Japan is one of the countries that inspires and lives in the imagination of people around the world. Who has never wanted to visit it? This desire seems to connect with Charles Baudelaire’s (1821-1867) poem “Invitation au Voyage” (p.127), in which the verse “tout n’est qu’ordre et beauté” (“everything is but order and beauty”) could very well refer to Japan. I remembered Baudelaire’s poem during and after my seven-day trip to the cities of Osaka, Hiroshima, and Tokyo in the fall of 2025. A seven-day trip in which I sought to compare the real Japan with what had existed for decades in my imagination. Here I share with you the result of some of the things I felt and experienced during those seven days. For a career diplomat holding the position of Director of the Institute for International Relations Research (IPRI) at the Alexandre ... ... [Read more]

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]