Japan journal #2: Running With Dallas - Our Whirlwind Week in Japan

When our VIBAe team—Kalle, Minna, and Tara—flew from Finland to Japan, we expected a week of meetings, sightseeing, and sushi. What we didn’t expect was a full-blown cardio workout trying to keep up with our Japanese distributor, Dallas—a 71-year-old force of nature. Here's a rare picture of the man sitting down!

The Man, The Legend

Dallas is originally from Maine but has called Japan home for over 50 years. He first arrived in 1970 for the Osaka World Expo, fell in love with the country—and with Miki, who later became his wife.

Today, they run a company called Songo River (named after a river in Maine) that operates a creative hub and VIBAe store in Tokyo called The LOCK (inspired by the Songo Lock). It’s more than a store and a cafe—it’s a space for workshops, exhibitions and community events.

The Dallas Dash

Dallas is not only our distributor but an old friend of Ludo, one of VIBAe’s founders. This trip wasn’t just business; it was a reunion, an adventure, and a deep dive into the culture Dallas so clearly loves. When he greeted our team – Kalle, Minna, and Tara – at the station, we had no idea we were about to embark on what we now affectionately call "The Dallas Dash."

The moment we met him, he was already several steps ahead, weaving through Tokyo's crowded streets with the confidence of someone who'd spent half a century mastering the art of urban navigation in one of the world's busiest cities. “Come on, it’s just at the end of this road”, he cheered us on. (The roads are reeeaaally long in Tokyo 😊)

Dallas zipped us from one Tokyo neighborhood to the next, from train to metro, eager to show every location that sells (or soon will sell) our shoes. “Retail, retail, retail!” he smiled without breaking a sweat, while we were gasping for breath between stations. The pace of Tokyo (and Dallas) is relentless and we watched Japanese commuters doze off gracefully as the city rushed by, sometimes joining them... 

We had to laugh, trying to imagine what the Japanese must think when they visit the capitol of Finland, Helsinki. Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo sees 2.4 million crossings a day—our entire capital city has only 686,000 people! They must arrive in Finland and wonder if the apocalypse already happened!

We quickly learned the essentials about building business relationships in Japan – it takes time to build trust here. Where China might be known for mass production, Japan stands for impeccable quality. Japanese consumers and retailers are incredibly particular – everything must be perfect, from the product to the presentation to the relationship.

The Japan You Don't See in Brochures

Between store visits, we absorbed the unwritten rules of Japanese society:
Never eat while walking. There are no trash cans, but also no litter – people take their trash home. The trains and metros are packed to the brim- but also spotlessly clean and eerily quiet – no talking allowed. The pace is relentless, so no wonder people catch up on sleep whenever they can, often dozing off on those immaculate trains.

If there's one word that captures Japan, it's precision. We saw it everywhere – from the immaculate train schedules to the department store food halls that left us speechless.
Strawberries arranged in perfect geometric rows, each berry identical in size and color. Biscuits wrapped identically with dried edible flowers placed at precisely the same angle. This attention to detail extends to everything in Japan.

Throughout our whirlwind tour, Dallas was the consummate host, ordering every meal and ensuring we experienced the best of Japanese cuisine. The culinary highlight came in Kyoto, where Dallas led us to his favorite stall in the food market for melt-in-your-mouth Kobe beef skewers. The tiny stall's bathroom featured a heated Toto toilet – a luxury we quickly discovered was standard throughout Japan, from high-end restaurants to train stations.

Finnish Connections

While VIBAe is just beginning its Japanese journey, we discovered we have powerful cultural allies – the Moomins. Yes, Finland’s beloved hippo-ish trolls are huge in Japan. A visit to the Moomin store revealed the phenomenon firsthand, with shoppers eagerly queuing before opening time.

There seems to be something about Finnish design – the simplicity, the connection to nature, and the quality – that resonates deeply in Japan. It was a heartening sign for our Finnish footwear brand looking to make inroads in this discerning market.

The Perfect Host

After 50 years in and out of Japan, Dallas navigates the cultural nuances effortlessly, shifting between his American roots and Japanese sensibilities with grace.

As we flew back home, we carried with us more than just memories. We brought back inspiration from a country where excellence is a way of life, and where someone like Dallas can build a bridge between East and West—not just with business, but with heart.