Meet the behind-the-scenes team of all things CONNECT!
This article originally appeared in the January 2023 issue of CONNECT.
Ian Layugan (Gunma)
Editor’s Note: At CONNECT, every contributor is asked to use the English spelling of their native country (i.e. favorite versus favourite), so you will see various spellings for various words throughout this piece. It is a deliberate choice and a great example of the diverse backgrounds of the team! Enjoy!
There is no “I” in “teamwork.” Most definitely not in “CONNECT.”
At CONNECT, the stories span narratives, experiences, and sightings in all 47 prefectures of Japan. Sometimes unprecedented, sometimes overlapping, the pages of the magazine feature fresh perspectives and insights and a wealth of stories from the mesmerizing to the mundane.
As more foreigners visit Japan for various purposes—for soul-searching or healing, as post-college experience or a mid-life breather—the stories will always come around rare and renewed, as it is seen through new eyes and written by eager hands.
The writers and artists who form the CONNECT family are the intersections of all these stories. Coming from various countries and cultures, the common denominator among these creatives is the urge to turn every situation into a story. Drawing from personal experiences—a trip, encounter, or even a meal—to document a world of narratives, they turn these pages into a Japan diary if you will: something intimate yet universal, individually felt but commonly shared.
Let’s get to know these writers and artists.
Cheers,
Ian Layugan
Read our bios at the Meet the Team page or see the full article here!