Norikura Kogen
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This year we were asked to design a booth for Alps Sangakukyo and Matsumoto City’s tourism department to display community info and highlight what is happening in the Alps region of Matsumoto. I worked with the Kind to Nature Festival stage design team in August to build a beautiful stage decorated with fresh birch trees…
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I was asked to create a graphic to represent the Japanese Alps area of Matsumoto. I also came up with the phrase “Alpine Wonderland” which I feel describes the area will. The final version was also used for custom water bottles made by Columbia and also used for the official Matsumoto city Alps Resort Devision…
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A small bakery called “kopin.” specializing in baguettes opeoned about a year ago in Matsumoto and started serving Norikura Pioneer Roasters coffee. He asked us to make a display to highlight the coffee in his shop. I used an antique door that came out of the Idea Lab building for the frame and then added…
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Columbia Sportswear Japan and Matsumoto City created an official partnership a few years back with a common goal of protecting the environment. It was the second partnership in Japan after Kawakamicho, Hokkaido. Kamikochi is considered the birthplace of the Japanese Alps and gateway to world class mountain climbing. I was asked to create an original…
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Chubusangaku National Park is located in central Japan and is Japan’s oldest national park. It also happens to be my home now. Unlike national parks of the United States, it is possible to own land and to live inside some parts of a national park in Japan. Norikura Kogen is a sprawling highland in the…
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Maime Pond is one of my favorites places to visit in Ichinose Meadow. This morning after dropping my kids off at school I noticed some interesting light hitting the mountain and decided to head out for a little stroll in Ichinose. Ichinose Meadow is filled with an alpine flowers, plants and insects. Today these pincushion…
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Zengoro Falls is located about 30 min by foot from the Norikura Kogen Visitor Center. I think a lot of people assume that living in a place like Norikura Kogen means that everyone must always be out hiking around and enjoying nature all the time. In a perfect world that may be true but life…
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I was asked to assist with a test drive event for a renewable diesel with the local Matsumoto company called Yamasa and Alpico. The event was designed to give locals in the Alps Sangakukyo area and National Press representatives a chance to learn about the naturally sourced diesel transition fuel. I didn’t know much about…
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I went for a bike ride today and found a Japanese Maple tree that was already turning. Although it is pretty, I am not ready for Fall to come.