This Month on Maction Planet – September 2025

I’m back. We continue… and Kanpai!

Featured image: Dreams do come true. We lined up for almost two and a half hours, but it was worth it to meet Myaku-Myaku. This mysterious creature, the official mascot of Expo 2025 Osaka, was designed by picture book illustrator Kouhei Yamashita and selected from 1,898 submissions in March 2022. Its red parts represent cells that divide and multiply, while its blue parts represent water that can flow and change shape. The name “Myaku-Myaku” means “steadily pulsing” in Japanese, symbolising the hope that human DNA, wisdom, technology, history, and culture will be passed down continuously from generation to generation, like a pulse. I’ve never been so obsessed with a mascot as I am with this legend. Behold my shirt, which cost ¥28,000. I think the look on my face says it all.

I have returned to the land of the rising sun after seven week away. First order of business – snap a photo with the Tokyo Tokyo characters channelling their inner John Oliver!

I wasn’t resting while I was away. My latest video on Kanpai Planet tackles the Japanese whisky industry at a crossroads, examining four critical factors that will shape its future over the next five years: transparency (or the lack thereof), unsustainable pricing as whisky becomes a commodity investment vehicle, the explosion from 10 to 124+ distilleries with questionable scale viability, and whether the liquid actually justifies these eye-watering prices. From ANA’s ¥34,000 Akkeshi bottles with zero tasting notes to Suntory’s price hikes, the mystique-driven era is ending. Transparency, genuine value, and respect for consumers will determine who survives the next decade. Since releasing it on 3 September, it has amassed almost 5000 views—the fastest any Kanpai Planet video has reached that number, with more likes, comments, and engagement than any other video in its first weeks since release.The outpouring of support has been mind-blowing. To those who have watched it—Kanpai!

Great to catch up with Casey, founder of Rishiri Distillery, making their Kamui Whisky. They held an event on September 13th at Wine Market Party Ebisu, where Casey updated avid attendees on the latest progress. It was also an honor to meet the architect of the distillery itself and understand the unique challenges of building such an incredible facility in literally one of the most remote places in Japan. I can’t wait to see what comes next. Kanpai!

Something pretty special happened in Tokyo on 14 September – the first Rock’ndaal Japan Fes! In fact, this was the first non-Islay Rock’ndaal anywhere in the world.

Adam Hannett, Master Blender at Bruichladdich Distillery and the man behind some incredible Islay whiskies, was there showcasing the new Octomore 16 series – which they launched here before anywhere else in the world. Attendees also got an early taste of Polyphonic, which doesn’t officially launch until October.

Beyond the whisky, there was traditional Scottish food, live music, and Adam was available to sign bottles.

The atmosphere was unique – it’s not often you get this kind of access to a master distiller and blender and some devastatingly good releases.

The World Athletics Championships 2025 took place in Tokyo from 13 September 13th to 21st. This was a very cathartic event given what happened with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – the absolute fiasco of it being postponed for only one year, and spectators not being allowed into the stadium (well, certain spectators were allowed in, but that’s a story for another time).

I was very lucky to be invited to witness several sessions, including Sunday 14 September’s evening session featuring the men’s and women’s 100-metre finals. No photo could do the experience justice, so here’s a selfie of me with the medalists of the men’s 100 meters in the background and everybody on their feet. who was lucky enough to witness this extraordinary spectacle live.

Great to see Mike again. I’ve toured with him and his family, and then separately with him for more whisky-focused experiences. He was back for the latter again, sneaking in some whisky shopping and sampling time before his flight. All the best and looking forward to seeing you back in Tokyo again soon.

PART DEUX! I had the pleasure of being a guest on the DRAMS podcast with David (@drinkswhisky), joining him in The Black Lodge Bar for Part 2 of our DRAMS podcast. We had an epic, meandering conversation through the world of whisky, covering everything from pricing complaints and the value proposition of bottles like Macallan’s “A Night on Earth in Scotland” versus craft distilleries like Dornoch and Glenns Creek, to the responsibility of reviewers and transparency in the industry. We also tackled some thornier issues like fake followers and social clout, the collecting versus drinking debate (featuring David’s brilliant “donut” analogy), and the generosity within the whisky community. Of course, we couldn’t resist tasting some Springbank Cask Strength along the way. It was a fantastic conversation, and I’m grateful to David for having me on.

Thrilled to bump into Hamish Kerr, New Zealand’s world champion high jumper! What an incredible achievement in Tokyo. Congratulations on the gold and your jump of 2.36 metres, setting a world lead!

I was honoured to guide Wayne and Colleen around Tokyo for several days of fun. First up, our obligatory Maction Planet photo under the lantern at the Kaminarimon of Sensō-ji. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Wayne, Colleen and I bumped into Hiyonoyama on our way into the sumo arena to watch an epic day of fighting on 18 September.

Another obligatory photo. Also my first reunion with the legendary Hachiko since I got back.

Who dis? And what he is doing on creating content on his birthday? The answer will hit you at the start of October!

Much as I enjoy filming, my birthday got a lot better as I stayed at Aloha Whisky Bar and attended Aloha Rising 25, where a new addition to Stefan Van Eycken’s legendary Ghost series – ‘coincidentally’, number 25 – was released. An 8-year-old Tsunuki, medium peated and aged in a sherry hogshead on World Heritage Yakushima Island at Mars’ Yakushima Ageing Cellar. What an honour to be amongst the first in the world to taste this devastatingly good dram and to enjoy several other Mars whiskies at what proved to be another fantastic event organised by Stefan and David Tsujimoto. Thank you both for all you do for the Tokyo whisky community. Kanpai.

It was so good to once again host writer, model and TV presenter Daphne Deckers and 1996 Wimbledon Champion Richard Krajicek as they returned to Tokyo for a trip coinciding with the Japan Open tennis tournament. Richard won this tournament in 1997 [defeating Lionel Roux 6–2, 3–6, 6–1].

They first toured with me in April 2019, and I also hung out with Daphne last year in Amsterdam in September 2024.

If you have been paying attention, there should be four familiar faces in this photo. Behind us is…

… the Grand Ring, the centrepiece -or rather the circumference – of Osaka Expo 2025. This monumental structure, designed by Sou Fujimoto, was recognised by Guinness World Records on 4 March 2025 as “the largest wooden architectural structure” in the world. Spanning approximately two kilometres in circumference and rising to 20 metres in height, it encircles the main exhibition area.

I was honoured to meet Sou Fujimoto in July 2025 – you can check that out in that issue of This Month on Maction Planet.

It’s been a month for bumping into legendary sports people. What an honour to meet Osamu Nagashima, a Japanese para-badminton player who retired after the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris.

Lisa and Kyle are amazing. That’s all I have to say about that. Thank you for choosing Maction Planet for your first day in Tokyo and all the best for the rest of your trip, which I appear to be puppeteering like the Celestial Toymaker!

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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