#014 - Japan, a surprising country

A few weeks ago I decided to go to Japan.
Not for work. Not to meet anyone. Just to unwind and be inspired.
At Pilatus we live in a constant loop of work and sometimes you need to stop to remember why you started all this.
Japan was just that: a meaningful pause.

A country that functions with respect

From the very first moment, you realize that in Japan everything is designed to make living together easier.
Nobody shouts, nobody pushes, nobody litters.
Punctuality, order, cleanliness… are not rules, they are a way of being in the world.
And that is contagious.
It's hard to explain, but you feel it when you take the bullet train, when you enter a temple, or when you receive a ticket with both hands.
Small gestures that say a lot.
I came back wondering how much better we could all be if we all paid a little more attention to how we navigate our daily lives.

Inspiration in simplicity

I'm not a designer, but I'm always looking for ideas, references, details.
And Japan is full of them.
From the architecture to the way a two-square-meter restaurant is set up.
There's a clean, minimalist aesthetic, but with intention. Nothing is superfluous.
And the best part is how they combine the traditional with the modern without one canceling out the other.
It's a balance we'd love to reflect more at Pilatus: a product that works for both your everyday life in the city and a last-minute getaway.
Functionality without sacrificing style.
Aesthetics without sacrificing usability.

Rituals, silence and slow time

In Kyoto I spent hours walking among temples.
Sometimes I did nothing but watch.
Seeing people purify themselves with water before entering, writing wishes on wooden tablets, walking barefoot through wooden hallways.
All with a calm that we have lost here.
There I learned something that I try to bring back with me: you don't have to always be doing things.
Sometimes stopping is also moving forward.
And in a world where everything is fast, that pause organizes your ideas.

You come back different, even if it doesn't show on the outside.

Japan didn't give me new ideas. It gave me clarity.
It reminded me that you can live with less noise, more respect, and more attention to detail.
And that is not incompatible with continuing to train, work, and travel.
The other way around. That's exactly what makes that rhythm make sense.
I came back with more desire to do things right.
To build a brand that is not only about what you see, but also about what you feel.