An expert on Japanese swords, Paul received his OSS award in recognition of his contributions to Japanese sword culture and UK-Japan relations. Originally from England, Paul formerly worked as a curator at the British Museum. He has appeared in various documentaries related to Japanese swords, translated several major sword books and exhibition catalogs, and is a columnist with Sankei Shinbun’s JAPAN-Forward and martial arts magazine Hiden, among other activities.

The Times Gallery is a photo feature published by The Japan Times that covers mainly diplomatic and cultural exchange events. 

JI is proud to call Paul a member of our Core 50 consultants. He wrote in his Core 50 profile 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.” He is also a writer for Jarman-owned media Deep Japan,  to which he contributed an article titled “The appeal of Japanese swords might not be what you think.” 

Once again, congratulations to Paul on his achievement!

The post Paul Martin’s OSS Award highlighted in the Times Gallery appeared first on Jarman International KK.

The award ceremony was held at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), followed by an audience with His Majesty Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

Born in Australia and with over three decades living in Japan, Melanie is an interpreter, translator, consultant, and CEO Melanie Brock Advisory. Her work combines practical commercial business leadership with language skills to consistently deliver business, regulatory, and partnership outcomes for Japanese and foreign corporations. Melanie is on the board of Mitsubishi Estate, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Asahi Group Holdings, and previously served for six years as chair of the Australian and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan.

Alongside her business achievements, Melanie supported reconstruction efforts following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, and is a strong advocate for women in Japanese business and society. 

Melanie commented to the Financial Review: “Japan has been my world. This kind of public recognition feels like the culmination of a lot of private moments. It’s a bit of an endurance race, making a life in Japan, but when they recognise something, they really do it, and the outpouring of kindness from people I’ve met along the way has been amazing.”

First established in 1875, the Order of the Rising Sun recognizes distinguished service to Japan in various fields. Jarman International offers its warm congratulations to Melanie on her award!

The post JI Core 50 member Melanie Brock receives Order of the Rising Sun appeared first on Jarman International KK.

Jarman International’s team consisted of CEO Ruth Marie Jarman, as well as JI Core 50 consultants Lila Klopfenstein, Chiara Terzuolo, and Paul Walsh.

The name “Sagiryu Kyogen” denotes the Sagiryu school of Kyogen comic theater, which today can only be seen in Yamaguchi Prefecture and a few other places. Often paired with longer, more serious Noh dramas, the short Kyogen plays aim to make audiences laugh. Although Sagiryu Kyogen flourished in Yamaguchi during the Meiji period (1868–1912), it later began to decline, and a local preservation association was formed in the 1950s. 

Jarman International submitted a photo taken during the consulting trip — depicting the team trying on Sagiryu Kyogen costumes — to the Times Gallery, a photo feature published by The Japan Times. The photo was included in the Gallery’s March 2026 edition.

“All of us were laughing so hard we were literally crying! The two sensei, Taro-san and his father, did such a great job depicting a daimyo lord on a visit to a large town who is missing his wife but at the same time quite afraid of her. It was a joy to experience Kyogen for the very first time,” Jarman says.

Jarman International is honored to be able to learn about this rare traditional art form and contribute to its preservation.

The post Jarman International’s Sagiryu Kyogen photo published in Times Gallery appeared first on Jarman International KK.

Fukushima Seaside promotes the revitalization of Fukushima Prefecture’s coastal area — which was devastated by the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster — through sharing the region’s culture, food, nature, and community. It organizes study tours and events, as well as shares information online. The initiative is operated by the organization Futaba Area Tourism Research Association (F-ATRAs). 

As a manager at F-ATRAs, Swastika helps curate custom-made tours for clients especially interested in education, as well as handles communication including translation and interpretation. She is also a poet and is pursuing a PhD in Linguistics at Tohoku University.

The Japan Travel Awards, begun in 2021, is an annual competition that celebrates destinations and experiences in Japan that promote inclusion, diversity, and sustainability. The Awards recognized Fukushima Seaside for its use of “tourism as a tool for education, dialogue, and long-term recovery,” as well as its “carefully designed programs that explore Fukushima before, during, and after the 3.11 disaster” and partnership with the local community.

