About Yomoyama Magazine

From our earliest inceptions, we have been focused on giving insights into Nagano. We started as community newsletters which were collected, printed on a copier and distributed by hand. Back in 2010, expats living in Nagano came together to form these casual collections into the 8 Yomoyama magazine issues we now call the "Legacy Issues". With a combination of editors and other staff moving out of Nagano and changes to the community itself, the legacy issues ended with the summer 2014 issue.

As time moved on, there were still some in the community who held on to the memory of the Magazine. Nagano holds many wonders and experiences that are difficult to find especially for English speakers. Even with the vast internet, English resources for finding these unique experiences and exciting adventures are hard to find. Our staff is comprised of English community members who have deep knowledge of Nagano and either live or have lived in Nagano. With a new vision and renewed purpose for the magazine, our knowledgeable staff are hard at work writing this knowledge into our new issues as a resource for all English speakers traveling and living in Nagano.

Our Vision & Purpose

The purpose of our magazine is to meticulously craft and deliver high-quality content that resonates with travelers and expats seeking more than just surface-level experiences in Nagano prefecture. Through our commitment to authenticity, our magazine illuminates the rich tapestry of Nagano’s culture, from its hidden gems and exhilarating adventures to its revered traditions and festivals. By engaging directly with local Japanese voices, we offer unparalleled insights into life in Nagano, bridging cultural gaps and bringing the real Japan to our English-speaking audience. Our magazine serves not only as a guide but as a gateway to experiences that embody the essence of true exploration and the spirit of Nagano, encouraging our readers to forge lasting connections with this enchanting land.

Our publication is designed as A5 to make it easier to pack with you while you travel around to be a resource. We also are publishing our magazine and additional features online as a means to expand the value to our subscribers beyond the limitations of each publication. Following us on our various social media platforms will help you stay on top of the latest updates and newest resources we've compiled and added for you, our subscriber.

We have split our organization into two groups to better handle the workload required to publish our issues on-time with the highest quality. Our Editorial staff is in charge of everything written from the interviews, articles, and recipes and everything in between. They navigate the trans-language and cultural barriers to provide the best information possible in English to add to our publications. Our other Production Staff is focused on the actual publication itself, putting the written content into the magazine layout, publishing online, talking with advertisers, and organizing schedules.

Editorial Staff
Our Chief Editor is SJ Warso based in northern Nagano prefecture. As an English major, they provide a keen eye when reviewing making edits to best be understood to our English readers. They are very enthusiastic and have a fervent passion for Nagano and sharing in their writing.

Going back to our roots, we also have others in the community who write and conduct interviews under SJ Warso's guidance. Jonathan Edwards and Zach Nicholson are both regular writers who offer unique insights into their respective niches: culture and entertainment, and local food and drinks.

Production Staff
Based in Southern Nagano Prefecture, Nathan Vonderahe is the Production Manager handling everything for production and publication of each issue. This department also oversees collaborations, advertisers, our online presence, working with the printers and distributors, and everything else that is not a responsability of the Editorial Staff. 

Community Collaboration

As part of our roots, the community is extremely important to us. We are thrilled to work with collaborators to write content, as well as to co-promote each other with collaboration events. If you're interested in writing an article or have ideas for collaboration please contact us on our contact page.