Category: Founder’s Notes – by Akemi Marcellus
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Beyond Anime: Discovering the Love for Japan at Anirevo Vancouver
Anime may be the doorway to Japan, but at Anirevo 2026, we discovered a much bigger world of people who love Japanese culture, craftsmanship, traditions, and everyday products. Here’s what we learned — and how our Japanese konjac sponge became part of the experience.
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The Story Behind Why I Started AK JAPAN
How a Man From My Hometown Inspired My Journey Between Japan and Canada There is a story behind every company. This is the story behind AK JAPAN. I was born and raised in Iwate, Japan. Yet I had to cross the Pacific Ocean before I truly met the greatest person my hometown ever produced. I…
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The 0.3% Everyone Knows. The 99.7% I Want You to Meet.
A conversation with a fifth-generation tatami manufacturer reminded me of something remarkable: the famous Japanese corporations everyone knows represent only 0.3% of Japan’s businesses. The other 99.7% are family-owned makers, artisans, and small enterprises that quietly preserve generations of craftsmanship and tradition. Here’s why they deserve our attention.