From the Founder’s Desk

Japan has a way of making everyday rituals feel elevated. Instead of giving you another guide to Kyoto or Tokyo, here’s what really stayed with me. Not just the beautiful ceramics or quiet cafés, but the moments of mastery, patience and design that made me pause.

One of the things I realised deeply on this trip: a slower life is a softer life. That line has stayed with me. Whether it was watching a cashier spend five full minutes wrapping a set of gift cards with complete care, or sitting still for a coffee break, the pace of things encouraged presence. Not everything needs to be rushed. Not everything needs to be posted.

What I Noticed

There’s an unspoken rule in Japan — don’t walk and eat. So you stop. Sit. Drink your coffee. And when you’re not rushing, you notice things. Like how men wear their work blazers with the softest knits or how socks peek out just enough to be expressive. It’s effortless, but considered. Like the entire country has quietly agreed on a better way to get dressed.Also, the hotel night suits. Not kimonos — but soft, V-neck, three-quarter sleeve pyjama sets that made us feel like we were in the culture, not just observing it. That was a sweet surprise.

What I Brought Back (Besides the most perfect Ramen Egg Recipe)

I’ve been saying this a lot lately: A slower life is a softer life.
Japan reminded me of that.

Everywhere, I found design inspired by nature. Packaging made with intention. Stores that practised restraint without ever feeling sparse. Even ceramics at Dengama or stationery at Ginza Itoya felt like extensions of that same thought — do one thing well. Do it with grace.

I came home with a new breakfast routine (you’ll find my new jammy ramen egg recipe here), a camera roll full of textures, and a real desire to design more intentionally. To slow down, just enough to notice what’s worth keeping.

There’s also the honesty. Not everything you try will be the “best ever”. Some things are overhyped. And sometimes, the best experience is what you find when you take the wrong turn and walk into a hole-in-the-wall that’s not even listed anywhere.

That’s the version of Japan I wanted to share with you. The one that doesn’t need a filter or a guidebook.

Until next time,
Shweta Kapur
Founder, 431-88