Inspiration / Innovation Japan with Nick Luscombe

Nick meets Georgie Ichikawa. Georgie was born 1982 in Tokyo,  and moved to UK when he was 16.He later graduated from University of Arts London ( London College of Fashion ) MA Fashion Design Technology with scholarship. At age of 25 he became head designer for PUMA x Alexander McQueen .In 2018 he was a founding member to start MR GAY JAPAN in which he became chair person for the organization for activism for the LGBTQ community in Japan. He is currently working at PUMA JAPAN as Head of Creative and Design.

Nick Luscombe meets long-time Tokyo-based English artist Ratko Backo  about his training at Saint Martins in London, his decade working with Issey Miyake and his latest art works.https://www.instagram.com/ratko_backo/

Nick speaks to Philip Clemo, the British composer, musician, producer, sound artist, filmmaker and visual artist, described by Propermusic.com as one of contemporary music's most innovative artists.Phil is currently in Japan developing a project with the charity Shout at Cancerexploring the destructive and healing legacy of radiation. It honours thetrees that survived the Hiroshima & Nagasaki bombs and a choir ofcancer survivors who learnt to sing after the removal of their voiceboxes.https://www.philipclemo.com

Nick chats with Chikako Fujii about her career as a company director and dancer, and the importance of international collaboration.For more information about CIC please check the link below.https://jp.cic.com

Nick is joined on CIC Live with music specialist Keith Cahoon.Keith Cahoon grew up in Northern California, and became a music fanatic at a young age.  He began buying an immense number of albums, and regularly attended concerts at Winterland and other Bay Area venues.  After stints in university and working as a carpenter, he joined Tower Records at age 22.  While he first thought the job would be just for a few months, he ended up working for Tower Records for 25 years, 7 in America and 18 in Japan. He served as CEO of Tower Records Japan from late 1984, and was part of the management buyout when Tower Japan split from the parent company in 2002. While at Tower, the company grew from three stores to 62, including the largest record store in the world, in Tokyo's Shibuya district.In addition to Japan, under Keith's management Tower also opened stores in seven other Asian countries.  Keith left Tower in 2003 and started a music publishing company, Hotwire.  At Hotwire he worked with a wide range of music, introducing foreign artists to Japan, and Japanese artists to the worldwide market.   Keith later joined Apple as Director of iTunes Japan.  He currently lives in the SF Bay Area, and continues to run Hotwire, where some of the better known artists he works with include Galactic, OK Go, Shonen Knife, Dan Penn and Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.http://www.hotwirejapan.com/wordpress/For more information about joining the CIC community....https://jp.cic.com/en/

Nick chats with Keiji Ito, the CEO of Tokyo-based startup MentorMe, a new venture created to support entrepreneurs.mentorme.co.jphttps://jp.cic.com/en/office/

Nick is joined by Adam Fulford to learn about his work in rural Japan.A native of England, Adam Fulford has been working as a language consultant in Japan since 1981, offering behind-the-scenes support for Eigo de Shaberanaito, Eigo de Asobo, Super Presentation and many other NHK programs. These days, he and his staff work on a number of shows broadcast in English on NHK WORLD-JAPAN, the international service of NHK.Adam also works as a presentation coach, supporting the efforts of the Japan National Tourism Organization to have more venues in Japan selected as hosts for international conferences. Married with three children, all of whom have chosen Japanese citizenship, Adam is committed to pursuing a bright future for Japan. For the past decade he has been active as a cross-cultural consultant who places a special emphasis on the value of regional Japan. In this capacity he supports efforts in the Japanese countryside to identify the best next steps to take amid challenging demographic circumstances.Adam firmly believes that traditional values combined with a modern mindset can offer any community, ranging from the smallest village or company to the largest metropolis or megacorporation, a robust framework for cultivating happiness, sustainability, and resilience in an increasingly unpredictable world.More about Adam Fulford...www.fulfordent.comms-nakatsugawa.comhttps://tinyurl.com/2p92k8apFind out more about CIC Tokyo here...https://jp.cic.com/en/

Nick discusses Noh with Diego Pellecchia, Associate Professor at Kyoto Sangyo University, to learn more about this fascinating art form. https://internationalnohinstitute.comhttps://jp.cic.com/en/   

