We live in a world that must recognize diversity, but it is difficult for individuals to understand diversity, and even more difficult for society to recognize it.

Minorities will need a persistent, long-term (quarter century to century order) struggle against public incomprehension.

However, there is a quick way for individuals (x society) to recognize diversity.

It is to be a minority party.

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I was sitting on the aisle side of a three-seat seat on the Shinkansen bullet train on my way home from a business trip.

A burly-looking man about my age, seated by the window, was looking intently at several snapshots.

When I stood up to use the restroom, I happened to see that picture.

It was a picture of the man and a teen-like girl dressed in an idol costume, smiling together.

If only the girls weren't wearing idol costumes, they were clearly parent and child.

The "old man on a bullet train, chasing after idols" is no longer an uncommon existence -- in anime and novels in my mind.

However, when I see a live person in real life, I am a bit surprised or scared -- this is my small human capacity, I guess you could say.

If I could see a middle-aged to early-aged man looking at snapshots of himself with his idols once a month, I would not "put off" as often.

But it will take a long time from now, I thought.

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And I thought that,

In order to understand this diversity, I have to enter the "idol chase" myself.

So, in a nutshell, I have it on my to-do list for life, but at this point, it is about at the bottom of that list.