Today encapsulated one of those perfect days in Tokyo, beginning with a meditative morning swim and breakfast meeting, followed by a masala chai at Tokyo’s best and most authentic chai bar with two of our heroic portfolio company founders. These founders, each in their respective pursuits, are building companies which unearth some of Japan’s most authentic and otherwise inaccessible treasures for the global stage.

In the afternoon, I witnessed what some passersby may have interpreted as a crime unfolding in real-time. However, I assure you that no crime was being committed. Specifically, street art in Japan can be treated as a felony, but in this particular case, a private local business mandated one of the world’s trendiest underground street artists to paint a work of art on their shop door.

The shop is Rippa Wines in Meguro, and the artist is Ledania from Columbia, who happened to be passing through Tokyo. Even if you’re not in the direct vicinity, Rippa Wines is worth the detour, both to see Ledania’s stimulating street canvas, as well as to sample some of the finest wines from Australia and New Zealand. As a Frenchman it’s unusual for me to extol wines from that part of the world, so consider this high praise. Say hello to Andrew when you stop by the shop.

This whole séance was arranged by the fine folks at Totemo, who hold privileged friendships with many of the worlds hottest underground street artists both across Japan, and worldwide. You can access some of the artists’ works and various merchandise, NFTs, and events over at the Totemo website.

The evening consisted of stimulating conversation in a backdrop of one drop (riddim). All this on a day when Tokyo’s sweltering summer transitioned palpably into its eminently pleasant autumn climate.

This is magic season.