passion@working

The Umbrellas of Happiness

Kitazawa Yoshihiro runs a family business in Japan. His grandfather started making Western style umbrellas when people stopped using the oil he sold to light their houses. Mr. Kitazawa learned how to make umbrellas at the age of 17 by watching his father make them for five years. He eventually made his first umbrella in 1955 at age 22. He has been making them with passion ever since.

Although mass-produced, much cheaper umbrellas are available just about everywhere, Mr Kitazawa's order books are full. He says that there is nothing easier than making an umbrella, the difficult piece is the part that cannot easily be taught, the passion. He believes that to sell something we must feel good about it - he feels passionate about each umbrella he makes. He also understands the importance of the work his wife does in sewing the pieces and knows that he couldn't work without her support. One of his strongest beliefs is that people who carry a high-quality umbrella will be showered with happiness. Who wouldn't want an Umbrella of Happiness? Read more about Mr Kitazawa

Passion Attracts Passion

Villa Nurtan was built by John and Ann Cummins in Orhaniye, where the Mediterranean meets the Aegean Sea. Using local labour and materials their aim was to create a peaceful retreat that is sympathetic to its surroundings. John and Ann are passionate about this region of Turkey and have helped the community in Orhaniye to develop and create their own tourist industry. They believe passionately about keeping local crafts alive and in giving back more than they take and this reflected clearly in the website John developed for the village.

The following quote jumps out from the Villa Nurtan website guest book:

“All the locals have been fantastic and would bend over backwards to help...nothing is too much trouble...you could not find a caretaker more passionate about the villa and especially the garden.”

The same words could be used to describe John and Ann's passion for Orhaniye. This passion has certainly influenced the local people who play an instrumental part in giving the villa's guests an outstanding holiday and much more than they expect when they make a booking.