The First Seed: A Journey Begins in the Forest

2026: A Meaningful Beginning

This evening, as I was settling in to review my development tasks, a notification lit up my phone: the very first subscription for “MononoMori.”

My heart skipped a beat. Seeing that the user is from Japan made it even more special.

This cross-border recognition is the most encouraging start to 2026 I could have imagined.

The Quiet Grind of New Year Holidays

Reflecting on the past ten days, I spent nearly eight of them coding. On New Year’s Day, while the world celebrated, I stayed up all night fixing a critical bug. The following days were filled with planning in-app events and crafting new content.

For the last six months, I’ve been obsessing over every pixel, constantly worried if it was “good enough.” It was only during this holiday break that the app finally felt ready for the world to see.

From Creator to Guardian

When there were no subscribers, I could tell myself, “No one is using it yet, take your time.”

But now, a real person has placed their trust in me. In the midst of the excitement, a new sense of anxiety has emerged:

• Are there hidden bugs I missed?
• Will the app crash unexpectedly for them?
• Is the Pro access working flawlessly?
• Are their precious memories safe in my hands?

This anxiety is my new sense of responsibility. I am no longer just building a tool; I am guarding someone’s digital home.

Gratitude and Commitment

To my very first subscriber: thank you. This means the world to me. You’ve made me realize that my work is being waited for, and that someone finds value in what I’ve built.

This realization has strengthened my resolve to make this app the best it can be.

The Road Ahead

Moving forward, I will continue to refine the details—improving UI/UX, enhancing AI recognition accuracy, and deepening localization.

I hope “MononoMori” continues to grow and brings a sense of Zen to many more lives.