Connect & Co: International Community Building Hub

# ☕ Sunday Morning Swedish Fika Coffee: Fukuoka's Beloved Monthly Tradition

Join us this month for our beloved monthly Fika tradition as we gather at a beautiful third wave coffee shop. This wonderful venue represents the perfect setting for our community to come together and celebrate the art of meaningful connection over exceptional coffee and delicious pastries. This month's gathering continues our tradition of creating spaces for genuine conversation and deep connection, right here in Fukuoka.

Nestled along the serene banks of a gently flowing river, our chosen venue embodies everything that makes fika magical. This charming third wave coffee shop sits like a hidden gem within a waterside community facility, where the gentle murmur of flowing water creates the perfect soundtrack for meaningful conversation and deep connection. The location itself feels like stepping into a peaceful sanctuary, with panoramic views of the river and surrounding parkland that transport you far from Fukuoka's urban intensity.

Important: Attendance will be checked against our confirmed RSVP list. Members on the waiting list should not attend unless specifically notified of an available spot.
📅 Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM - 1 PM
📍 Location: TBD (Fukuoka) - The specific venue location will be shared with confirmed attendees one week prior to the event, ensuring an exclusive experience for our committed community members while allowing everyone time to plan their journey to this hidden gem in Fukuoka's coffee landscape.)

RSVP: Your response confirms your attendance. If your plans change and you can no longer join us, please update & cancel your RSVP promptly to allow others the opportunity to participate.
Attendance Policy: Members who RSVP 'yes' but fail to attend the event, or who cancel on the event day without sufficient advance notice, will be considered a 'no-show.' After three no-show instances, membership will be automatically revoked. This policy helps ensure fair opportunities for all interested participants and maintains the integrity of our RSVP system.
(出席ポリシー： RSVPで「参加する」と返答したにも関わらずイベントに参加しなかった会員、または当日に十分な事前通知なしにキャンセルした会員は「無断欠席」とみなされます。無断欠席が3回に達した場合、会員資格は自動的に取り消されます。このポリシーは、すべての関心のある参加者に公平な機会を確保し、RSVPシステムの信頼性を維持するためのものです。)

Thanks to the venue's spacious setting, we're able to welcome up to 40 people for this month's Fika gathering! If you've been waiting to join us, now's your chance. We still encourage you to sign up early as our events tend to fill quickly. In the event the RSVP is full, please add your name to the waitlist as people often cancel, giving you the opportunity to secure a spot.

# Understanding Fika: More Than Just Coffee

Fika is a Swedish ritual of slowing down. It's always social – fika is not something that you do by yourself – and typically involves a cup of coffee and a sweet bite to eat. It has been described as a social institution or even phenomena in Sweden, giving people the opportunity to meet and hang out with friends, get to know new people, or network with business folks.
What distinguishes the Swedish coffee break from our own coffee-consuming traditions is that fika is about slowing down. Coffee represents a true break, a moment to sit and contemplate on your own, or to gather with friends. It's meant to be a way to hit the pause button on work and life stress and just enjoy the moment.
While people commonly meet for fika in a café, the break can take place anywhere, including parks, meeting rooms, or even at home. In Sweden, fika is also a state of mind, an indispensable part of the day that's more about the act of socializing and its effects than the comestibles involved (although they're important too).
Our monthly Fika events embrace this beautiful Swedish tradition, creating a space where we can all take a moment to connect meaningfully over excellent coffee and treats.

## What makes our monthly Fika special:

• Experience expertly roasted and crafted coffee from one of Fukuoka's finest roasters
• Enjoy their selection of delicious pastries that perfectly complement your brew
• Connect with familiar faces and welcome newcomers to our growing community
• Continue our monthly tradition of slowing down and connecting through coffee

## What to expect:

• Engaging conversations about travel, culture, coffee, and life
• Strengthening our monthly Fika community with new and existing friendships

## Cost: The event is FREE. Just pay for your own drinks and food.

• Coffee drinks range from ¥500 - ¥800
• Pastries available from ¥450
• Cashless payments accepted (credit cards and electronic payments)

Join us for this month's cozy Sunday morning gathering. Let's continue our monthly Fika tradition with exceptional coffee and even better company!
Looking forward to sharing another memorable "Fika" moment with you all!
Best regards,
Mark
P.S. As always, feel free to arrive a few minutes early to secure your preferred coffee and settle in comfortably.

