JapanNews24’s Post

Popular Factory Tours Free of Charge - https://lnkd.in/gCc9fRMu TOKYO, Mar 23 (News On Japan) - Facing the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, factory tours are witnessing a resurgence in popularity, drawing families eager to peek behind the scenes of their favorite products. https://lnkd.in/gzbwHZyE Among these, the Glico factory tour offers an insider's look into the making of beloved ice cream treats, revealing secrets that delight visitors of all ages. In Yamanashi Prefecture, the Kikyou Shingen Mochi Factory Theme Park stands out by allowing walk-ins, attracting an impressive 1.6 million visitors annually with its accessible and engaging experience. Meanwhile, the Ajinomoto factory, known for its 'Hondashi' instant miso soup, educates guests on the meticulous process behind its granulated magic, utilizing three distinct types of bonito flakes for its signature flavor. This resurgence in factory tour popularity highlights a growing interest in the craftsmanship and innovation behind beloved consumer products. Source: FNN Source

It's been a long time since I posted about my favorite country: Japan. 🗾 So here are some advices, about your next vacation in Japan and mostly if you're afraid of getting bored or experiencing homesickness ? Personally, I can’t see how that could happen — but let’s pretend for the sake of this post. In one sentence: 2025 is going to be the best year to travel to Japan. First, a classic: SusHi Tech Tokyo 2025 on May 8-10 in Tokyo . You could arrive a bit early to enjoy the cherry blossom season (Sakura) and then head to Tokyo to attend the SushiTech event. It’s the perfect opportunity to catch up on the latest trends in technology and innovation, with a special focus on Clean Tech this year. Then, there’s Expo 2025 Osaka, which will be a must-see just for the urban and architectural masterpieces that only the Japanese can create. Third: the Japan Energy Summit and Exhibition, taking place in Tokyo from June 18–20. A very niche event, but fascinating nonetheless. And let’s not forget Hokkaido Innovation Week! Hokkaido is a region often overlooked by visitors to Japan, but it’s well worth exploring. This year’s focus topic? Tourism — definitely something Switzerland could take notes on. and in early March, Tokyo will also host the Japan FinTech Festival (yes, it’s during my birthday, in case anyone’s feeling generous!). Worried about feeling lonely or homesick? Visit Aux Merveilleux de Fred — a bakery in Tokyo run by a family from Geneva Also, you’ll probably spot the Consulate of Switzerland, Swissnex in Japan at Expo 2025. You can enjoy raclette in Hokkaido in the restaurant : https://lnkd.in/ecGfdE2U and yes there are some swiss cheese fondue in Tokyo and Osaka too 🧀 !

What's your duality? For years, I've been fascinated by the idea of duality, of balance, of the power of combining two distinct, sometimes conflicting, elements. I called my first creative agency 'Better Happy', reflecting my belief that great businesses made or did something to make the world better (adding valuing), while also engaging the people who mattered to them in ways that made them happy (creating delight). At Four Pillars we built our brand strategy around the idea of craft intimacy, reflecting our belief in being a business anchored and driven by our gin craft, while building brand bias by inviting people to get ever closer to that craft, whether through physical or digital experiences (coining the phrase which always made Stu and Cam giggle, phygital intimacy). I'm currently in Japan, gathering content and ideas for a new keynote I'm developing, Lessons From Culture. Having leant into so many cultural lessons to help grow Four Pillars, I'm keen to unlock how businesses of all types can learn from what we see happening in the culture beyond our own categories. A duality I see frequently is one that straddles focus and randomness, excellence and whimsy. Take this ramen joint in Yokohama's Motomachi district. Honmarutei specialises in Shio Ramen and has just 12 seats. Behind the counter they meticulously prepare a tiny section of ramen. It's a tribute to focus and seriousness about their craft. And yet there, across the counter, are dozens and dozens of ceramic turtles (seen, out of focus, at the bottom of the snap of the hyper-focused ramen chef). Are the turtles on 'brand' for the restaurant? No idea. I guess the owner just likes turtles. And that surely is the point...the 'brand' (the sense we get as visitors that this is a place that cares deeply about what it specialises in) is conveyed by almost every other decision they make, from their menu to the way they put their craft on display. And that in turn creates room for some personality, some whimsy, some fun and, in this case, some turtles. #lessonsfromgin #lessonsfromculture #Japan

Japanese ToiletTech is going global (finally). As most residents have known for years, and as visitors come to discover, Japanese ToileTech is next-gen. It always prompts a question in my mind. Are these shower toilets born out of creativity or innovation? They certainly did not exist before, making them creative. But they are also an aggregation of several other functions into high tech, an innovation. Regardless, the sooner hotels and homes adopt these shower toilets around the world, we will all be better off. (Mom are you listening?) It will be interesting to see how other global firms will compete against the Lexus of toilet seats.

