What I’m doing now

📍 Location

Based in Tokyo, Japan, working remotely and exploring the local dev community.

💻 Currently Building

Bumplink - A bilateral contact exchange app for iOS and Android. When you meet someone in person, scan QR codes, preview each other’s info, approve the exchange, and take a selfie together. Built with React Native (Expo) + Rails 8 API with real-time WebSocket coordination. Currently in active development before App Store/Play Store release.

ThreeWeigh - A Rails 8 weight tracker and intermittent fasting app built with Hotwire. Real-time features with WebSockets, interactive charts, and comprehensive fasting management. Now live at threeweigh.heyjoseph.me!

Keio Tsushin - A deadline and credit management system for Keio University distance learning students. Built with Rails 8 and Phlex (Ruby-based view components). Live at keiotsushin.heyjoseph.me!

🌱 Learning

• Rails 8 + Hotwire - Diving deep into Turbo and Stimulus for building reactive applications without heavy JavaScript
• Phlex - Exploring Ruby-based view components as an alternative to ERB templates
• Kamal - Docker-based deployment orchestration for Rails apps
• React Native - Developing mobile apps

📚 Reading & Watching

• Technical deep-dives on Rails internals
• Anime and manga that inspire my coding approach
• Tokyo dev meetup content

🎯 Current Focus

Looking for opportunities in full-stack developement at startups while building side projects. Documenting my journey through blog posts about:

• Job switching in Japan’s tech market
• Building indie hacker projects
• Lessons from the Tokyo dev scene

This is a /now page. It’s like a public declaration of priorities that helps me stay focused.

Last updated: January 15, 2026