Welcome & WOW it’s May newsletter- great to have you here! Hope you are enjoying the sunny yet cool weather of late spring-early summer as we dive into May & the Golden Week holidays.
In this newsletter a few great talks to catch up on the latest talks in Seek Sustainable Japan talkshow, latest podcasts UP (at last), the Minka Summit recap and MUJI sustainable shop visit, the upcoming all-day May 14th Women to Inspire event in Hiroshima and Tokyo (join us!), and some of my favorite tweets and pics of the week to brighten your day :)
Buy your tickets now for the fabulous 5/14 9-5 Hiroshima (and Tokyo) Event
Hiroshima Event Mitarai Venue is a Beautiful Renovated Minka
May 14, 2022 9-5 Event Hiroshima-Tokyo-Online
On our weekly #SustainableShortTakes Tove & I have been planning a collaborative event to empower women by highlighting the inspiring work they are doing which lifts up all of us and our communities. So exciting to see that it is actually happening on May 14th with a great lineup of speakers and facilitators for workshops, delicious vegan food and drinks, and wonderful networking opportunities. In Hiroshima, the event is a bit hard to get to in the port town of Mitarai, but the destination is a part of the story.
Mitarai has a dark past where women were exploited in the entertainment sectors to a community that empowers women to grow food and create innovative opportunities to bring students and visitors to the town.
Event Website with Details | Buy Your Tickets-Hiroshima / Tokyo
Women to Inspire a Sustainable JapanA 1-day hybrid event in 2 locations with panel discussions, quality networking, and hands-on workshops designed to inspire and empower women to integrate sustainability into both their personal and professionalsites.google.com • Share
JJWalsh 🌿⛩️🏝️🐱🌺☀️@jjwalshBeautiful day to walk around the port town of #Mitarai #hiroshima https://t.co/Q4EMmPcbqg12:54 PM - 30 Apr 2022
Giant Salamanders in Tottori
Richard Pearce told an amazing story of how his love of the cycle paths, trails and buddhist temples and pilgrimages in Tottori led to conservation of the giant salamander habitat around the beautiful mountains of Daisen. He realized that he couldn’t just save the salamaders without dealing with the greater issues of protection needed for the habitat which led to collaborations with educators, scientists, community groups, and yes tourists too to support their conservation efforts. It’s about finding ways to get the salamader upstream past the concrete barriers in the streams, but it’s also about protecting the air, land and water quality on which the river dragons depend.
Saving Giant Salamanders in Daisen & Sustainable Travel Tottori | Richard Pearce / Bushido JapanRichard Pearce is the Founding Director at Bushido Adventure Travel Ltd and Owner at Richiyado Guesthouse who has started a new organization to protect the G…www.youtube.com • Share
Sustainable Shopping at MUJI
Hiroshima is said to have a very conservative market, wary of new concepts and innovations. It’s true that over the years we have covered many exciting entrepreneurial projects launched here but didn’t take off until they moved to Tokyo or abroad. So, seeing a major chain like MUJI launch their flagship store in Hiroshima which has a more sustainable focus is especially exciting!
Read my post on InboundAmbassador | Watch the LIVE tour
Better Products – Inbound AmbassadorThis month I was invited to a preview of the newest MUJI store to launch in Japan just outside of Hiroshima city. I have had a lot of friends in the UK and across the US who rave about the high-quality MUJI brand.www.inboundambassador.com • Share
New MUJI Flagship Store Opens in Hiroshima with Aim for Sustainable BrandMUJI opens it’s new flagship store in Hiroshima to connect with local people, businesses and food producers. there’s a greater focus on more sustanable featu…www.youtube.com • Share
Minka Summit 2022
I’m still buzzing from the great experience being at the Minka Summit at the end of April in rural Kyoto. Inspiring keynote by Alex Kerr linking the Mingei movement of the 1900’s to what is happening now in Japan with the Minka renovation movement. Alex and so many other leaders in the movement said they were excited by the enthusiasm of all the 300+ who attended the event that there is enough momentum to stop destruction of more than 90% of beautiful old Minka houses in Japan.
JJWalsh 🌿⛩️🏝️🐱🌺☀️@jjwalshHandmade straw craft award and highest quality sake 🍶 as gifts to the keynote speaker Alex Kerr great to see such emphasis on meaning and connectivity on many levels at the #minkasummit event https://t.co/IuXzDZRi4W9:59 AM - 26 Apr 2022
Traditional Minka House Renovation Event in Kyoto | MinkaSummit Day 2
JJWalsh 🌿⛩️🏝️🐱🌺☀️@jjwalshMe and my many bags & umbrella at #MinkaSummit 2022 doing live interviews with good folks like Kyoto's #MidoriFarm organic farmer Chuck Kayser here in the #MinkaMall @midorifarm Fun picture of me 'at work' from the inspiring Japanologist Alex Kerr as he was doing book signing 💗 https://t.co/NWswrsMp1Q6:08 AM - 26 Apr 2022
Tweets & Talks to Cheer Up Your Timeline
JJWalsh 🌿⛩️🏝️🐱🌺☀️@jjwalshLani bee 🐝our most tolerant #cat https://t.co/TMhwK5Hz6B1:52 PM - 1 May 2022
Ikebana, Wax Stamps & Self-Expression
The Art of Ikebana & Creativity with Flower Design (Wax Stamps & Photos too) - Daniel Patterson
Japan's Art Islands
Japan's Art Islands - Setouchi Triennale Art Festival Triennale with Setouchi Explorer David Billa
Sustainable Japan Focus - News, Trends & Issues
Washi Paper Innovation - 10-R's - Foster Kids - Gender-Inclusive Color Nails | Roger Ong & JJWalsh
Women to Inspire a Sustainable Japan / Minka Summit Recap / MUJI's New Store | Tove & Joy
Sustainable Fashion Week 2022 - Minka Summit Event - EcoCube Renovation - MUJI | Short-Takes
Latest Seek Sustainable Japan Podcasts UP
Podcasts – Inbound AmbassadorFor Audio Lovers of the Seeking Sustainability LIVE Podcast series – thanks for tuning in!www.inboundambassador.com • Share
Talking with Thomas Kloepfer - American Organic, No-Till Farmer in Hiroshima
New Travel Focused Podcasts Every Tuesday on Sustainable Travel Japan
Latest Sustainable Travel Japan Podcast
Revisiting a great talk on technology use in the travel industry and what that suggests for the future of travel and more sustainable travel opportunities- Talk with Jessop Petroski | Video of Talk here
Sustainable Travel Japan – Better Travel Tips, Stories & Insights – Inbound Ambassador
What do we want from our future travel experiences? For me the best trips are a chance to escape the day-to-day routine, explore new places and new ideas which help me find more meaning in life. Bu…www.inboundambassador.com • Share
Happy Golden Week Everyone!