Many creators are pulling Tokyo up to a global standard.

 Showing Tokyo’s appeal to the world, taking the world in and showing it to Tokyo. Mademoiselle Yulia has been a DJ in a number of fashion-based parties in Japan as well as having countless experiences around the world. ‘I will change my music selection depending on the country. It is important to meet with various people by taking an interest in the atmosphere and the things you experience then take them back to Tokyo,’ says Yulia. In the world of theater, Junya Yamada has won high praise for his work ‘THE SAKE’ at the world’s largest theater festival, The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, in 2014. His latest work ‘Infinity’ includes Kyogen, a Japanese dance and drum performance. ‘I wanted to make something impressive and I put everything I had into it. This is my branding and a presentation to a worldwide audience,’ says Yamada. He boldly mixes Japanese traditional culture with modern culture showing a new aspect of it to the world.

 ‘Private Spoons Club’ is a brand which specializes in bedding, pajamas, and room wear. ‘Much of the space in a single room is dominated by the bed and I want people to enjoy designing that space more like in other countries,’ says Miyu Imamura. Quality sleepwear will naturally improve the quality of one’s sleep. You can enjoy PSC items at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Macau this coming autumn. Overseas bedroom culture is now being exported to the world via Japan. You can sometimes create interesting things by mixing opposites. Koji Oba is a carpenter specializing in temple and shrine construction. He also makes things such as skateboards and jump ramps. The beautiful natural line of a shrine’s roof is one of the features that technology might be able to use in making skateboards. Both are made using the same methods. Oba’s creativity lies in his viewpoint, seeing these two culturally different things from a technical perspective.

 The creative agency ‘Great Works’ originated in Sweden and understands the differences between Japan and other countries. ‘The nature of Japanese culture is to read between the lines, but such an emphasis on high context is not often understood in foreign countries. I am careful in how we convey our message in order to be understood in any country,’ says Yo Suzuki, creative director. He tries to appeal to people’s instinctive sense and in doing so what they make will naturally be better and simpler. ‘Whether we like it or not, the world including tourism is now coming ever closer to us. In such a situation, our ability to express ourselves as Japanese is tested while we also absorb the diversity of the world.’

 Trained in Europe, French chef Shinobu Namae feels that the differences in cooking methods and flavors originate in the differences in materials you get from different lands. ‘By knowing these differences, you can show respect for another culture, then that will lead to enriching your own food culture with pride. I believe that is one way of creating peace,’ says Namae. ‘There is no comparing which is better, but respecting each other will lead to a brighter future.’ Namae is always trying to communicate directly with his customers. ‘Even if the praise is the same, by meeting a customer face to face, you can gauge if the words are truly from the heart or not. It’s hard to judge when hearing it through another person.’ Namae’s French cooking is not just simple French, it has its own regional character as he is always sincerely trying to consider the character of each region.