Altenative to BIO

After a career as a lifestyle editor in Tokyo,Japan for over a decade, Sakiko Setaka moved to Portland OR with an only bit of communication skill in English as she was wondering why Portland became Portland. In a coule years, she began writing articles for the Japanese media about Portland's unique character and background, including its craft spirit, its love of nature and antiquity, and its indie attitude of preferring small to large,and the power of Individuals and Communities over Authority.

At the same time, she felt a connection with the similarities between Japan and Portland, and wanted to create a space where people could come together across the border between Japan and the United States, focusing on food and craft culture. As a way to do this, she started a pop-up shop at Courier Coffee to offer Japanese shaved ice, that she had been craving personally and hadn't even existed in the United States yet.

But why shaved ice?　That's partly because she just wanted to eat that, but at the same time, she thought it was the best food that reflected the uniqueness of Japan.

In some parts of Japan, before the shaved ice season begins, people go to ice shrines[there is a god for ice!] to thank the gods and offer prayers to them. It's a reminder that ice was originally born as a blessing from the earth and given to humans, not something made in the freezer.

Furthermore, shaved ice is a food that can reflect the seasons while being artfully laden with fruits and ingredietns that represent authentic Japanese flovors.

It is also a food that respects and cherishes its delicacy and fragility. She believes that these characteristics of shaved ice are emblematic of the Japanese culture.

In the year 2020, the global pandemic has revealed many problems that have been pushed to the margins of the world. The same is true at the level of individual consciousness.

It's grief, it involves some tough challenges and hard work, but it has also allowed Setaka to return to the big change, the roots that got her started in Kakigori.

That was how “Soen” was born.

From now on, Setaka introduce the culture and customs of everyday life,and things she sincerly loves in Japan.

As Soen,she also aims to organize actual interactive exchanges and events.

Soen is still in the groping stage, but willing to accept this historical transformation and create a generously connected world without being bound by conventional frameworks.

On the other side of screen

or

wherever in person,

Soen is very looking forward to meeting with you.

Soen

-Sakiko S