We are Japanese journalists living in Europe.
During our time here, we have been struck by the immense interest in Japanese culture. While this enthusiasm brings us great joy, we also feel a sense of sadness at times, as the image of Japan shaped by platforms like YouTube and manga often overshadows the deeper understanding of the challenges and significance of Japanese culture.
Traditional crafts and performing arts, in particular, receive high praise globally, yet they face the critical issue of aging artisans, threatening their continuity to future generations. At the same time, young artisans are exploring ways to share the appeal of their work not only within a shrinking Japanese market but also on a global stage.
They are taking on the challenge of finding ways to preserve and evolve these traditions so they can resonate in today’s society, rather than simply valuing them as relics of the past.
We aim to serve as a bridge between Europe and Japan by sharing the voices and challenges of the artisans themselves. Through this, we hope to ensure that these extraordinary traditions and cultures do not end with our generation but are passed on sustainably to the next.
With this vision in mind, we named this site “Tsugi.” Inspired by the Japanese art of kintsugi, where broken pottery is mended with gold to create something even more beautiful and valuable, we hope our articles and events will serve as a platform for people to connect, discover, and create new value together.
Through this site, we aspire to share the depth and beauty of Japanese culture with as many people as possible and contribute to its continuity into the future. We hope that reading our articles or participating in our events will bring you new discoveries and insights. With the spirit behind the name “Tsugi”（In Japanese, it means “next” and “connect”) we will continue to take on the challenge of being a cultural bridge.
Introduction of Journalists
Momoko Amemiya
I am a journalist and editor with over nine years of experience in Japanese media. As a freelance journalist, I contribute to leading publications such as Business Insider, Forbes Japan, and Nikkei, with some of my articles garnering over 1 million views. I have edited more than 60 business books, including best-sellers like Introduction to the SDGs. Formerly with NIKKEI Inc. and Forbes Japan, I led editorial teams and launched new media projects. I hold an MBA from NUCB and graduated in 2024 with a master’s degree in European Business and Economic Policy from UCLouvain. I currently split my time between Belgium and Japan, combining global perspectives with local insights.In 2022, I participated as a Japanese delegate at One Young World, a global forum often referred to as the “Young Davos” summit. I continued my involvement as an ambassador in 2023 and 2024, and starting in 2025, I serve as a media advisor for the organization in Japan.
Naoki Sugi
I am a journalist, graphic designer, and photographer from Kanazawa, Japan. After studying political science in Tokyo, I worked as a journalist for The Mainichi Shimbun, writing around 3,000 articles on politics and diplomacy and so on, covering the Prime Minister’s Office and the National Diet. Later, I worked as a writing instructor and studied English in Australia. I now live in the Netherlands. I am passionate about language and appear monthly as a regular guest on a Japanese radio program, where I talk about words that inspire and uplift people. I believe the world cannot be described in black and white—everything exists in shades of gray.
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