Saké as a beverage is far more interesting than most people imagine. I was happy to host in Tokyo a series of small, intimate, private sake masterclasses for the high end international clients of a luxury brand. I had decided to take them by surprise from the first sip, show them the breadth and depth Learn More …
In the context of rapid population ageing in Japan – more than 80% of rice farmers are over 65 – and ongoing rural depopulation, these two inspiring gentlemen are on a mission: to protect satoyama culture. Satoyama designates the landscape between the forested mountains and the valley floor. For centuries, it has sustained local life: Learn More …
Everyone visits Nara. Almost no one stays. Let’s change that… Rural Nara Prefecture is #6 in Japan by number of foreign visitors – after the usual giants Tokyo, Osaka (KIX Int’l airport!), Chiba (Narita Int’l airport!), Kyoto and Fukuoka (Int’l airport!). Yet Nara ranks dead last (47th/47) when it comes to spending per foreign visitor Learn More …
I’ve fallen in love with walking Japan’s ancient routes—starting with the Nakasendo, the historic road that once connected Kyoto and Edo through the mountains.There’s something magical about these journeys: the chance encounters, the shared smiles, and the unforgettable cultural and culinary experiences. Every time I reflect on them, I feel a warmth in my heart—and Learn More …
“I entered the world of sake because of sake brewers”, do I often say. I am fond of their authenticity, pride and great generosity. I love the fact that they will put the conservation of their heritage, and its transmission to the next generation most often above other business success indicators. Naoshi Takatsu, Executive Education Learn More …
I appear to be standing in the most sacred space within Za-dō, the main hall of Kinpusenji Temple in Yoshino, Nara Prefecture—directly in front of the awe-inspiring 7-meter-tall Kongō Zaō Daigongen. These three divine avatars are the temple’s most revered objects of worship. Normally hidden behind closed doors and only revealed to the public for Learn More …
“Be it pheromones, electro-magnetism or inaudible sound waves, walking through the forest helps me to restore my balance. If nature therapy or forest bathing was born as Shinrinryoku in Japan in the late 80s, in a country where forest = mountain, it’s been acknowledged forever that “something” happens or “someone” dwells there. I always stop Learn More …
Covid makes it impossible to meet. However, breaking the ice on-line after a full week of Zoom and G-Meet meetings is not that easy either. Sake helps. 3 Sakes for 3 stories about branding, love, tradition, innovation and the role of women in sake, for an IT company
“Chanoyu” is often referred to as “Tea Ceremony”, however “Ceremony” is absent from the Japanese expression. As a matter of fact, leaving aside the undeniable formality of the process, the Chanoyu’s starting point is the intention of a host to offer a moment of relaxation and beauty, as well as a good bowl of tea, Learn More …
Passerelle was recently invited by JTB to consult about some of the tourism resources available on the mountain side of Hakusan City (Ishikawa Prefecture, south of Kanazawa). As always in Japan, as soon as someone opens the doors for you and/or tells you where to scratch the surface, you feel as if you found a Learn More …