In this episode, Nick meets Kirsten O'Connor, the Founder and Director of QUEST TOKYO KK, a company offering a range of independent educational services and tutoring to Japanese and international communities in Japan. A newly opened division, QUEST Learning Support and Therapy (QLST), provides professional services for children with learning difficulties within Tokyo.Kirsten is a UK qualified teacher and taught in London before moving to Tokyo in 2001. During her 17 years at The British School in Tokyo she was Head of Years 1 & 2, Deputy Head Teacher and for the final six years, served as Head Teacher of the Primary School.Currently, as Senior Education Advisor with educational management company, Clarence Education Asia, Kirsten is involved with opening new international schools in Tokyo.An Entrepreneur Member of the BCCJ (British Chamber of Commerce in Japan), Kirsten is also a Fellow, and Board Member, of the Royal Society of Arts - Japan Fellows Network, and founder of Talk Education Tokyo.

In this episode Nick meets Tokyo-based entrepreneur Max Godin to talk about his FORGIGS platform that works with artists, audiences and venues to streamline the process of buying and selling gig tickets.https://www.forgigs.com/homehttps://jp.cic.com/en/ 

In this episode Nick Luscombe is joined by Yokohama-born and UK-based composer, musician and producer Hinako Omori who recently released her  debut album A Journey... on the Houndstooth record label.

Nick Luscombe meets Yuto Saiki and charts the story of his career to date - from driving Shinkansen to working in PR and marketing! 

In this edition, Nick Luscombe discusses music apps with Musify Founder and CEO, David Liu and learns more about his journey as an entrepreneur. 

In this episode Nick Luscombe talks tourism in Japan with CEO Ken Ikeo of Intellectual Innovations and learns about his pioneering work training future hospitality workers.https://intellectual-innovations.or.jp/https://jp.cic.com/en/

On this edition Nick speaks with Tania Coke, artistic director of Tarinainanika, a physical theatre company she runs with her partner Kentaro Suyama, from their base in Osaka, the Flying Carpet Factory. The company specialises in Corporeal Mime, a theatrical tradition which prioritises the creativity and physical expression of the actor. As well as the company they also run a full time school where they are busy nurturing the next generation of actor-creators. Originally from the UK, Tania began her career as a management consultant working in London and Paris. She is also a qualified mediator and writes regular articles about communication and conflict management. She is the Japan Ambassador for the RSA and a board member of the RSA Japan Fellows' Network. https://www.tarinainanika.com/For online viewing of past performances:Tokyo Fugue https://res.cthearts.com/event/34:3431/34:59401/The Same Boat https://res.cthearts.com/event/34:3433/34:59402/For online classes, performance recordings and more: https://www.patreon.com/tarinainanikahttps://www.thersa.org/https://jp.cic.com/en/

Alexander De Vore moved to China to start a business after graduating from University. He learned about manufacturing while in Shenzhen China and discovered how 3D Printing was used to make turbine blades inside the energy industry. In 2014 decided to move to Japan and start a 3D Printing company. In 2016 founded 3DPC K.K. in Japan. He is currently president of 3DPC and continues his goal of building the largest digital manufacturing supply chain in Asia. 

Nick meets Tim Rowe,  the Founder and CEO of Cambridge Innovation Center and, more recently, CIC Health. For two decades, CIC has been a leading builder and operator of innovation communities.www.cic.com

Seiya Matsumiya is a music supervisor/producer and CEO of Black Cat White Cat Music. Having started his life in music in the thriving music scene of southern California in the early 2000s, he studied at Berklee College of Music, after which he returned to Los Angeles where he performed alongside notable musicians such as Flea, Cat Power, and Maroon 5, while also starting a career in music for film/tv/advertising. He launched Black Cat White Cat Music in Tokyo with his sister Aska Matsumiya in 2018. As a music supervisor and producer Seiya has won numerous prestigious awards from an Emmy to Cannes Lions to being named Music Company of the Year at CICLOPE Festival in Berlin in 2020, and has worked with both independent and major artists from all over the world on global and Japanese advertising campaigns and films. 

