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“Small”and“Cozy”Really Are Better! (PDF)
Most of us grow up believing bigger is better.
But given the finite availability of land and the depletion of our resources, we may have reached the limit of how much space we should hope for.
Depending on your needs, though, a few ideas and a little ingenuity can make small spaces perfectly comfortable.
Smart use of small spaces—it’s what the world needs, and it’s great!
--------- JQR No.23
During the Edo period, daimyo lords, who were required to split their time between their own domains and the capital city of Edo (Tokyo), competed to construct large gardens at their residences.
There were once a thousand such gardens, and though they disappeared in quick succession following the Meiji Restoration, even now a handful remain to evoke the atmosphere of the Edo period.
Professor Shinji Isoya, a leading expert in landscape architecture, explains the origins and significance of daimyo teien, and the best ways to enjoy these priceless gardens.
--------- JQR No.24
Coats you can be Passionate About (PDF)
Keeping Warm with Quality Japanese Clothing
Do you have one special coat that you depend on absolutely?
Would you like an exceptional coat to keep warm in, one that protects you from the wind and rain and never fades over the years?
This winter you can find coats on the market that were entirely made by Japanese companies.
Elegant, warm and well-made, every aspect of these garments is completed to perfection.
These coats, the embodiment of the best of Japanese manufacturing, are obviously well worth buying.
--------- JQR No.26
The Business of Having Faith in Humanity (PDF)
To Pay or Not to Pay When No One is Watching
You see heaps of fresh vegetables sitting on the roadside, and no vendor in sight.
The situation seems to be dangerously tempting.
Yet, shoppers who use this unique system known as oki yasai, which literally means “leaving vegetables” at an unattended roadside stand, do leave the asking price in the money box, believe it or not.
This method of doing business, known as senyou kouri or “use first, pay later”, was started some 300 years ago by medicine merchants from Toyama Prefecture who sold household drugs throughout Japan, something that continues to this day.
Using a similar strategy, some snack-food manufacturers leave candy bars and other snack items in offices at no charge, on the understanding that payment for consumed items will be collected later when they come to replenish the supply.
This business model, while limited to transactions involving small amounts of money, rests on the seller’s trust in the buyers’ honesty.
--------- JQR No.25
