The Secret of the Footer
In the footer of this blog, I have written a small note: “Proudly Powered by WordPress since 2006.” I recently updated this to reflect the actual timeline of my relationship with the platform. However, my journey on the web began even earlier, in the spring of 2001.
2001: The Tripod Era
My first website was hosted on Tripod. As a university student, I manually edited HTML files and uploaded them via FTP. It was a slow and repetitive process.
At that time, the web was centered around BBS (Bulletin Board Systems) and link collections. I even used CGI scripts to display Go (囲碁) game records. It was my first attempt to bring my personal interests into the digital world.
2002–2005: Crossing Borders via Xanga and ICQ
By 2002, I moved to Blogger and discovered the “Blogosphere.” But more importantly, I discovered the world.
Through platforms like Xanga, I met people from different countries who became real friends. We communicated across borders through the iconic “Uh-oh!” of ICQ. Some of those digital acquaintances eventually became real-life friends whom I met in person. I still remember the thrill of those late-night chat sessions on Yahoo! Messenger, connecting me to a global community that felt new and significant to me at the time.
2006: Finding a Home in WordPress
After using MovableType on my own domain in 2003, I finally settled on WordPress in 2006.
Since then, WordPress has been my primary tool for writing. It has stayed with me through my medical studies in Gifu and my current work in Shinagawa, Tokyo. The technology has evolved from the “Kubrick” theme to today’s block editor, but my reason for writing remains the same: to observe, reflect, and record.
2026: Why Start Again in English?
I have spent 25 years writing mostly in Japanese at tamai.net. Starting tamai.blog in English is a new challenge. Just as I struggled with HTML tags in 2001, I am now learning to navigate the nuances of English.
Writing in a second language requires a different kind of clarity. It allows me to look at my interests—science, the tea ceremony, and Go—from a fresh perspective.
The Constant Thread
The web of 2001 felt smaller and more personal. Today’s web is vast and often noisy. Yet, by maintaining this small corner of the internet, I find that the underlying motive has not changed. Whether you remember the “Uh-oh!” of ICQ or are discovering my notes for the first time, thank you for stopping by.
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