by yk_service | Apr 5, 2020 | Shanghai
In the past few years, Chinese nationalism and pride have grown to such an extent that many domestic brands are now perceived to be on a par with foreign ones. This is a significant shift versus a decade ago when Chinese consumers were reluctant to purchase anything...
by yk_service | Apr 4, 2020 | Shanghai
If there is one thing that a visitor to China will notice, it is the nation’s obsession with hot water. The default at every restaurant or café is to serve water that is piping hot. Either that, or boiled water cooled to room temperature. There is a strong historical...
by yk_service | Mar 18, 2020 | Tokyo
During a visit to Daikin’s Innovation Centre in Osaka, I came across a beautiful, brown, wood-effect air-conditioning unit from the 1960s or 70s (I am too young to tell the difference, more of which later). Upon my suggestion to the Innovation Director that a relaunch...
by yk_service | Feb 6, 2020 | Tokyo
In the early 18th century, Tokyo became the largest city on the planet. Since then, Japan has been a country of urban sprawl, with an exaggerated scarcity of space, time and resources. In consequence, and long before the advent of Marie Kondo, clutter has defined its...
by yk_service | Dec 10, 2019 | Tokyo, Volume 1
A number of years ago, I found myself celebrating Christmas in the depths of Kyoto’s red-light district. The club was a time capsule of the bright and brash 1980s, albeit sparingly decorated in 100 yen store-bought tinsel, draped over the neon lights. Amidst the flash...
