Congratulations on 20 years of CSS Nite! I went to the reunion event
Apparently CSS Nite has now reached its 20th anniversary. A reunion event was held in Shibuya, so I went. I had been attending from quite early on, and even if I limit the count to Shift, I spoke there for 15 consecutive years starting in 2007. Incidentally, I have never attended anything called a reunion for elementary, junior high, or high school, so this was my first reunion of any kind.
I do not think I am especially suited to speaking on stage, but one thing led to another, and I ended up continuing with a single theme, "Web design trends," for 15 years. I probably will never again give talks on one theme for 15 straight years in the rest of my life. Thinking about it that way, I feel like my life as a speaker has reached its turning point.
By the way, CSS Nite is apparently merging with DTP Transit and becoming a brand called CeeBeeDee.
At a 20th anniversary reunion, there were many people I had not seen in more than 10 years. Quite a few said they are now doing work that has nothing to do with the Web. I myself have been operating under the theme "A Broader Frontend" and doing work that is about half outside the Web. Everyone has gotten older. Some people still look surprisingly young, but these days I feel less envy toward people who do not seem to age and more admiration for people whose core has not wavered at all since the old days. Over 20 years, everyone goes through their share of twists and turns.
There is a complicated feeling toward eras that have already passed. I doubt I can really convey that to younger people yet, but there is a music video that gives a taste of what it feels like to look back 20 years later, so I will share it here.
"STUTS - Yoru wo Tsukaihatashite feat. PUNPEE" is a song where rapper PUNPEE handles the main vocal, and the music video is set in 2036, exactly 20 years after the song's 2016 release. It has a nostalgic story in which PUNPEE, now retired from rapping and an older man, looks back on the city at night.
CSS Nite used to be held on the theater floor of the Apple Store Ginza. I remember there were many nights when we drank until morning. Now all of that sits somewhere far away and hazy.