Is Luxury Brand's Lifestyle Cafe the new era? The first-ever Cafe Carrera in the world just opened in Singapore Midtown. Do Luxury brands move to the restaurant business after hotels? Luxury fashion brands and super luxe car makers are now moving into lifestyle cafes. From CNA Lifestyle post:  #Less traditional car showroom and more like a clubhouse for hardcore Porsche fans. “Where else in the world can you walk into a retail gallery, buy a coffee, ogle a Porsche or two, then sit down to start your workday in a free co-working space? Only at the new Porsche Studio Singapore, apparently”. I visited The cafe managed by Baker & Cook, a local bakery and cafe created by Dean Brettschneider. The setting and menu of bakeries are similar to a Baker & Cook outlet, with the only difference being the packaging and merchandising Carrera. From our market studies, we can see the rise of this branded cafe around the globe, and Asia (especially Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong) is a growing market. In recent years, the intersection of luxury fashion and high-end car brands has given rise to a unique and sophisticated trend – the luxury fashion and car brand cafe. These establishments seamlessly blend opulent aesthetics with a refined culinary experience (most use celebrity chefs such as Anne-Sophie Pic, Jean Imbert (for Dior), Massimo Bottura (Gucci) or Pastry chefs such as Pierre Hermé (Dior Japan) or Maxime Frederic (Louis Vuitton), creating exclusive spaces where patrons can indulge in fashion passions.  For automotive, AutoGrill developed and co-branded for Mercedes-Benz, a Mercedes cafe, and ultra-luxury cars (Ferrari) is following the lifestyle movement initiated by The Luxury Fashion Brands (Tiffany, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Armani…) Picture sleek interiors adorned with iconic brand motifs, offering a curated selection of gourmet delights inspired by the essence of these prestigious labels. These cafes serve as havens for enthusiasts, fostering a lifestyle transcending conventional boundaries, uniting the worlds of high fashion or luxury automobiles in a harmonious symphony of style and taste. Do you see it as a rising competition for local eateries or celebrity chefs? Will you visit one of these establishments once for an Instagram moment or regularly? If you own or operate an F&B business and need assistance selecting franchise brands or third-party partnerships to open or grow your restaurant business, F+B Consulting is here to partner and help you with our restaurant consulting services. We are a hospitality consulting agency specialising in business strategy and creative concepts and drive a successful business. #franchise #luxury #restaurant #cafe #porsche #bakery #localrestaurant #singaporerestaurants #fashion #brands #Singapore #partnerships Louis Vuitton Christian Dior Couture Porsche AG Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura Pierre Hermé Anne-Sophie Pic Visit our website, www.fbconsulting.biz or Contact us at fb@fbconsulting.biz

Shanghai to Boost Consumption with 500 Million Yuan in E-Coupons The city of Shanghai has announced a major initiative: the distribution of 500 million yuan (approximately USD $71 million) in consumption vouchers. The e-coupons will be available to both residents and visitors, covering a wide range of purchases, including dining, hotels, films, and sporting events. These vouchers are designed to capitalize on the upcoming National Day "golden week" break to drive spending and attract tourists. The e-coupons will be distributed in two stages: - September-October: Focused on vouchers for dining and movies, encouraging spending during the peak holiday period. - November-December: Centered on accommodation and sports vouchers, boosting off-season demand. As Shanghai leads, other major cities and provinces may soon follow with similar programs. The consumption vouchers will likely result in a surge in local spending, particularly in retail, dining, and entertainment. #ShanghaiEconomy #DigitalVouchers #RetailRecovery #EcommerceChina #ConsumerGrowth

