Some Places Never Leave Time Behind

Fifteen years later, I returned to this small izakaya.

The posters were still there.

The warm lights, the wooden walls, the atmosphere — unchanged.

Back then, I had just graduated from graduate school.

I worked in Nangang Software Park during the day,

and at night, I often came here alone with a drink and IEEE papers.

Looking back now,

I realize the things I truly love have never really changed.

Showa aesthetics, warm lighting, old wooden spaces, fountain pens, watches, technology, solitude, and quiet reflection.

I’ve always been drawn to things that carry the traces of time.

Some places become special not because they are luxurious,

but because they quietly witness a part of your life.

— Jack Yeh

The Modern Ronin Reflections

有些地方，時間從未離開

十五年後再回到這家居酒屋，

海報沒變、燈光沒變、木頭牆面沒變，

彷彿時間只在我身上流動。

那時候的我，剛從研究所畢業，

白天在南港軟體園區工作，

晚上常一個人坐在這裡喝酒、看 IEEE paper。

現在回頭看才發現，

原來我喜歡的東西，其實一直都沒有變。

昭和感、黃光、木頭、老店、鋼筆、手錶、技術、孤獨、思考。

那些有歲月痕跡的東西，始終讓我感到平靜。

有些地方之所以珍貴，

不是因為它多華麗。

而是因為它陪你走過了人生的一部分。

— Jack Yeh

The Modern Ronin Reflections