The arrangement creates a striking visual, symbolizing the passage of time and its simultaneous coexistence across different moments.
November 28, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
xlix.me
Beneath the tent, we receive freedom. There, everything is borrowed — our things, our time, even ourselves.
Photo by Josh Hild. A glowing tent sits under a vast night sky scattered with countless stars, surrounded by silhouettes of tall trees. The soft, warm light from the tent contrasts with the deep, tranquil blue of the sky, creating a sense of peaceful solitude in nature. Is the light within a reflection of the stars above or a beacon for those searching in the dark?
November 13, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
xlix.me
I think perfection is ugly. Somewhere in the things humans make, I want to see scars, failure, disorder, distortion.

- Yohji Yamamoto
Photo by Motoki Tonn. A close-up of a ceramic cup repaired using the Japanese art of kintsugi, where golden lacquer highlights its cracks and imperfections. The earthy tones and dark lines emphasize its history and resilience, creating a profound sense of beauty in its flaws. Is the break a weakness, or the start of something stronger?
November 13, 2025 at 9:49 AM
xlix.me
Savor this moment. It melts away too soon.
Photo by ROMAN ODINTSOV. A creamy chocolate gelato sits in a rustic paper cup labeled "Isle of Gelato," topped with generous chocolate chunks and dusted with cocoa powder. A wooden spoon is tucked into the dessert, ready for a bite. The setting is casual, with chocolate shavings scattered around and a hint of a strawberry on the side, evoking indulgence and handcrafted delight.
November 27, 2025 at 8:20 AM
xlix.me
Every door is a choice. Open and step into the unknown light? Close and remain in the comforting dark? Either way, life moves on.
Photo by Suliman Sallehi. An elderly man stands in the doorway of an ornately carved wooden structure. He wears traditional clothing with a jacket and gazes thoughtfully into the distance, holding a cigarette. The intricate patterns of the door and surrounding frame evoke a sense of cultural heritage, while vibrant textiles hang above him, adding warmth to the rustic setting.
November 27, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
xlix.me
To truly see the bridge, let the fog be.
Photo by Taylen Lundequam. A black-and-white photo of a towering bridge disappearing into dense fog, with a solitary sailboat drifting across the glimmering water below. The atmosphere is quiet and enigmatic, where human presence feels small against nature's vastness. Does the fog obscure the path, or is it guiding the way?
November 12, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
xlix.me
There is no original—only mutual reflection pretending to be real.
Photo by Cz Jen. A black-and-white image of a person standing alone in front of a modern glass building. The person, wearing a long coat, a wide-brimmed hat, and stylish boots, gazes at their reflection in the large windows. The scene is minimalistic, with a smooth concrete wall on one side and a reflective water surface below. The reflection adds a sense of depth and introspection to the image, as if capturing a quiet, contemplative moment in an urban, architectural setting. The background outside the glass is blurred, with faint outlines of trees and sculptures, enhancing the mood of solitude and calm.
November 12, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
fpilot34en.bsky.social
And after it rains, there's a rainbow, and all of the colors are black/It's not that the colors aren't there...
xlix.me Hiro Ohta @xlix.me · 11d
Being yourself is a risk; take it anyway.
Photo by Desiray Green. A mysterious figure stands in the middle of a rural road, completely obscured by a large bunch of shiny black balloons. The backdrop features a cloudy sky and a hint of farmland stretching into the distance. Wearing a white skirt and a black top, the person holds the balloons, creating a stark contrast. If these balloons were thoughts, where would they carry you?
November 26, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
deborah78.bsky.social
Insomnia...
Is the three am stillness--
Heavy and bald-with the thighs of night
Rubbing together.
5/22/92
xlix.me Hiro Ohta @xlix.me · 3d
The night is dark. Yet it doesn’t ask awkward questions.
Photo by ervin.fon. A black-and-white image of a dimly lit cobblestone alleyway. A solitary figure, a woman carrying a bag, walks away from the camera toward a bright streetlight in the distance. Tall stone walls on both sides create a narrow, quiet atmosphere. The shadows and light evoke a sense of solitude and introspection.
November 26, 2025 at 1:20 PM
xlix.me
We are all green things tasting the universe.
Photo by Taryn Elliott. A hand lifts a soft-serve cone of pale green matcha against sweeping tea fields that curve in gentle terraces. Mist lingers near the dark treeline, and the ice cream’s spiral catches muted light, creating a calm contrast between its smooth form and the textured landscape.
November 26, 2025 at 9:48 AM
xlix.me
The night is dark. Yet it doesn’t ask awkward questions.
Photo by ervin.fon. A black-and-white image of a dimly lit cobblestone alleyway. A solitary figure, a woman carrying a bag, walks away from the camera toward a bright streetlight in the distance. Tall stone walls on both sides create a narrow, quiet atmosphere. The shadows and light evoke a sense of solitude and introspection.
November 26, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
xlix.me
Old things don’t vanish. They grow into new things. Beauty lives between.
Photo by Fineas Anton. A faded gold vintage Beetle is parked on a narrow, cobblestone street lined with weathered buildings, cracked and graffiti-streaked. It’s the kind of place that’s both charming and unapologetically gritty, where history lingers and paint peels as if to say, “Welcome to the real side of the city.”
November 11, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
xlix.me
Whisk away your mind’s clutter. Let silence fill the cup.
Photo by cottonbro studio. A person dressed in a traditional Japanese kimono with a bold, red and white floral pattern is holding a bamboo tea whisk (chasen) over a white tea bowl, preparing matcha. The hands are delicately stirring the whisk in the bowl, creating a smooth and frothy tea. The scene takes place on a tatami mat, and the careful, graceful movement reflects the Japanese tea ceremony’s rituals and attention to detail.
November 11, 2025 at 8:30 AM
xlix.me
A city’s happiness lies not in the height of its towers, but in the width of its sidewalks.
Photo by Dmitriy Zub. A man walks along a quiet cobblestone street, holding a newspaper in one hand and leading a small white dog on a leash with the other. The scene is framed by classic European architecture, parked cars, and a cozy restaurant with outdoor tables adorned with red tablecloths. The atmosphere is calm, with a soft, overcast sky lending a serene tone to the urban stroll.
November 25, 2025 at 8:07 AM
xlix.me
Hidden by the world, the world is revealed.
Photo by Andrea De Santis. A solitary traditional Japanese house rests quietly among densely forested mountains, its red walls and dark roof gently contrasting the autumn foliage. Mist weaves through the upper slopes, softening the peaks and blending earth with sky in a silent embrace. The scene evokes stillness, where human presence is a whisper within the vastness of nature.
November 25, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
xlix.me
The brightest minds don't shine in clear skies. They glow through the fogs of uncertainty.
Photo by Chris F. A streetlamp stands alone in a choking fog, its dim light clawing at the darkness like a futile attempt to matter. It’s not lighting the way; it’s just proof that sometimes, even light can feel lost.
November 10, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Reposted by Hiro Ohta
xlix.me
Age turns us from actors into spectators. The window shows the same plays, only the faces change. Every line, already known.
Photo by César Fonseca. An elderly woman with short white hair looks out from an open window of a building with white walls and a beige window frame. She leans slightly forward, resting her hands on the windowsill, gazing thoughtfully outside. The building exterior is simple, with minimal decoration, drawing focus to her expression and posture.
November 10, 2025 at 8:18 AM