“The value of this experience — something that can only be gained here — is exceptionally high. By learning on-site, visitors can also contribute to the area’s recovery and gain important lessons for the future. It is truly outstanding,” comments Awards judge Naoya Shimizu, founder and CEO of TABIPPO Inc., on the Awards’ website. 

“I think the award has reaffirmed my faith in founder Yamane-san’s vision: reinvigorating coastal Fukushima through tourism,” Swastika says. “I’ve spent most years of my life being a student, and only started working full-time two years ago. Even as I was excited about the possibilities this region presented, I didn’t know what it meant to fully explore them or to have the know-how to link ideation to execution. I’ve learned these skills working with Yamane-san and [F-ATRAs Manager and Market Researcher] Trishit over the years, and have also understood that tourism doesn’t need to be extractive as it has become in many areas. It can be community-centered and serve as a tool for amplifying local voices when done right.” 

Congratulations to Swastika and the rest of the F-ATRAs team!

The post Japan Travel Awards recognizes Fukushima Seaside, whose staff includes JI Core 50 member appeared first on Jarman International KK.

The daily national newspaper,

Originally from England, Paul has been living in Japan for 20 years, and currently serves as a trustee and researcher for the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Sword Culture (NBSK). The overarching mission of the foundation is to protect the sword culture that has existed in Japan for hundreds of years. According to NBSK, nihonto is an important cultural symbol and “a mirror reflecting the soul of the Japanese.”

In 2006, Paul became the first non-Japanese to win the sword appraisal competition in Tokyo (continuing with a second win in 2018), during which participants are tested on their knowledge and expertise in various aspects of nihonto (when and where it was made, by what maker, etc). 

Paul reflects on his interview with Sankei Shimbun as follows: “While we see nihonto in various media around the world, the reality indicates that the traditional craft is facing endangerment. I hope the article raises awareness regarding this challenge, and hopefully inspires more people to help ensure this traditional craft continues to exist for generations to come.”

The post Japanese sword specialist and Jarman International Core 50 member, Paul Martin, was featured in a full-page article in the Sankei Shimbun appeared first on Jarman International KK.

Photo: Thomas Kruse

JI Core 50 member, Thomas Kruse and his partner, the renowned influencer, Etsuna  (Etsuna’s IG), recently made a visit to Yonezawa City and participated in the local event, Zero Waste Walk. This is a monthly gathering in Yonezawa City that focuses on environmental conservation and community involvement. Participants convene at prominent landmarks within the city to engage in a collective effort of environmental cleanup. Following the event, attendees are encouraged to connect with one another and share a cup of coffee, providing a meaningful space for interaction and camaraderie. The Zero Waste Walk initiative highlights a strong commitment to environmental preservation while nurturing a sense of unity within the community.

During the event, Thomas Kruse had the opportunity to be interviewed by Yamagata Broadcasting. Expressing his delight, Thomas Kruse shared his positive experience in Yonezawa City, underscoring the importance of the event and its impact on the local community.

Photo: Thomas Kruse

Thomas shared his experience of his trip to Yonezawa, saying, “I woke up early for the morning of the second day to participate in the Zero Waste Walk taking place at Yonezawa Multi-Purpose Park（米沢総合公園）.  The local news channel came to film and reported on the event for a segment which aired on June 1st – it was exciting to see myself interviewed on the program. I recognized many familiar faces from participating previously at the ZWW in Onogawa Onsen and was thrilled to reconnect with many great people”.

★「Zero Waste Walk」Instagram（Japanese）

The post JI CORE 50 Consultant Thomas Kruse Supports Zero Waste Walk Event in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture appeared first on Jarman International KK.

JI Core 50 member and popular YouTuber of the ONLY in JAPAN channel, John Daub, gives the world an exclusive inside look at how the JR EAST Environment Access (JEA) cleaning staff keeps JR Ueno Station absolutely spotless every single day. From the JEA team’s morning meeting, to train track work, and cleaning the trains, vending machines, as well as toilets, witness the day-in-the-life of the heroes who keep the people of Japan’s everyday commute safe, reliable and comfortable. 

Check out the video below, and subscribe to the ONLY in JAPAN channel for more!

