My 19 Year Japanniversary

Nineteen years.

The number ‘hits different’ than its predecessors – not quite the symbolic weight of eighteen’s coming-of-age or the soon-to-be round number of twenty, nor the cultural resonance of twelve’s hitomawari. Yet nineteen carries its own quiet significance: it’s the final year before another decade marker, a moment of pause before the next major milestone. And right now, the world could do with such a pause and far more reflection.

Nineteen years ago today, I landed at Narita Airport with a gut feeling, based on a 17-day holiday, that would reshape everything. What began as a ‘few years’ of adventure has become nearly half my life – 19 years out of 46, representing almost the entirety of my professional contribution to the world and the foundation of everything Maction Planet has become.

This year has been one of intentional evolution. The “125 in 2025” commitment I made last August – 125 tours this calendar year – was put to the wayside as requests from repeat guests were just too humbling to turn down, but its intention has proven transformative – not just for our guests, but for me personally. By consciously limiting the number of tours – I am on track to run 160 this year – each experience has become more intimate, more crafted, more aligned with the original vision I had of guiding as an art form. I can feel the difference in every conversation, every shared moment of discovery, and every expansion of what we can offer to our guests. This nineteenth year has been about refinement – taking everything we’ve learned and distilling it into its purest form.

Year nineteen has been an interesting one for Japan and its tourism industry. The pandemic years taught us about resilience. The recovery years about gratitude. Yet alongside Tokyo’s endless capacity for reinvention, there have been shifts in the social currents that veer toward insularity and a growing emphasis on what makes us uniquely separate rather than universally connected. As someone whose professional life revolves around building bridges between cultures, I find myself more conscious of my role not just as a guide to Japan’s wonders, but as a quiet advocate for the open, curious spirit that first drew me here. Tokyo’s magic is defined by its ability to honour tradition while embracing the contemporary world and its tautological modernity; preserving that balance feels more important now than ever.

My Japan drinks content platform, Kanpai Planet, continues to flourish, now approaching 8,500 YouTube subscribers. The monthly commitment to produce long-form content has pushed me to explore deeper corners of Japan’s drinking culture, and some exciting developments are brewing and distilling (puns intended) that I’ll be announcing at the start of 2026.

To those who have been part of this nineteen-year journey: thank you. To my friends across the globe and here in Tokyo: thank you for the constant support and inspiration. To my family: thank you for understanding that sometimes home is exactly where your heart tells you it should be. Honto ni arigato.

Twenty years will mark not just longevity, but a kind of institutional presence in this city I love so deeply. It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly. As such, 126 in 2026 will be a thing. 40 of those tour slots have already been taken. As always, book early to avoid disappointment.

As I write this, the summer cicadas are singing their ancient song across Japan, the same song that welcomed me to Tokyo all those years ago. Some things change, some remain eternal. The joy of discovery, the privilege of sharing this extraordinary city, the deep satisfaction of a life lived authentically… these remain constant.

Here’s to nineteen incredible years, and to whatever revelations year twenty will bring.

We continue…

Mac
Founder, Maction Planet
4 August 2025

Maction Planet runs bespoke Private Tours and Experiences in Tokyo, and beyond. To book yours, or to purchase a gift card, contact us at info@mactionplanet.com

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