An expert on Japanese swords and a published author, Paul was the first international recognized as a sword specialist by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Tourism and Transport. He previously worked as a curator at the British Museum and is also a three-time English Karate Champion.

“I would like to express my deep gratitude to Her Imperial Highness and The Order of the Scottish Samurai,” Paul, who has lived in Japan for over two decades, posted on Facebook. 

Based in Aberdeen, Scotland, OSS is an awarding body founded in 1994 by Scottish karate master Ronald Stewart Watt, who in 2010 was presented with the Order of the Rising Sun, an honor recognizing distinguished service to Japan. In their own awarding work, OSS recognizes “excellence, character and respect in alignment with the ancient spirit of budo [martial way],” and aims for its community to contribute to “a closer and more peaceful global future,” according to the OSS website.

Regarding his favorite things about living in Japan, Paul wrote for JI that “I get to do what I love as my career, while being totally immersed in the culture and feeling very close to its history. I love meeting the descendants of famous samurai, it makes it all feel so recent.”

Paul also explained his journey to Japan and the origin of his love for Japanese swords in an article for Deep Japan.

Congratulations again to Paul on his OSS Award!

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Through social media campaigns, media coverage, video content creation, influencer collaborations, and more, the year-long initiative aims to not only attract more international visitors and potential future residents to Kochi, but also raise awareness about this hidden gem destination. Overseen by Jarman International CEO Ruth Marie Jarman, the project will be led by Chiara Terzuolo as Project Manager, with Hana Shiraishi, Director of Online Strategy, assisting in media outreach and communications. 

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Ruth Marie Jarman founded Jarman International on April 26th, 2012 with the goal of supporting Japan’s globalization. Based on her own experience living and working in Japan as an international (now for over 30 years), Ruth’s determination to assist the country’s transition into a more diverse and welcoming home for all has led to a remarkable range of colorful achievements, a few of which are listed below.

・Ruth Marie Jarman appeared on the nationally-beloved TV show “Sekaiichi Uketai Jugyou (The Most Useful School in the World)” more than 10 times since 2021 to shed light on an international perspective on Japan’s beautiful sightseeing spots, pop culture, technology and more.

・Over the past couple of years, Jarman International collaborated with popular YouTuber John Daub to publish informative and fun videos on his ONLY in JAPAN channel for various clients including Yonezawa City (Yamagata Prefecture) and JR East Environment Access (JEA). Both of these videos surpassed one million views.

・Jarman International has hosted a charity golf cup at EastWood Country Club in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture for over five years, raising funds for many organizations including Mirai no Mori, Second Harvest, and Common Grace.

・Many of Jarman International’s advisors and consultants published articles highlighting the charm of our various clients on influential platforms such as  the Japan Times, Japan Today, and Atlas Obscura.

・Social media experts at Jarman International have helped grow the official Facebook (298,000+ followers) and Instagram (15,400+ followers) pages for Kochi Prefecture since 2021.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported Jarman International so far in our journey and we look forward to many more fruitful years to come!

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Recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, these ogre-like demons are also believed to chase away bad luck and evil spirits with their loud presence, thus, serving as frightening symbols for children but welcome visitors for grown-ups. During her trip, Sarah had the opportunity to learn all about these cacophonous trolls at the Namahage Museum, where she saw a display of over 150 masks curated from different villages in the area.

The masks, some of which are still used today, were donated by local residents, and are made out of materials ranging from bamboo sieves covered with paper mache to chunks of cedar wood with hemp and horsetail for hair.

Another highlight of the trip included a visit to the 800-year-old Dairyu-ji Temple where Sarah enjoyed a freshly-brewed cup of green tea surrounded by the beautiful Japanese garden glistening in autumn colors.

The inside of the temple is also just as interesting, boasting a magnificent golden dragon painting on the ceiling, old wooden and metal Buddhist figurines atop the altars and along the halls, and giant bells that reverberate for what seems like forever. As a working temple, the main hall holds hundreds of Buddhist altars that local families can come to remember their deceased loved ones, and serves as the venue for various ceremonies, art shows, lectures, yoga classes, weekend mindfulness retreats, and more.

Other memorable visits included Nyudosaki Lighthouse (ranked as one of 50 best lighthouses in Japan), Oga Aquarium GAO, Unosaki Kaigan Park (home to one of the 100 best beaches in the country), and more. The Tohoku region is also famous for its delicious cuisine, such as kiritanpo (cooked rice that is pounded, skewered and roasted), hatahata (Japanese sandfish), and ishiyaki nabe (stone-cooked hotpot), all of which Sarah had the opportunity to taste during her trip.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my two days in Oga Peninsula. Everyone I came across was friendly and welcoming, and eager to share their facility, history, and culture with visitors from abroad. Blessed with so much breathtaking scenery, mouth-watering cuisine, and rich traditions, I highly recommend the Oga Peninsula as a must-visit place for anyone traveling to Tohoku. I know that I will definitely visit again.

