Hans Damen came to Japan from his native Holland 16 years ago, attracted by the traditional aspects of Japanese culture, like "taiko" drumming and ikebana flower arrangement. After teaching flower design at a school in Tokyo for a year, he landed a job with the major flower retailer U.Goto Florist and has been with the company ever since.
Now chief designer at the company's main store in Tokyo's Roppongi district, the 45-year-old Damen juggles various duties, from handling customer orders to giving demonstrations at events to hatching ideas for the store's huge window display, which changes every month.
He says he enjoys the creative freedom the store gives him to explore new designs.