1) Nipponscape as a publishing team/media
Nipponscape is media that takes real people and transmits their real voices and real backgrounds to readers. We write articles, and make and edit books. We’re not a huge organization. We’re just a tiny publishing team who wants to communicate a sense of the living, breathing vitality in things and happenings. We are going out into the world to meet people living simple, real lives, one by one. If only eating and living were more simple and real, the way plants and animals do it, wouldn’t that be beautiful? That’s our dream. Nipponscape is a team that will experiment and change along the way. We are a work in progress. Our goal is to be “The smallest in Japan and the freest in the world: a publishing/production company with heart.” We do some experiments with print, web, and real life. Nipponscape is the media we’re using to express our ideas.
2) Nipponscape as a production team
Nipponscape is also a production team that provides customers with transparent, easy to understand communication via print, web, and real-life. The majority of Nipponscape staff are bilingual. We make and edit books, assist with online promotions and promotions to overseas markets, and do translation between Japanese and English. Nipponscape is a team that will experiment and change along the way. We are a work in progress. Even so, we have a goal. That is to be “The smallest in Japan and the freest in the world: a publishing/production company with heart.” We will use the little strength that we have and walk forward, straight ahead. We’ll be depending on your help. And if there is anything we can do for you, all you’ve got to do is ask.
3) Team Nipponscape
■Directors:
Takafumi “Suzu” Suzuki & Soyuzno
■ Editing Team
Takafumi “Suzu” Suzuki:
Writer, copywriter, director. Born in Tokyo, raised in Kanagawa and Saitama, living in Tokyo. Mainly involved in creating material for web and print. Themes such as traditional manufacturing and design figure largely in his work (See samples here) After working for advertising production firms such as Axis and Eat and PingMagMAKE , he is currently self-employed. Suzu also writes fantasy stories. He’s currently experimenting with how to keep a good relationship with print, web, and real-life. He also explores the stories of 21st century Japan through old-fashioned storytelling. Loves adventure.
Claire Tanaka:
Japanese-English translator and writer. Born in 1976, in the wild mountains of British Columbia, Canada. She graduated with a BA in Japanese Studies from the University of Victoria and began her freelancing career 2007 after working four years at the Cultural and International Affairs Division of the Tokushima prefectural government. She specializes in arts, culture, and community-related translation. Claire always puts love into her work, and believes that helping people connect across cultures is the most important part of what she does. Recent projects include “in Kamiyama”, JAPAN BRAND, Yokoso! Japan, and other translation work for magazines, television, theater, and business. When she’s not working, she’s taking photographs, creating a mess in the kitchen with her daughter, and planning her next adventure.
Akihiko Kudo：
Movie director. Born in Chiba, grown up in a bed town. His dad and mummy were from Kyushu and Yamanashji. So his blood must be consist of Samurai and farmer. While being High school student and university student, he thought he was city boy. But when he start his carrier, he realized that city boy is not actually city boy because of bad pollution, bad air made him hairy early people. Then he decided to move from Tokyo to Kamakura. But he is still mossy and has hay fever. He is still in the course of his trip to himself, exploring the world.
Yoshihiko Mano:
Editor, writer, copywriter, web designer. Born in Miyagi. After making advertising for companies such as Tower Records and Goo, he got involved in directing web production and writing. With “Knowledge is Entertainment” as his theme, he’s currently having fun exploring the art of communicating a message.
Sarah Disley:
Japanese-English translator. Born in South Yorkshire, England, Sarah spent three amazing years living in rural Shikoku before returning to the UK to complete a Masters degree in Modern Japanese Studies at the University of Oxford. Prior to that she achieved a First class honours degree in English from the University of Liverpool and is now combining her love of the English and Japanese languages to forge a career in Japanese to English translation. Also an editor and proofreader, she is committed to making words work. In her free time, she enjoys Oxford’s café culture, and taking long walks with her husband and son.
Natsumi Yamane:
Japanese-English translator. Born in Japan, Natsumi moved to England at the age of 10. She went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music, however, gave up her career as a performer due to injury and is now involved in translation for music, art and finance related works. She devotes her free time to collect good recipes and cat-watching.
Nate Dennehy:
Japanese-English translator. Born in the pleasant bubble of Davis, California, USA. While pursuing a degree in English literature and Spanish language at the University of Portland, Oregon, Nate’s first extended taste of cross-cultural communication came with his studies abroad in Granada, Spain. The search for a new adventure after graduation brought him to the mountain village of Higashiiya, in rural Shikoku, where he proceeded to spend three years growing in appreciation of the Japanese language and culture. When not searching for the perfect turn of phrase on his latest work, he likes climbing on rocks and walking up and down mountains.
■ Design Team
Soyuzno:
Designer/Director. He started his career in late 2000’s working as a web designer in various IT and design companies. As a designer, Soyuzno has had the opportunity to provide design services for some of largest companies and brands in Indonesia like Boleh Net Indonesia, Ogilvy One Worldwide Indonesia, MGTH International, Bakrie Brothers, ANTV, Esia, Tresnojoyo, to name a few, within almost 9 years of work experiences. In 2006, he had a one in a lifetime chance and took the path to Tokyo, left his country to pursue his dreams and ambitions. He has a Bachelor Degree in Economy from Tarumanagara University, Jakarta. Oh…he loves chocolate very much.
Yoshiyuki Yatsuda:
Designer. Born in Ueda City, Nagano, in 1972. Went independent in 2007 after a career at Axis. Approaches his work with “emotions as neutral as possible.” Skills as a designer include graphic design, web design, and flash authoring. Loves playing guitar, listening to music, and cameras.
Senya Nemoto:
Designer = a person who works with plans, drawings, and layouts for the optic area. Born in Nanbu, Tohoku. Became an apprentice to his professor during his school years. Started out at Axis, now self-employed. Life mottoes include “learn from the past” and “somehow things will work out” but for work, “eliminate the self” is his mantra. As a designer, he is skilled in graphic design, web design, and flash authoring. On days off, he loves to just take it easy.
Hiroaki Ito:
Designer. Born in Tokyo in 1976. Graduated from New Zealand’s Victoria University Design department. Worked in New Zealand at web production companies and advertising companies until 2004 when he returned to Japan. Worked for Sony Computer Entertainment Japan, Ogilvy & Mother Japan (advertising firm), and currently works at Omniture Japan. “Efficiently achieve the goal.” is his work policy. His motto for life is, “If it doesn’t work, go on to the next thing.” Skills: ActionScript2, HTML. He loves snowboarding and dining out.
■ Programming Team
Hiroshi Osawa:
IT Consultant, Director, Programmer. Born in Taito-ku, Tokyo, in 1973. After graduating with a Masters in Industrial Engineering from Tokyo University of Science, Research Institute for Science and Technology, he worked freelance before founding Aquanics. While keeping “You’re Happy, I’m Happy” at the forefront of his mind, he pursues the “Right line.” Skills: VisualBasic, Java, PHP, Database: MS-SQL, Oracle, MySQL, MS-Access. Loves the outdoors.
Juanda Lokman:
After graduating from Institut Teknologi Bandung, he came to study in Japan at with a scholarship. Doctorate in Electronic Engineering from Denki Tsushin Daigaku. Living in Tokyo. Skills: C/C++, Basic, QuickBasic, Visual Basic, Pascal, Ddbase, Clipper. Databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL. Web Applications: Apache, HTML, PHP, JavaScript. Graphics: Direct3D
