When Tsubamesanjo Met Portland

October 5, 2026

When I stood behind my table inside Coava that Saturday and looked around at the space filled with people, conversations, and happy faces, I finally felt the weight I had been carrying begin to lift.

Leading up to the Japan Fair, there was one worry I couldn’t shake: What if no one came?

The Tsubamesanjo team was traveling all the way from Japan. More than twenty local vendors had joined us, and Coava had generously opened their beautiful space to the event. So many people had put their time and trust into this idea, and I felt a huge responsibility to make it worthwhile.

But that Saturday, the whole space was buzzing with energy. Visitors were talking with makers, vendors were laughing together, and everyone seemed to be genuinely enjoying themselves.

That was the moment I finally let myself enjoy it, too.

How It Started

I had always thought Portland should have some kind of Japan-themed event. Japan has such a deep culture of craftsmanship, and I’ve always felt a connection between that and Portland, where people value things made by hand, thoughtful everyday living, and a closeness to nature.

Last year, I had the opportunity to show Mitsu, who works in international marketing for one of the Tsubamesanjo brands, around Portland, and he felt that connection too. He suggested bringing a Tsubamesanjo pop-up here, and I immediately thought of Coava. Through my work with them at my previous job, I knew their values and approach to quality shared so much with what I admire about Japanese craftsmanship.

Coava said yes, and even offered to open their entire building. From there, I couldn’t stop imagining what else it could become. Rather than simply bringing Tsubamesanjo to Portland, I wanted to bring the two together, with makers, food, and businesses from both places sharing the same space.

The People Behind the Weekend

One of the greatest gifts from this event was the people I got to meet. That is always what stays with me the most.

Just before the Japan Fair, I was introduced to Masa, a Japanese photographer who once lived in Portland and happened to be visiting that week. When we first met, a couple of hours somehow flew by, mostly with me talking! Masa is so warm and unassuming that I felt completely at ease, sharing whatever was on my mind while he laughed, listened, and smiled. Sorry, Masa-san!

He kindly agreed to photograph the Japan Fair for okappa, and when I saw his photos afterward, holy smoke. They were beautiful, but what moved me most was how much warmth and happiness I could feel through them. I almost cried looking through them. Was the Japan Fair really this beautiful? Did I really look that happy?

Masa said to me, “Yes, you were the one enjoying it the most!”

Ha! I guess I was.

Another person who left a lasting impression on me was the president of Tsuboe, a grater maker from Tsubamesanjo.

He speaks so softly and gently, but I could feel so much passion whenever he talked about his work. He showed me how the blades of their graters are intentionally arranged with subtle variations to make grating smoother, and how their premium grater creates especially light and fluffy grated daikon. In every detail, I could see the joy he finds in turning an idea into something that works beautifully.

Listening to him made me think about my own role as a retailer. The objects I carry come with so much thought, curiosity, and love for the work behind them. My job isn’t simply to put those objects on a shelf. It’s also to carry some of that passion forward to the person who will eventually use them.

It left me thinking about how I can do that better through okappa.

A Place to Bring It All Together

I also can’t look back on the Japan Fair without thinking about how much Coava made it possible. From the beginning, Skip welcomed the idea with such generosity, David made every step feel easier, and I know Steve was quietly helping make this big plan a reality behind the scenes. They didn’t simply offer us a space. They put so much thought, time, and care into shaping the event alongside me.

As a first-time event coordinator, there were plenty of moments when I wasn’t sure what I was doing, but having people I could trust made an enormous difference. By the time I stood behind my table that Saturday and finally relaxed, I knew how much of that was because I hadn’t been doing it alone.

More Than I Could Have Imagined

These are just a few of the moments and encounters that made this event so meaningful to me.

Looking back, what I feel most grateful for is the people this event brought into my life and the connections that grew from it. Beautiful objects and craftsmanship are at the heart of what I do with okappa, but experiences like this remind me that it’s always the people behind them that stay with me the most.

The Japan Fair gave me new friendships, new inspiration, and a deeper sense of why I love the work I get to do. I’m so grateful to everyone who was part of it, and I hope some of the connections made that weekend continue to grow in ways we can’t even imagine yet.