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 [...]
If you're visiting Japan right now, you've likely noticed the bigger than usual crowds at popular tourist destinations, the fully booked hotels and the packed trains. All are because of Golden Week which lasts from April 28th to May 6th in 2018. This is a popular time for Japanese to take time off from work and travel because four national [...]
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 [...]
Yesterday was arguably Portland's best weather of the year so far. It was the perfect setting for the first annual Fuji to Hood Japan/ Portland Collaboration Beer Festival. Ten Portland breweries along with one local cidery teamed up with brewers and cider makers from Japan to create collaborations for the event. https://fujitohood.com All ten of the featured beers incorporated Japanese [...]
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 [...]
The cherry blossoms are looking beautiful around the Portland area this week but as is often the case, the weather likely won't allow for a sunny, warm and dry hanami (flower viewing) picnic. The situation in southern and central Japan may be a little more conducive to hanami this weekend as the forecast calls for sunny weather. Look here for [...]