The post Exploring the Land of the Namahage: Sights, Tastes and Traditions of the Oga Peninsula (Akita Prefecture) appeared first on Jarman International KK.

The guest speakers were John Gauntner, the world’s leading non-Japanese sake expert, and Alex Kerr, the highly respected Japanologist who has written multiple award-winning books about the nuances of Japan’s culture and history such as “Lost Japan” (1996). The webinar was broadcasted from one of Tohoku’s largest sake warehouses at the over 400-year-old Toko brewery in Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture.

During the innovative webinar, participants located in Japan and New York were able to directly taste Toko sake along with John and Alex, as they were sent a selection of bottles in advance. John introduced the characteristics of Tohoku sake and tips on how to best enjoy this traditional Japanese drink, while Alex offered insights on the region’s landscape and culture that set it apart from other areas of Japan.

The webinar is now available on YouTube for anyone around the world to enjoy. Click HERE to learn all about Tohoku’s sake and culture!

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One of the places the JI team first visited in Yonezawa was the over 200-year-old Namekawa Onsen, which uses the hydroelectricity generated by the nearby Maekawa River. Here, you can dip into the open-air hot spring bath surrounded by the lush nature of the Azuma mountain range for a full rejuvenation of your mind and body. 

Yonezawa is also well-known for their beautifully marbled, sweet, fatty and melt-in-your-mouth beef, which you definitely won’t want to miss during your visit! 

Learn more about Yonezawa: https://all-yonezawa.jp/en/

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Visit Esashi Fujiwara Heritage Park in Iwate, a historical theme park also known as “Tohoku’s Hollywood”, where you can find 120 buildings that perfectly reproduce the architecture from the Heian period (794-1185). A true time travel experience! Or head to Fukushima to see incredible only-in-japan field art, which has been carefully created by growing nine varieties of rice to make different shades of color.

Read the Japan Today article HERE written by Jarman’s team member Chiara Terzuolo, for further detail on celebrating summer in Tohoku. 

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Based on their decades-long experience (combined 73 years) living and working in Japan, Ruth and Adam share insightful information to help everyone in the company come together as they journey in a newly globalized world, in a fun and engaging way.

If I were to describe today’s shoot, I would use the word, “historic”. It felt very historic to be in the studio at one of the world’s largest companies with Adam, sharing our personal challenges, surprises, and observations functioning within the intricate culture of this inspiring country. Everyone in the room shared a mutual feeling that we were achieving something very meaningful. All great change starts with a small catalyst, and today, I think for all of us, was that catalyst to help move Japan forward in this incredibly exciting age of globalization.

– Ruth Marie Jarman

As travel becomes more accessible and Japan starts to welcome internationals from all over the world again, there is a need to help both parties understand that differences exist, so that everyone can hold empathy in their hearts, and ideally, arrive at a hybrid approach that collaborates the best of both cultures. 

The post Ruth Marie Jarman and Adam Fulford create insightful videos that highlight the cultural differences between Japan and the world for MS&AD, one of the world’s largest insurance companies (ranked in the Fortune Global 500) appeared first on Jarman International KK.

It was an immense success with hundreds of Yosakoi fans tuning in from all over the world!

One of our Jarman International Core 50 writers, Vicki L. Beyer, also published a beautiful article on her blog, Jigsaw Japan, sharing her impressions of the festival, its inspirational history, massive national and international impact, as well as evolution over time.

The broadcast of the livestream will be available online only until July 22! Sit back, relax, and let the energy of Yosakoi fill you with joy and hope.

More about Yosakoi:

The Yosakoi Festival is one of Japan’s largest festivals, known for its diverse dance styles, vibrant costumes, and upbeat music ranging from traditional Japanese folk tunes to pop, rock, and salsa-inspired rhythms. It originated in Kochi Prefecture nearly 70 years ago, as a way to improve the health and prosperity of locals after WW2 and major earthquakes. This Kochi dance has always been about having fun, rather than following strict rules, which is why you will see a wide range of costumes, choreography, and music.

You can also read the article by Metropolis magazine HERE.

The post Don’t miss the re-broadcast of Premium Yosakoi in Tokyo, available online until July 22! appeared first on Jarman International KK.

In early June, three of Rogier’s works were chosen as interior decorations for the opening ceremony of a new model house for Futagami, one of Kochi’s leading construction companies, which also operates DIY shops, car supply stores, and more. 

Rogier’s washi-making process is an almost entirely handmade craft. He uses a variety of plants such as the bark of mulberry trees and vegetable okra in a very sustainable way, where nothing is fully wasted. Although the conversation around sustainable living is becoming more common, it feels quite rare to actually find aspects of this lifestyle implemented in our day-to-day. However, the selection of Rogier’s environmentally friendly artworks by a large corporation seems to be a step of hope and possibility in the right direction.

Read more about Kamikoya: https://visitkochijapan.com/en/activities/10158

Rogier’s Official Website: http://rogier.jp/

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