Taishi Okano

Based in the New York area, I explore the intersection of technology and humanity. As a venture co-founder focused on growth strategy, my work is rooted in a deep commitment to the end-user experience, seeking the truth behind how people actually engage with products.

Away from the relentless cycle of innovation, I run ultra marathons. I also cook, read, and try to pay attention. My reflections often center on what it means to maintain a sense of self and autonomy in a world increasingly shaped by digital systems.

Raised in Tokyo, Japan, I have a lifelong appreciation for traditional crafts and the depth that only time produces. Through this journal, I aim to trace what these traditions have to say about AI, sharing insights on the thread that connects human craftsmanship with technological progress.

engawa (縁側) is the traditional Japanese veranda : a liminal space between inside and outside, public and private, where one can sit and observe the world while remaining sheltered. It's a place of transition and contemplation.

This journal embodies that philosophy. Here, I explore the threshold between human craft and technological capability, between the accumulated wisdom of tradition and the rapid advancement of AI. Each essay examines how we might build technology that respects the grain of human experience rather than sanding it away.

Topics range from AI and UX design to Japanese aesthetic principles like wabi-sabi and ma, always seeking the tension point where friction becomes productive rather than merely resistive. In praise of friction : because the smoothest path isn't always the most meaningful.