Nick Luscombe chats to Maki Mannami, the international music composer, sound designer, songwriter and vocalist. Born in Osaka, Japan, she currently resides in Los Angeles, California.  As a music composer, Maki has composed music for major companies such as SONY, Google, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, HONDA, "Gran Turismo" series by Play Station 3, FIFA World Cup, Panasonic, and FRED PERRY. She has also composed soundtracks for a variety of independent films, one of which received an award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Mannami prides herself in her ability to arrange and program orchestral scores using MIDI, along with her vocal and piano, and ability to manipulate sounds in unconventional ways.   Maki has released three full-length albums and one EP as a singer-songwriter in England and Japan. Her first album, Journey Of Higher Self Liberation, charted No. 1 in the album category on the iTunes Japan Music Charts. BBC Radio reviewed her EP, Justice and Judgment, commending her voice as "The voice from heaven.” She has collaborated with top jazz musicians like Nicola Conte, and her songs have been played by popular DJs, including Giles Perterson – a renowned DJ in the European Jazz scene. Mannami's work has been featured in a variety of compilation albums that have been released in Germany and Italy. She also has experience touring throughout England and France.  Maki has performed at a handful of prestigious venues including: The Royal Opera House -- England's largest opera theatre, ICA London, Motion Blue -- a Blue Note sponsored night club, and Club Ikspiari -- a Disney-affiliated venue in Japan. Mannami has a unique style, combining elements of jazz, electronica, world music, and classical. Her vocal range can extend four octaves, making her an incredibly rare and exceptional singer.  As a vocalist and choir member, Maki has performed at a Tokyo Collection, fashion show and her vocal has been used in commercials for SONY and Nestle. Her voice was also featured in the theme song for a TV show, Tokyo Eye, which premiered on NHK WORLD. She has also contributed to a number of studio albums and live performances for many bands and artists.  Mannami has always enjoyed the arts. Growing up, she took lessons in piano, drums, voice and dance. At age 19, she dropped out of Osaka Art University for Performing Arts and moved to New York to study musical theatre on Broadway. While she was there she performed in an Off-Broadway theater as a chorus dancer, sang jazz in a cabaret group, and performed gospel music at an African American church. Maki has also performed as a backup dancer in Vincent Gallo's concert in Japan and as a solo dancer in the biggest night club in Frankfurt, Germany Cocoon Club.https://www.makimannami.com/Inquires about CIC Tokyo's office space, partnership, etc.https://jp.cic.com/en/

Nick Luscombe meets Fariza Abidova, Co-Founder & CEO of Trusted Corporation and Founder of SOPHYS Corporation. Fariza is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for promoting global business collaboration. In 2010, she established SOPHYS Corporation, a global human resource development company, that trained 3000 Japanese executives and senior managers.Inquires about CIC Tokyo's office space, partnership, etc.: https://jp.cic.com/en/contact-us/

Nick speaks with innovative musician, Takeshi Nishimoto. Born in Fukuoka in 1970, Nishimoto is a classically trained guitarist and composer who is conversant with European, Northern Indian, and American jazz-influenced classical traditions. In addition to collaborations with diverse artists, from sitar master Rahul Sakyaputra to I'm Not a Gun  associate John Tejada,  Nishimoto has performed extensively as a solo artist,  and also works for music tech company Ableton. This podcast also features three tracks, written by Nishimoto and performed live in the CIC LIVE studio.https://linktr.ee/takeshi_nishimotohttps://www.ableton.com/https://jp.cic.com/en/

Nick chats to writer Roy Tomizawa about his book 1964 – The Greatest Year in the History of Japan: How the Tokyo Olympics Symbolized Japan's Miraculous Rise from the Ashes, as well as his thoughts on the differences between Japan in the 1960s and today. Roy Tomizawa - https://theolympians.co/author/roytomizawa/For more information about CIC Tokyo - https://jp.cic.com/en/

Nick Luscombe meets CIC-based Enora Rogers, a professional mechanical engineer providing technical and project management consulting services. Enora works with project teams to simplifying early-stage product development. Her passions are enabling success for diverse, cross-functional teams and leveraging Additive Manufacturing (3D printing) to create next generation products.https://enorarogers.com/https://jp.cic.com/en/

Nick Luscombe meets Ryusuke Komura, Program Director at Venture Café Tokyo, one of the biggest innovation communities in Japan.https://venturecafetokyo.org/https://jp.cic.com/en/

Nick Luscombe meets Shuuji Mahadil Tone from CIC Tokyo to learn about the background and mission of CIC and the new space in Toranomon.https://jp.cic.com/en/about/