This article has been transferred from my Hatena bookmark.
As 2018 is coming to an end, I want to list the things I bought this year that I liked.
This year was more fulfilling than last year, and I bought a variety of items.
Since ranking them is a hassle, I will just list them casually.
Long Wallet
I bought a nice long wallet made of horse leather. (To be precise, it was a gift!)
The outside is made of horse leather and the inside is made of vegetable-tanned leather, which develops a nice patina the more you use it.
I've only been using it for less than a year, but I really like how the leather feels.
[https://www.noi-japan.com/noijapan/7.1/105625/:title]
Coin Purse
This is from the same brand as the long wallet, and it's a proper leather product, making it easy to use.
I usually don't put coins in the long wallet, so I have a separate coin purse, which I also like.
[https://www.noi-japan.com/noijapan/7.1/106274/:embed:cite]
iPad
I bought it mainly to read e-books, and it's really good.
Some people might find it a bit heavy, but since I work out regularly, it's not much of a burden for me.
The size is also just right for reading.
I actually regret not buying it sooner.
[https://www.apple.com/jp/shop/buy-ipad/ipad-9-7/32gb-%E3%82%B9%E3%83%9A%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9%E3%82%B0%E3%83%AC%E3%82%A4-wifi:embed:cite]
Cross Bike
Fast. Comfortable. Fun.
I can’t go back to a mama-chari.
When I lived at my parents' house, it took about 10 minutes to get to the station on a mama-chari, but with the cross bike, it was shortened to about 5 minutes.
I wanted to minimize travel time, but now I live just a 2-3 minute walk from the station, so I haven't had many opportunities to ride it lately...
However, it's fun to ride, so I go cycling when I have time.
[http://www.japan.bianchi.com/category.cgi?mode=category_detail&bik_Code_prm=JP19BS67084332&big_code=03&mdl_code=02:embed:cite] (I'm pretty sure I bought the 2018 model)
WiFi
A Chinese WiFi speaker.
The sound quality is decent, but it has good portability and seems quite durable, making it a good value.
I feel that recent Chinese audio equipment has good quality, so I trust it.
[https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B0787KGCM1/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1:title]
Rental
It's a bit different to say I bought this, but I moved out from my parents' house to a certain area in Tokyo.
My commute is now under 20 minutes door-to-door, so my travel time has significantly decreased.
I wanted to make more time for myself after changing jobs, so even though it costs a bit more, I think it was a good investment overall.
Desk Stand
I've been using a typical study desk at home for a long time, but adding a desk stand has made my workspace much tidier, so I recommend it.
[https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B0142Q0Z52/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1]
Sofa
I bought a sofa from a brand I didn’t know well when I started living alone.
It's worth the price, and for the quality at this price point, I’m quite satisfied.
[https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B07C15RCLR/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1]
Cote&Ciel Shoulder Bag
Since the backpack I bought previously was great, I also purchased a shoulder bag.
It seems sturdy, so I feel secure carrying my Mac and iPad.
I recommend looking for reasonably priced used items on Rakuten.
tipx
It's more of a membership than a purchase, but...
I changed gyms after moving.
When I was looking for a gym around Shibuya Station, tipx matched my requirements.
It feels a bit pricey, but I’m satisfied as it helps me maintain my motivation to work out.
Air Purifier
I bought this because my room gets dry and the air tends to stagnate.
I think it's common to find air purifiers in hotels, and experiencing it made me feel that the air is quite nice (though it might just be my imagination...), so I ended up buying this appliance.
It has a humidifying function, so it prevents dryness too!
I feel like it clears up odors and dust in the room as well.
[https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B01M09SIHT/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_?ie=UTF8&psc=1]
Display
I had been using an old Apple Cinema Display, but I decided to replace it when I moved.
It's cost-effective, so I have no complaints.
[https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B077SBB5SH/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1:title]
Nintendo Switch
I impulsively bought it because I wanted to play Super Smash Bros. (I also bought Splatoon 2).
It's been about 10 years since I bought a game console, and the recent games are amazing. Nintendo is incredible. The UI/UX is wonderful.
Usually, I either write code or read books, but I think it will help relieve stress, so I want to be careful not to overdo it.
Nitori Umbrella Stand
Very convenient.
I use it attached to the front door.
[https://www.nitori-net.jp/store/ja/ec/InteriorLifeGoods/EntranceArticleUmbrellaUmbrellast/8070467s?ptr=item:embed:cite]
Thoughts
2018 was a year where I bought quite a lot more than usual.
I had a few more furniture items that I could have introduced, but I decided against it as it would be endless.
By the way, I made one more expensive purchase, but I’ll save that for another time.
Having gathered a variety of items, I feel like I won’t be buying much next year, but who knows...
