On Feb 2 (PST), in partnership with Oregon Fruit Products (OFP), Hokusei Products & Hokusei North America will host a webinar targeting drink manufacturers in Japan. The subject of this webinar will be "4th Category" drinks, a term use to collectively refer to hard seltzers, ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails, Ready-to-Serve cocktails, flavored malt beverages (FMBs), hard kombucha, hard water, hard iced [...]
We at Hokusei North America would like to take this opportunity to wish a Happy New Year to all of our customers, business partners, and work acquaintances, in the U.S., Canada, and Japan. In Asia, 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit. According to tradition, rabbits are known for living peacefully in groups, and thus representing well-being among family & [...]
As 2022 closes out, and the Hokusei North America team gets ready for holidays, we'd like to take a moment to reflect on the past year, and express our thanks to all those with whom we had the pleasure of working. 2022 felt very much like a post-COVID transition year, which started with online seminars and finished with in-person meetings [...]
As reported in our last post, Consul General Mei from the U.S. Consulate in Osaka paid a visit to Hokusei Products' headquarters in Takaoka, Toyama, Japan on November 28. Consul General Mei's visit went extremely well, and he was very eager to learn about Hokusei's global business operations and focus on imports of U.S. products into Japan. After hearing about [...]
On November 28, the U.S. Consul General in Osaka, Mr. Richard Mei, will visit Hokusei's head office, located in Takaoka City, Japan. The purpose of the visit will be for Consul General Mei to learn about Hokusei’s overall business, its history and relationship with the United States, and future business plans. During the meeting, topics of discussion with the Consul General [...]
Earlier this month, a delegation from the city of Kobe, Japan made a visit to the Portland area. Lead by Kobe City Mayor Hisamoto Kizo, the visit was organized with the cooperation of Prosper Portland, the city's economic development agency. The purpose of the delegation's visit was multifold, and included the signing of a renewed MOU (memorandum of understanding) for [...]
As we reported earlier, "Fuji to Hood", a beer & cider festival based on collaboration between Japanese and Oregonian craftspeople, took place in July and was a big success. Next, the festival moves across the Pacific Ocean, to take place in Tokyo on April 15 & 16, 2023. As the Oregon brewers and cider makers will make the trip to [...]
Governor Brown second from left, CEO Tomita the center In commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Oregon, USA - Toyama, Japan sister state relationship, a delegation headed by Oregon Governor Kate Brown visited Hokusei's home office in Takaoka City, Japan on October 24. After arriving in Takaoka, Governor Brown was greeted by Hokusei staff, including CEO Shotaro Tomita. During [...]
In late-September, Hokusei North America's CEO, Shotaro Tomita returned to Oregon after a 3-year lapse caused by the COVID pandemic. During roughly a week in Oregon, Mr. Tomita was able to visit a number of Oregon-based businesses, organizations, and educational institutions, as well as meet with a number of local business people and residents. One of the highlights was visiting [...]
Earlier this month, Hokusei's business in Oregon was featured in the Toyama Shimbun, a major newspaper in Japan's Toyama Prefecture, Oregon's sister state. In particular, the newspaper article focused on Hokusei's work with the Portland Japanese Garden, to procure and supply the garden's gift shop with traditional products and articles made in Japan. Specific products mentioned include incense, wind chimes, [...]