Interview

Thirty-five years after his arrival in Tokyo, the prestigious Catalan chef reflects on his career as an "informal ambassador" of Mediterranean gastronomy in Asia. From cooking for emperors and kings to the democratization of the high-end biquini (Catalan toasted sandwich), Barahona analyzes the demands of the Japanese market and the philosophy of a chef who refuses to leave the stove. When Josep Barahona landed in Tokyo in 1991, the image of Spanish cuisine in Japan was limited to folkloric clichés. Today, Catalan gastronomy is synonymous with prestige. Barahona has been the invisible bridge between Japan’s excellent raw materials and Catalan…

Antonio López is not the typical buttoned-up executive one might expect to find at the helm of a Japanese multinational. Although he currently leads Nissan’s global marketing and product strategy from Yokohama, his personal compass remains firmly tuned to the Atlantic. A dedicated surfer, López brings the fluid agility of the Basque coast to the rigid, "zero-risk" discipline of Japanese corporate culture. This unique hybrid perspective is now driving Nissan’s ‘Ambition 2030’—a radical roadmap toward 100% electrification in Europe. From managing a £3 billion EV ecosystem in Sunderland to overseeing a strategic supplier network that still relies heavily on the…

Two decades ago, tiny Andorra in Europe received double visitors than Japan. Today, the roles have shifted: as Japan surpasses 33 million annual visitors and sets its sights on 60 million by 2030, and now the Mediterranean coast is confronting the social and physical limits of its model. This contrast illustrates Japan's pivot toward tourism as a cornerstone of its economic and diplomatic strategy. However, beneath the soaring numbers lies a profound challenge. Faced with an unprecedented demographic decline and a shrinking workforce, Japan increasingly relies on foreign spending to keep local economies—particularly in rural areas—alive. Toshinori Tanaka, Associate Professor…