As is the case in Japan, August is typically the hottest month of the year in Portland. To cool off, Portlanders often go the Oregon Coast to cool down with the cold ocean breezes. Other Portland residents head off to the Columbia River Gorge area to swim in the Sandy or Washougal Rivers. For those of us who can't easily [...]
Portland-based Allport Editions, a Hokusei partner company publishing high-quality greeting cards, recently attended the International Stationery & Office Products Fair Tokyo (ISOT). ISOT is Japan's largest stationery & office products trade fair, offering the opportunity for Japanese retailers and wholesalers to source new products. Allport Editions owner Mackenzie Jeans attended this year's ISOT, and presented Japanese buyers with a wide [...]
Hokusei Products President Shotaro Tomita and his staff from Japan visited Oregon in late-May and early-June, to cement existing trading relationships and explore new import/export opportunities. During the May 29 - June 1 timeframe, President Tomita visited Portland firms & organizations that Hokusei has worked with in the past, including the Portland Japanese Garden, Allport Editions, and Portland Gear. In [...]
Every year from late-May to early-June, Portland holds its annual Rose Festival. This festival first took place in 1907 and is one of Portland's most-attended events, with roughly 1.2 million people enjoying various Rose Festival activities. The Rose Festival is meant to promote the Portland region, and is timed to take place when Portland's famous rose gardens are in full [...]
On April 22, Hokusei Products (Japan) and Hokusei North America President Shotaro Tomita met with the King Carl and Queen Silvia of Sweden in Tokyo. The Royal Swedish couple visited Japan to commemorate 150 years of diplomatic relations between Sweden and Japan. King Carl asked some questions on ICEBUG shoes. President Tomita was invited to meet with the [...]
Last month and in advance of the summer travel season, Travel Oregon launched a new video promoting Oregon tourism. What makes this video different than most other travel promotion videos is that it is made in the Japanese anime style. The video is a nod to the famous Studio Ghibli, the Japanese animator of such classic films as Totoro, [...]
The historic Meier & Frank Building, in downtown Portland, Oregon. As a growing sign of strong ties between Japan and Portland, it was reported last week the MUJI, one of Japan's most popular retailers, will establish one of its largest stores outside Japan in downtown Portland. The store location is said to the Meier-Frank Building, which is centrally-located [...]
Earlier this month, Hokusei North America's partner Portland Gear announced the launch of a collaboration with Widmer Brothers Brewing, one of Portland's oldest craft beer breweries. The “PDX Pils” collaboration beer will feature Portland Gear's logos and signature teal color. Bottles of PDX Pils will be available in all grocery stores, at local bars, and even at Portland Timbers soccer [...]
2018 marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of Hokusei North America's parent company, Hokusei Products in Japan. Since it's entry into the Japanese aluminum market in 1978, Hokusei Products has expanded beyond its Takaoka (Japan) head office to open branches in Hokkaido (Japan), Okinawa (Japan), Stockholm (Sweden), and Portland (USA). The staff at Hokusei North America would like to [...]
Portland is known for its incredible food & beverage scene, including its farmer's markets, craft breweries, urban wineries, and coffee roasters. But, did you know that Portland also boasts a vibrant craft chocolate community? In Portland, there is large number of both craft chocolate-makers and craft chocolatiers. Craft chocolate-makers are artisans or small companies that focus on the "bean to [...]