ALL ARTICLES

太陽の

光と影が

和を作る

August

The sun

Creating light and shadow 

Making the harmony.

-Azumi

 "Japanese art"  -  I guess the first thing comes to your mind would be the famous woodblock prints of "Ukiyoe" "Painting of Floating World" of Hokusai or Hiroshige. Van Gogh and Monet were those who were mesmerised by the woodblock prints. There are incredible collectors and researchers in Europe. 

On the other hands, more traditional form, Byobu - Japanese Screens are less widely known but these are the art where the Japanese love affair with the nature can be seen and felt....

7th July - Tanabata festival

Today is the day to make wishes.

Write your wishes on nice colored papers

Go wild and be with your wildest dream.

Let your thoughts out.

Let your dreams out.

Creating Haiku is simply to be in the now and express what we see, feel the season we are in, as to connect with nature, objects and ourselves, creating consciousness moment.

What is Haiku?

What Haiku brings us?

What is Haiku moment?

I am going to explore the answers deeper in this article.

夏至の夜

輝く空に

静けさも

June

Midsummer, at night

In the shining sky

Stillness, there is 

-Azumi

Post TEFAF dinner party @ Japanese SALON

I enjoy hosting dinners and high tea, brining people together to share art, ideas and inspiration. 

After almost forgotten the buzz of TEFAF in Maastricht, we, international art enthusiasts, got together here in Bussum.

The highlight of the evening is Art, Foods & good conversation! 

Interested in learning about Japanese culture for business before the trip? 

But no time for one day training ?

No problem.

I make it a concise, 30 min Dinner Talk for busy executives.

五月の木

自然の力

ここにあり

May

Tree in May

The power of nature

Here it is

-Azumi

In January 2017, I resumed my coaching sessions at my Japanese SALON at villa "Oud Holland", Bussum.

色淡い

春の青空

安らかに

April

Colouring soft

Spring blue sky

In peace

-Azumi

春の庭

金に輝く

木の芽たち

In the spring garden,

Shimmering gold,

New sprouts in the trees.

- Azumi

しずけさに

あわくかがやく

はかない美

 read more 

4 February is 立春 the day that the spring begins in the ancient Japanese (and Chinese). 

Still cold, but the feel more gentle light in the morning.

Here is the art of the month and Haiku of the month.

In Japan, January is an important month for our business and life. We start the year with many rituals to wish that good luck will follow through the year. I am curious to know how your company started a new year and how you started a new year.

I started New Year Calligraphy at Japanese Salon, in 2009 in Amsterdam and over the years, the program has evolved and became a poplar workshop for self development and team building throughout the year.

Making a crane in origami is a way to fold our wishes into it.

Read more

年新た

白雪のなか

歩み出す

New year beginning

In the midst of white snow

Stepping forward.

- Azumi

Proudly present the exhibition "The Seasons" with 12 art works of Jiro Inagaki with my Haiku for each month. Brining Japanese nature into Dutch office.

A law firm in Amsterdam Zuid, a newly renovated office with beautiful straight lines with black steel and glasses, a minimalistic Dutch design welcomed this warm natural touch and soften the office atmosphere. 

Jiro' Inagaki's art works have brought the touch of nature into the office and soften the working environment with earthy natural handcrafted paper collage.  

Last Saturday, I gave my second TED talk.

It was really a valuable experience again and I am going to share with you 5 tips if you are to give a talk like in the setting of TEDx. 

A group of talented young professionals and entrepreneurs from the Dutch gaming industry was making their trip to Tokyo Game Shows for meetings with some leading Japanese game companies.

Organised by Rangemu, who connect the Dutch and Japanese game industry, I have given a half day seminar, to prepare for their meetings and make communication strategy.