These are actually Nobel-Prize worthy legends!
Jokichi Takamine
A scientist and businessman who made a huge fortune in the United States by discovering Adrenaline and Taka-diastase, which attracted all medical professionals. His two major inventions and discoveries made his position in the U.S. unassailable. He is known as the “father of biotechnology as well as start-up business” for his contributions to the development of brewing and fermentation technology. He generously invested the wealth he gained from his business success for the sake of Japan-U.S. goodwill and private diplomacy activities.
Tadamasa Hayashi
An art dealer, the father of Japonisme at Paris in the latter half on 19th century, introduced Japanese art to Europe mainly in Paris, absolutely at the Paris Expo. His activities in determining the high-added value of Ukiyo-e are worthy of praising especially. His translations of Japanese art features in Paris Illustre, a famous Parisian magazine in those days, played a main role in popularizing Japanese art, which dominated Paris at the time.
Toyama Prefecture.
I went to Gokayama, a World Heritage site, before the Corona disaster. That’s really the Japanese countryside, just as I had imagined, I experienced making Japanese paper（They usually call it Washi in Japan) from the beginning, and I vividly remember that I felt as if I were in a different world. Gokayama in the summer was dazzling with fresh greenery and I felt like I was coming back to life. I would like to visit Toyama again on my next visit to Japan, as it is very close to Kanazawa and the Kurobe Canyon Route will be completed next year. I also remember that the sushi was soooooo delicious.
When I visited Toyama some years ago, I was strongly impressed by the old townscape. It is said that it was the center of trade on the Sea of Japan several hundred years ago, and you can visit the houses of traders from that time. On the other hand, nature is also very rich. Gokayama in the snow season looks like the picture, and the Tateyama mountain range seen over the sea from the coast was an out-of-this-world view. I never thought I would be able to see such a spectacular view just two hours away from Tokyo on the Shinkansen bullet train.
Toyama you never experienced!
Jokichi Takamine is also well known as the first chairman of The Nippon Club in New York and as the actual contributor of the Cherry Blossom Trees along the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. He also purchased the Japan Pavilion at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904 and used it as his villa in New-Jersey, named Shofuden, which is on display in his birthplace of Toyama right now.
His mansion in Manhattan and his grave in the Bronx still exist. His wife was Mrs. Caroline Hitch from New Orleans, who was also a pioneer in intercultural marriages.
Meawhile, Tadamasa Hayashi, In addition to his achievements in producing the Ukiyo-e artist Hokusai Katsushika, one of the most famous Japanese artists in the world today, he is also famous for his financial support of Vincent Van Gogh, who had just made his debut in Paris in the latter half of the 19th century.
This time, we have mixed the strengths of Toyama, such as World renowned Gokayama Gassho-Tsukuri with the stories of Super Japanese born in Toyama, and created once-in-your-lifetime experience called “Tomorrow is Another Toyama” as one of the signature products that can only be experienced
in Toyama.
A hidden-gem of a two-day / one-night tour!
in Toyama
with fabulously unrivaled
Omotenashi Experiences!
The “President Taft Gastronomy Dinner Experience” inspired by the actual dinner menu that Jokichi Takamine was invited to by President Taft in return for his friendship of Cherry Blossom contributions.
Toyama welcomes you with the best hospitality. A year-round Cherry Blossom experiences offer you to feel local, rare, culture-oriented ones to your heart’s content.
It is only at Tomorrow is Another Toyama that you can not only hear rare stories directly from the current family of Tadamasa Hayashi or a curator expert but take a look at actual magazine 140 years ago.
You can be given a special appraisal one by one when it comes to buying modern artists’ pieces with your original stamps which had been kick in 19 centuries in Europe.
Tomorrow is Another Toyama!
Can’t introduce you all on this pages!
Special customized itineraries are also available for doctors and/or art collectors to welcome you.
Tomorrow is Another Toyama.