Column "My Cool Japan"
We introduce "Cool Japan" that people who are active in various fields felt through their own experiences.
#14August 6, 2018
Radboud Molijnentrepreneur
On July 5, 2018 “Ecce Homo”, one of Rembrandt’s finest prints, was sold at Christie’s in London for € 3mln. or ¥ 390 mln. The print, dating from 1655, shows Rembrandt’s mastership on …
#13March 23, 2018
Hidemi FukuharaMovie and Stage Producer
Pioneering the Empty Night Entertainment Market
SAKURA is a theater show that combines Japanese pop culture, traditional art, and the latest technology. I took part in producing that show, which was held in Meijiza in Nihonbashi …
#12August 4, 2017
Yasumichi MoritaCEO / Designer of GLAMOROUS co., ltd.
Tradition and Innovation in Embodying “Cool Japan By Myself”
I’m proud of the fact that I’ve embodied the values of Cool Japan by myself while working overseas until now (laughs). I worked overseas …
#11March 31, 2017
Keiko WatanabeArtistic Director of MOKUBA
MOKUBA Ribbons: Sweeping the World off Its Feet
Established in 1967, MOKUBA is a company that has continued to design and produce ribbons of the highest quality …
#10December 9, 2016
Reiko SudoTextile Designer
Cool Japan, a Life of Love for Fabrics
I was born and raised in Kakioka in Ishioka city located two hours north of Tokyo by train and on the north side of Mount Tsukuba. It’s a rural town with abundant nature and known …
#9September 5, 2016
Kenichi WatanabePresident and Experience Designer of XPJP Inc.
Representative Director and Social Designer of General Incorporated Association GENKI JAPAN
The Three Mountains of Dewa (today known as Yamagata…
#8April 28, 2016
Ryoichi MatsuyamaPresident of Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
As a result of the Inbound Strategies that the Japanese government has made a concerted effort to promote for a number of years, interest in Japan has increased and foreign tourists…
#7November 13, 2015
Takeshi NatsunoGraduate School of Media and Governance,
Keio University Guest Professor
Let there be a great plan and much talk about Cool Japan Strategy
Has it been around two or three years since the term “Cool…
#6May 18, 2015
Shoei UtsudaAdvisor, Mitsui & Co.
Japan’s food culture is something to treasure
I have always loved the sea, ever since I was a child. That’s why lots of my interests are linked to the sea, such as scuba diving…
#5April 8, 2015
Tak UmezawaJapan Chairman and Partner, A.T. Kearney
Diversity is the key to innovating Japanese culture
In support of the Cool Japan initiative, I have many opportunities to introduce Japanese creative content to foreign guests. …
#4October 22, 2014
Misha JanetteFashion Director/ Journalist/ Blogger
JAPAN'S "Low Fashion Crime Rate Breeds Subcultures"
When people ask me the defining characteristic of Tokyo and it’s colorful unique fashion scene, I tell them this: “The fashion…
#3September 19, 2014
Izumi HayashiAttorney at Law / Director, Cool Japan Fund
The Tale of Genji by Lady Murasaki is Cool.
In the photograph, I’m wearing a kimono for the Reopening Ceremony of the Kabuki-za, but normally I’m a completely different person. I’m a lawyer who specializes primarily…
#2August 20, 2014
Yusuke KawamuraDeputy Chairman, Daiwa Institute of Research/ Director, Cool Japan Fund
One evening more than 30 years ago, back when I lived in Seattle, the big setting sun bathed the just-turning colours of…
#1April 24, 2014
Nobuyuki OtaCEO, Cool Japan Fund Inc.
Japanese Fabrics Valued Worldwide
The French Fashion Federation holds Paris Fashion Week, - the World Cup of the fashion world - as a platform for the world’s greatest fashion designers to present their new collections. …