2025 Reflection and 2026 Aspirations: A Year of AI and Transformation

As 2026 begins, I'm documenting my milestones from 2025 and outlining my aspirations for the year ahead. Looking back, 2025 was defined by stability, evolution, and a deep immersion in learning.

Professional Achievements

As an SEO Lead, I delivered clear, impactful results, most notably driving a significant year-over-year increase in organic traffic for the large-scale e-commerce site I manage.

However, the defining shift of 2025 was my focus on automating marketing operations using Python and AI. I adopted a "code-first" policy for repetitive tasks to ensure exponential efficiency gains. While the initial learning curve was steep, my productivity surged in the latter half of the year as my skills matured alongside advancements in AI.

One standout project involved using LangChain to automate high-quality translations for approximately 600 pages. After presenting this initiative to the Board of Directors, I received inquiries from global SEO leads in Australia, Canada, Belgium, Norway, and Sweden. It was a pivotal moment where my self-taught Python and data science skills translated directly into significant business impact.

Investment Results

2025 was a landmark year for my personal finances. In February, I sold my property in Osaka and executed a major portfolio rebalancing, shifting into Gold and U.S. equities. I strategically increased my positions in AI-related stocks during market dips—specifically Nvidia, Tesla, Palantir, and various semiconductor firms—alongside tech giants like Google and Apple.

This strategy resulted in a 50% total return for the year. While bold, it wasn't just luck; it was the culmination of consistent research into the AI and tech sectors. My technical knowledge allowed me to identify long-term growth potential, turning professional expertise into asset growth.

Learning and Upskilling

My commitment to learning in 2025 was intense, with the sheer volume of input exceeding my own expectations:

• Udemy: Completed 10 courses (approx. 50 hours).
• Books: Read 18 books on technical and professional growth.
• Coursera:
  • Google Project Management Certificate: Completed
  • Google AI Essentials: Completed
  • Google Advanced Data Analytics: 50% Completed
• Industry Trends: Subscribed to YouTube Premium to follow thought leaders like Satoshi Nakajima, PIVOT, and the Anthropic team.

Currently, my focus has shifted to "Vibe Coding." I now build new tools almost weekly, finding a rhythm where the joy of creation meets practical utility. By applying data engineering principles directly to my work, I've turned learning into a cycle of continuous practice.

Health and Wellness

A comprehensive medical checkup at the start of 2025 served as a wake-up call. Concerning blood pressure results prompted a fundamental lifestyle overhaul.

I successfully established a daily one-hour walking habit, focusing on nasal breathing to maximize aerobic benefits. My diet also saw a complete transformation. I've standardized my morning routine: a breakfast of oatmeal, soy milk, banana, Greek yogurt, and blueberries, followed by 10 minutes of sunbathing to reset my circadian rhythm.

To manage glucose spikes, I now strictly follow the "vegetables first" rule for lunch and dinner. By also reducing my salt intake, I feel significantly more energized and healthy than I did a year ago.

Life Highlights

Beyond work and discipline, 2025 was filled with memorable experiences. My trip to Spain and Portugal in June was my first time in Europe, and the cultural immersion was truly moving.

I also stayed active with my hobbies. In my weekly dance lessons, I focused on New Jack Swing, making new friends and performing on stage twice—an incredible adrenaline boost. I also picked up the ukulele, which has become a surprisingly effective way to relax.

Finally, from August to November, I launched "Ryokkason" (a blend of "Travel" and "Hackathon"), taking short trips every two weeks to refresh my perspective. While I paused during the winter, I plan to resume this habit in 2026.

2026 Aspirations

Building on the foundation laid in 2025, I aim to make 2026 a year of significant breakthroughs.

1. Defining My Niche: The Technical Growth Marketing Manager

In 2026, I will solidify my unique professional identity. Throughout 2025, I spent a lot of time contemplating my specialization. Immersed in data analysis and AI engineering, I seriously considered pivoting away from digital marketing to become a full-time data analyst or AI engineer.

However, these experiences ultimately confirmed that my true path lies in digital marketing. My goal isn't just to be a specialist, but to become a "Technical Growth Marketing Manager"—someone who bridges the gap between marketing strategy and technical execution by leveraging AI, Python, and data science to drive business growth.

With my direction clear, 2026 will be about establishing this unique position and accelerating my career.

2. Resuming Knowledge Sharing and Content Creation

Lately, I've been heavily focused on "input"—spending nearly all my free time studying—which caused my blog and social media activity to stall.

Reflecting on the past, I realize that articulating my thoughts and learnings was an incredibly valuable experience. In 2026, I want to break the cycle of excessive consumption and resume sharing my journey.

I hope my insights provide a positive influence to others on similar paths. More importantly, documentation is vital for me to organize my thoughts and maintain mental clarity. Specifically, I plan to share my expertise on "Automating Marketing Operations with AI."

Conclusion

Personally, 2025 was a "good year." Compared to more turbulent periods in my life, it was relatively stable.

However, this stability wasn't stagnation; it was a crucial preparation period for the full-scale impact of AI on professional work. In 2026, I will fully leverage the knowledge I've accumulated—AI, data science, and engineering—within the field of digital marketing to reach new heights.

From here on, I'm ready to embrace failure. I will actively choose "high-risk options" and approach life with an aggressive, "vibe-driven" mindset.

If this reflection has inspired you to start something new or utilize AI more effectively, let's learn and take action together.