Stepan Grigoryan, Yerevan, Armenia, November 5, 2024 In October 2024, I visited Japan for the first time. I have been to more than 40 countries around the world, but I had never had the chance to visit this beautiful country. How did it happen that I was able to visit Japan?! The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) prepared an extremely interesting program in Japan, which included meetings at the MOFA, the Ministry of Defense of Japan (MOD), and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, as well as meetings with leading experts and journalists of the country. The program also included an introduction to the culture and traditions of the Japanese people. What did I know about Japan before my trip?! That it is a technologically highly developed country, and also a member of the Group of Seven (G7). Of course, I knew that ... ... [Read more]

Nicolas Soergel is the founder of NIHON ICHIBAN, an e-commerce platform launched in 2012 that sells a wide range of traditional and unique Japanese artisanal products. Through his business, he is striving to help preserve the crafts industry, and with it an essence of Japanese culture. In this interview, he talks about the concept of NIHON ICHIBAN, how it came into existence, and his plans to help give Japanese crafts makers higher visibility in the global market and thereby to help attract a new generation of skilled artisans to continue these important traditions. Can you tell us about Nihon Ichiban, how it was founded, and its evolution into the successful business that it is today?   My wife is the fifth generation of Chinriu Honten, maker of pickles and sweets made of ume plum, red shiso and sakura. – established in 1871. When my wife took ... ... [Read more]