On January 10 2025, we hosted our New Year’s Bash in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo, hoping to foster exchange and celebration, among our vast community of international members, registered guides, business partners and company staff. We’re happy to report that the event was a rousing success that boasted homemade cuisine, a carefully curated sake tasting experience, laugh-filled games, and a bright, lively atmosphere. Most important of all though was the support of our wonderful guests.
The event’s cuisine was provided by the very talented chef Ms.Yumiko Kimura, who we had the pleasure of meeting last year on a project in Minamiboso City, Chiba Prefecture. Kimura-san delighted everyone with traditional Japanese cuisine that utilized fermented ingredients. This diverse, rich selection of dishes was a home run with our guests.
The Japanese sake tasting experience was led by Mr.Yuki Ojima, the representative of “Story of Sake.” The tasting catered to both sake novices and enthusiasts alike, with a selection of eight different types of Japanese sake from across the country, ensuring an enjoyable experience for everyone.
The event was a delightful buzz of great conversations and the occasional crashing sound of wooden blocks as the guests enjoyed games like Jenga.
The linguistic, cultural, and professional diversity of the participants further added to the depth and variety of the conversations. Our WaWo International Members guests hailed from various countries, including the United States, France, Brazil, China, Romania, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Russia. They were joined by many of our experienced guides specializing in areas such as sake, sumo, and multilingual tours.
We were also joined by business partners from companies such as IGLOOO Co., NBC Co., Japan Travel Business Create Co., Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd. and NEC Solution Innovators, Ltd., providing opportunities to reflect on last year’s successes while envisioning projects for the new year.
We sincerely thank all of you for your ongoing support and look forward to working with you in the coming year.
May 2025 be a wonderful year for you all!