Intimate natural wine gathering at artisan wine bar with California vibes. A journey through rare French and German natural wines with select Japanese offerings in a Georgia O'Keeffe-inspired space featuring handcrafted ceramics.

## Natural Wine Journey: Where California Warmth Meets Japanese Craftsmanship

### For a seamless registration experience, please review the information below and visit the Details tab before reserving your spot.

Step into an evening where natural wine culture meets artistic expression in one of Tokyo's most enchanting hidden gems. This isn't just a wine tasting—it's an immersive experience in a space where dusty pink and mint gradients evoke Georgia O'Keeffe paintings, handcrafted ceramics tell their own stories, and every bottle has been selected with the same care a curator brings to a gallery opening.
Created by a California chef who brought farm-to-table philosophy to Tokyo, this intimate wine bar exists in the peaceful residential streets of Meguro as a love letter to natural wine culture. The space features around 60 carefully selected bottles—primarily from France and Germany's most respected natural wine producers, complemented by select bottles from Japan's emerging winemakers. Here, the sommelier doesn't just pour wine—they guide you through flavor profiles, regional stories, and the passionate producers behind each bottle.

### What Makes This Evening Special

Relaxed Atmosphere: Wine served in a gallery-like space featuring handcrafted ceramics, wine coolers carved from Hokkaido birch.
European Natural Wine Focus: Access to rare French and German natural wines that would cost multiples more in other cities—from classic Pinot Noir to citrus-scented naturals and hard-to-find producers, plus select Japanese wines showcasing local terroir.
Intimate Setting: Limited to just 20 wine enthusiasts, ensuring personal attention from the sommelier and the unhurried pace that natural wine culture deserves.
Pay As You Go: Order wines by the glass at your own pace (¥1,000-¥2,500 per glass) with optional artisan cheeses and small plates available to complement your selections.

### Your Natural Wine Journey

• French Exploration: Choose from exceptional natural wines from France's renowned regions—perhaps a Loire Valley white or a Jura oxidative beauty
• German Discovery: Experience Germany's celebrated natural wine movement with selections showcasing minerality and precision
• Japanese Touch: Sample select bottles from Japan's emerging wine scene as an intriguing contrast to European styles
• Artisan Accompaniments: Order handcrafted cheese selections and small plates that complement each wine's character
• Sommelier Guidance: Receive expert recommendations based on your preferences and learn about the winemakers, terroir, and techniques behind each bottle in an intimate, conversational setting
• Flexible Experience: Taste at your own pace, ordering as many or as few glasses as you'd like throughout the evening

### What to Expect

• Wines by the glass ranging from ¥1,000 to ¥2,500, paid individually as you order
• Access to purchase any featured bottles at bottle shop prices to take home
• Intimate setting limited to 20 wine lovers in an art-filled, California-inspired space
• Personal recommendations for your future wine explorations
• Casual, unhurried atmosphere where you control your own experience

### Perfect For Wine Lovers Who

• Are curious about natural wine but don't know where to start
• Appreciate the stories and craftsmanship behind what they drink
• Want to explore European natural wine traditions with expert guidance
• Love intimate experiences where the setting is as thoughtful as what's in the glass
• Prefer genuine conversation with knowledgeable guides over formal, stuffy tastings
• Are drawn to spaces where art, craft, and hospitality intersect
• Seek access to rare French and German natural wines at Tokyo's unbeatable prices
• Enjoy the flexibility of ordering at their own pace without fixed tasting menus

Join us for this exclusive evening where California warmth, Japanese craftsmanship, and European natural wine culture come together in one of Meguro's most beautiful hidden spaces. Limited to 20 guests who understand that the best wines are meant to be savored slowly and shared with interesting company.

### Important Cancellation Policy

Due to the intimate nature of this experience and limited capacity, please cancel at least 24 hours before the event if you cannot attend. This ensures fairness to other wine enthusiasts on our waitlist.

### Important Details

This is a pay-as-you-go experience. Wines by the glass range from ¥1,000 to ¥2,500, and artisan cheeses and small plates are available for purchase. Non alcoholic drinks available. You can also purchase bottles to take home at shop prices.

### TBD - Artisan Natural Wine Bar

Natural wine bar and bottle shop featuring California vibes meets Japanese craftsmanship. Art-filled space with around 60 carefully curated bottles—primarily French and German natural wines with select Japanese offerings. Created by California chef bringing farm-to-table philosophy to Tokyo's wine scene.

