This is a translation of my Japanese post that I published on December 31st. Some of external links are written in Japanese – try Google Translate or Chrome in-browser translation if you’re curious 🙂

In 2011 I posted my year in review based on some numbers. I thought about doing the same but decided not to, because 1) my coworker shared a good article on setting goals which made me think, and 2) I can participate in Weekly Photo Challenge by using photos instead of numbers.

Work and WordPress

At work, I started working on translation project management this year. The new challenge sometimes feels overwhelming but I want to keep trying hard.

I got to visit Seoul, Singapore and Manila this year for WordPress events.  It was great to have a chance to meet a lot of core people in those communities and understand them a bit more.

In Japan, I went and spoke at WordPress events in Hokkaido, Kagoshima, Nagoya, Tokyo, Okinawa, and Osaka. It has been great to see local WordPress communities grow even stronger both online and offline. I was also invited to spoke at events discussing this new work style in Tokyo and Okinawa. It’s exciting to see increased attention to distributed team structure in Japan recently.

In 2012, I saw some changes in relationship between Japanese WordPress open source communities and businesses providing tools, services, and hosting. Businesses are more and more interested in integrating their services with WordPress because of its popularity.

Running & Mountain Climbing

I wrote a Japanese blog post on about how I feel about running the other day. In total, I had run 462km last year. I finished two half-marahtons this year and I feel good about it. I want to keep running next year and (maybe) try a full matrathon at least once.

I also really enjoyed Yatsugatake mountain climbing & staying at a mountain lodge for the first time!

Blogging

In addition to WordPress.com / WordPress.org news blog translation to Japanese, I contributed some articles to other blogs. I was overwhelmed by the feedback I received in fact.

• Outside Shoreditch: Shimokitazawa, Laid-back Yet Hip Area In Tokyo: I wrote an article for “Made in Shoreditch”, London local web magazine.
• eBay でヒドいデザインの方がコンバージョン率が高かった、という話: A Japanese post for A-Listers blog. I no longer contribute for them but it has been a great experience working with them. Got 1.6k facebook likes & 700+ tweets for that article!

I also tried writing more on this blog in addition to another personal blog in Japanese. I am amazed and happy to see additional followers and traffic over time from unexpected locations and people. Thanks for those who liked/followed this blog this year – you all are such a huge motivation to me.

Travel

I went to Miyakejima, Echigo-Yuzawa, and Katsunuma for running events. Also, Nagaoka for a great fireworks show and Hokkaido for PHP Conference. All those trips reminded me of beauty of Japan. It was nice visiting San Diego for a company meetup, except I missed the chance for skydiving because of the weather! 😛

Shimokitazawa Open Source Cafe

My favorite coworking space in Tokyo, Shimokitazawa Open Source Cafe continued to bring me happiness and new great encounters this year. I mentored kids at both Shimokitazawa and Kushimoto CoderDojo. It was super inspiring to hear CoderDojo founder James Welton talk at OSS Cafe when he visited Tokyo. I can’t thank OSS Cafe and @cognitom enough for all the great time I got to spend there this year.

Throughout the year I thought a lot about how the Internet and tools & technologies can/will actually make people happier. I think paying attention to my everyday experience and people around me is fundamental to understanding how that works. By taking photos and notes on daily thoughts remember what you were thinking at that time and reflect upon my own thoughts.

So that’s my 2012. I look forward to even greater new year!