Immerse yourself in an ambiance of calm, where luxury knows no bounds — Click the link in our bio to discover more! — 𝘼𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝘾𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙜𝙪 𝘓𝘶𝘹𝘶𝘳𝘺 𝘏𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘨𝘶 𝘑𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘗𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘕𝘰 8𝘹, 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘨𝘶 - 𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘪 — #iniviehospitality #ThinkBaliThinkIniVie #LuxuryHoneymoonExperiencesinCanggu

"A curated view of where innovation is happening in marketing today, why it matters, and how it is transforming modern business". --- Coffee please. I thought of dedicating this content to cafés as places for at least two reasons: the first is that many of these spaces around the world are examples of cutting-edge design and architecture. The second reason is that coffee has driven a movement of cultural and creative influence over the decades. Today, the most beautiful cafés in the world encompass much more than just the simple ritual of gathering to share this timeless beverage. We are talking about a book that includes many examples from around the globe. It is called "Designing Coffee" and explores several of the most beautiful and interesting contemporary cafés for their eclecticism, branding, packaging, and, as I mentioned above, their design. The book celebrates these unique spaces, offering something for everyone: minimalist cafés in Japan, communist-themed cafés in Vietnam, dreamy spaces, and more traditional ones. 🙌 What’s your take? # 353 CULTURE, Worldwide 👉 More content on our website and subscribe to the weekly newsletter; the link to the featured news is in the first comment below. 🎯 If you want to learn more about our transformative approach to generating growth (yes, what we call innovation marketing!), feel free to write me privately. Robert Klanten, Stefan Beisswenger, gestalten More about this topics follow #MaurizioRibotti #innovationmarketing #cultureofmodernbusiness #luxury #premium #lifestyle #DRUMROLL --- All rights and credits are reserved to the respective owner(s). Contact us to add you as a reference or content removal.

If you are a coffee lover and haven’t visited this place, then you are missing out. Honestly, I haven’t seen any influencer or travel blogger talk about it either even though every coffee lover should visit it once. When you think of Istanbul, coffee might not be the first thing that comes to mind but it has one of the most fascinating experiences at the Espresso Lab. Founded by Esat Kocadag, it has changed the coffee culture in Istanbul, making it one of the most modern and impressive coffee scenes I've ever seen. Born out of Istanbul, Espresso Lab has grown into one of Europe’s biggest chains, setting a new standard for coffee culture. It is a massive 60,000 sq ft coffee experience center, one of the largest in Europe. → It isn’t just about serving coffee but an immersive experience. From a full-scale roastery to interactive coffee dispensers, there's so much to explore. → They offer workshops where you can learn how to brew coffee using machines and each participant gets hands-on experience with individual coffee machines. → What’s even more impressive is the history behind the building. They’ve turned Istanbul's first cardboard factory into a coffee hub, blending the old with the new. Darnish Singh Kalra and I took multiple subways and trains to get to Espresso Lab even though it is between 5-6 universities. Surprisingly, we didn’t see many tourists but only locals enjoying their coffee. There’s so much to learn from how they’ve built their brand. Are you a coffee lover too? #experiences

Rediscovering SIAL - East a decade Later Returning to SIAL Shanghai after a 10-year break felt like landing on another planet. Everything was different and distant, yet fascinatingly vibrant. My key takeaways: ❗️Out of the 13 bustling pavilions, 7 were dedicated exclusively to sweets and candies 🤭 ❗️A strong focus on healthy eating was evident everywhere: nutrition, added value, superfoods, omega, anthocyanin, lycopene… and many more buzzwords that made my head spin! ❗️Despite the international nature of the exhibition, almost none of the national companies spoke English 🤐 ❗️WeChat: If you don’t have it, forget about navigating China. It’s your lifeline here. ❗️The fusion of gaming, entertainment, and shows was mind-blowing. Each stand felt like a universe of its own with unique heroes, stories, influencers, colors, and activities 🎆 ❗️Bloggers ruled the scene. The streaming never stopped for even a moment. Their energy was contagious! Walking through SIAL Shanghai, I realized just how much has changed in a decade. The explosion of creativity, technology, and health consciousness is awe-inspiring 💻 I am always happy to connect and share more about the evolving world of food trade and food technology. Have you experienced a similar culture shock lately? 🙄 Share your stories! 🫣 #sialshanghai #FoodInnovation #BerryTrader