The post How do train stations stay so clean in Japan? Find out in YouTuber John Daub’s new ONLY in JAPAN episode! (Ueno, Tokyo) appeared first on Jarman International KK.

Little known to international travelers, Yamagata is home to a vast array of spiritual, historical, and architectural marvels, not to mention glorious natural beauty. JI Core 50 member Adam Fulford has been actively involved in supporting the regional activation of a small community in Yamagata called Nakatsugawa since 2014, however this time, he spent two days in Shonai, located further north nearby the Japan Sea coast.

Shonai is surrounded by three sacred peaks of Dewa Sanzan, a renowned pilgrimage route, one of which Adam visited during his stay. Surrounded by towering Japanese cedars and gazing up at the iconic five-storied pagoda on Haguro-san, Adam learned about the area’s over 1,400-year history directly from a follower of Shugendo (the religious tradition closely associated with these mountains). Another highlight of his trip included experiencing maiko entertainment at Somaro tea house, located in the historic port city of Sakata.

It’s rare to have a chance to see maiko up close, and it was a pleasure to watch them perform three short dances with shamisen accompaniment. The entire building is also captivating, with countless photogenic nooks and crannies, some of which I was able to discover with the help of Kosuzu, the shamisen player and singer. She explained aspects of the building’s history and patrons of yore with the same informative ebullience that had earlier characterized her commentaries on the maiko dances.

 .

Built in 1893, the Sankyo Soko still functions today as rice storehouses, offering visitors the chance to learn about ordinary life centuries ago, and traditional knowledge passed on over generations.

The storehouses are visually striking, and the museum and adjacent shop are packed with opportunities to learn and appreciate local culture. Only two stops into my visit, a few Shonai themes were already coming into focus: rice, sake, colorful crafts, and a sense of how tough life was for local people in the old days, whether for men pulling unloaded boats back upriver, or for women carrying massive loads of rice on their backs.

 

If you’re a lover of history, nature, masterful crafts, and delicious cuisine, as well as interested in experiencing the authentic roots of the Japanese spirit and culture, Yamagata might just be worth adding to your next Japan travel itinerary.

Learn more about Shonai HERE.

Adam Fulford helped launch an online store called My Shuraku Nakatsugawa, where you can purchase local products from Nakatsugawa in Yamagata Prefecture. From maple syrup to traditional side dishes, check out the delicious products HERE.

The post A spiritual marvel of the north – JI Core 50 member Adam Fulford discovers deep Japan in Yamagata Prefecture appeared first on Jarman International KK.

From trying on traditional samurai gear at Tsuruga Castle and visiting the only double spiral staircase in the world at the over 200-year-old Sazaedo Temple, to dipping into the wild Numajiri hot spring surrounded by dynamic volcanic valleys – Fukushima Prefecture (and the Tohoku region at large), is a true hidden gem in Japan.

However, according to Daniel, what makes Fukushima special goes beyond the vast mountains, delicious cuisine, and old Japanese architecture that still remains…the region’s true appeal lies in the people.

I don’t know if it’s partly because everyone had to come together during and after the Great East Japan Earthquake, but people are so welcoming and warm everywhere I go. From the waiter at the traditional ryokan inn kindly recommending the order to drink our sake, our guide sharing the over 350-year history of Numajiri hot spring, to getting free ramen and sake tastings at various humble shops, everyone is so passionate about sharing their culture with visitors. Locals are incredibly proud of their region’s unique story, which is also evident from the fact that they don’t try to hide their charming dialect. They embrace and retain their Fukushima-ness wherever they go, whomever they are with. If you don’t speak Japanese, you will just have to take my word for it. The people always make me want to travel back and I guarantee you’ll feel the same way too. Cheers to that! #FukushimaFriendly

Read more about Daniel’s Fukushima adventure in his newsletter HERE.

The post Discovering #FukushimaFriendly – Read all about JI Core 50 member Daniel Moore’s recent adventure in northeast Japan! appeared first on Jarman International KK.

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/

The post Jarman International team visits Yonezawa to explore all of its historical, cultural and gourmet gems! (Yamagata Prefecture) appeared first on Jarman International KK.