After Gooblog’s complete termination on November 18, 2025, the author—having migrated over 300,000 articles to new platforms—turns to the latest issue of WiLL. There, Professor Nobuyuki Kaji’s final serialized column recounts his memorable early encounter with Sanae Takaichi, his long-standing admiration for her diligence, and his own retirement from the column as he transitions to a new “Life Consultation” feature. This reflective piece highlights Japan’s political culture and the intellectual legacy of one of its leading scholars.

Gooblog completely terminated its service yesterday, November 18, at 11:00 a.m.
Since July 16, 2010, the chapters of this column, which had been transmitted almost every day to the world, exceeded 300,000 entries.
It took an enormous amount of time to transfer all of these to Hatena Blog and Ameba Blog, leaving me barely able to do anything else.
During this period, I was hardly able to read any of my regular subscriptions.
Now then, at any rate, yesterday Goog ended its service, and the transfer to Ameba has mostly been completed.
The moment that happened, my hand immediately reached for this month’s issue of the magazine WiLL.
The following is from Professor Nobuyuki Kaji’s serialized column that adorns the opening pages.
It seems that this serialized column comes to an end with this issue.

The month of November gradually approaches the year’s end—these days I feel keenly how I myself am aging.
Even so, this old man continues, as always, to utter detested words.
This will never change throughout my lifetime.
But—oh!—there was something that shocked and astonished me greatly.
That is, Ms. Sanae Takaichi was selected as Japan’s new candidate for prime minister.
Why did this move the old man so deeply?
The reason is as follows.
It is now long ago.
After retiring from university, I gave lectures in various places, and it happened one day.
I gave a lecture in a spacious tatami room of a certain temple in Nara Prefecture.
After the lecture ended, a woman who had been seated neatly in formal seiza position several rows from my lectern approached and greeted me.
It was Ms. Sanae Takaichi.
I was astonished.
I did not expect a member of the Diet to be present.
Thus I could not help but ask:
Why did you attend?
She replied:
“For study.”
I was deeply moved.
That a young person would come all the way merely for the purpose of study.
Ever since then, whenever I saw her honorable name in the newspapers, I always read it.
That continued, and now it has led to this auspicious event…
Now I have only respect for her as someone truly worthy of admiration.

Now then, let me say this to the wise readers who have long favored this column.
Thank you very much for your continued readership over so many years.
In fact, with this installment, this old man will be retiring.
The reason is only one: the very word “old man” explains everything, and exactly so.
I wish to rest for a while.
However, my relationship with this magazine will continue, as I will be in charge of a new project: “Life Consultations.”
I am considering a title such as “Various Life Consultations.”
The column will be jointly authored by myself and another person—a slightly older friend than I am.
His name is “Nijōan Shujin.”
His sharp tongue is, well, truly incredible; I am always overwhelmed by him.
If you would kindly overlook his boldness for my sake, I would be most grateful.
Truly, really.

Now then, returning to the topic: the appearance of Sanae Takaichi as party president—this is epoch-making indeed.
(Truncated thereafter.)