#### Location

TBD - Tokyo (exact location revealed to confirmed attendees 48 hours prior)

# ☕ Sunday Morning Swedish Fika Coffee: Tokyo's Beloved Monthly Tradition

Join us this month as our beloved monthly Fika tradition continues in the comfort of a carefully curated third wave café housed within modern air-conditioned architecture in central Tokyo. Recognizing the intense summer heat and humidity that defines Tokyo's July weather, we've selected a beautifully climate-controlled venue with exceptional architectural design that creates an inspiring backdrop for meaningful connections over exceptional coffee.
Our chosen location embodies the artisanal coffee movement with expertly crafted single-origin beans, precise brewing methods, and passionate baristas who elevate coffee to an art form. This intimate setting provides the perfect respite from Tokyo's summer intensity while maintaining the serene, contemplative atmosphere that makes our monthly Fika gatherings so special.
Important: Attendance will be checked against our confirmed RSVP list. Members on the waiting list should not attend unless specifically notified of an available spot.
📅 Date: Sunday, December 14, 2025
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM - 1 PM
📍 Location: TBD (Central Tokyo) - The specific venue location will be shared with confirmed attendees one week prior to the event, ensuring an exclusive experience for our committed community members while allowing everyone time to plan their journey to this hidden gem in Tokyo's coffee landscape.)

RSVP: Your response confirms your attendance. If your plans change and you can no longer join us, please update & cancel your RSVP promptly to allow others the opportunity to participate.
Attendance Policy: Members who RSVP 'yes' but fail to attend the event, or who cancel on the event day without sufficient advance notice, will be considered a 'no-show.' After three no-show instances, membership will be automatically revoked. This policy helps ensure fair opportunities for all interested participants and maintains the integrity of our RSVP system.
(出席ポリシー： RSVPで「参加する」と返答したにも関わらずイベントに参加しなかった会員、または当日に十分な事前通知なしにキャンセルした会員は「無断欠席」とみなされます。無断欠席が3回に達した場合、会員資格は自動的に取り消されます。このポリシーは、すべての関心のある参加者に公平な機会を確保し、RSVPシステムの信頼性を維持するためのものです。)

Thanks to the venue's spacious setting, we're able to welcome up to 40 people for this month's Fika gathering! If you've been waiting to join us, now's your chance. We still encourage you to sign up early as our events tend to fill quickly. In the event the RSVP is full, please add your name to the waitlist as people often cancel, giving you the opportunity to secure a spot.

# Understanding Fika: More Than Just Coffee

Fika is a Swedish ritual of slowing down. It's always social – fika is not something that you do by yourself – and typically involves a cup of coffee and a sweet bite to eat. It has been described as a social institution or even phenomena in Sweden, giving people the opportunity to meet and hang out with friends, get to know new people, or network with business folks.
What distinguishes the Swedish coffee break from our own coffee-consuming traditions is that fika is about slowing down. Coffee represents a true break, a moment to sit and contemplate on your own, or to gather with friends. It's meant to be a way to hit the pause button on work and life stress and just enjoy the moment.
While people commonly meet for fika in a café, the break can take place anywhere, including parks, meeting rooms, or even at home. In Sweden, fika is also a state of mind, an indispensable part of the day that's more about the act of socializing and its effects than the comestibles involved (although they're important too).
Our monthly Fika events embrace this beautiful Swedish tradition, creating a space where we can all take a moment to connect meaningfully over excellent coffee and treats.

## What makes our monthly Fika special:

• Experience expertly roasted and crafted coffee from one of Tokyo's finest roasters
• Enjoy their selection of delicious pastries that perfectly complement your brew
• Connect with familiar faces and welcome newcomers to our growing community
• Continue our monthly tradition of slowing down and connecting through coffee

## What to expect:

• Engaging conversations about travel, culture, coffee, and life
• Strengthening our monthly Fika community with new and existing friendships

## Cost: The event is FREE. Just pay for your own drinks and food.

• Coffee drinks range from ¥500 - ¥800
• Pastries available from ¥450
• Cashless payments accepted (credit cards and electronic payments)

Join us for this month's cozy Sunday morning gathering. Let's continue our monthly Fika tradition with exceptional coffee and even better company!
Looking forward to sharing another memorable "Fika" moment with you all!
Best regards,
Mark
P.S. As always, feel free to arrive a few minutes early to secure your preferred coffee and settle in comfortably.