21 November 2025

Foundation is complete

The concrete foundation is officially complete! The contractors also carefully levelled the surrounding area, leaving the site neat and prepared for the next stage of construction.

18 November 2025

Foundation progress

The main foundation concrete is in place, with wooden supports still around the edges. Next, work will continue on the wheelchair-accessible slope at the front of the store and the side entrance step.

4–7 November 2025

Preparing the foundation

A beautiful autumn day and an important step forward: preparing the foundation and installing rebar. Now we’re ready for the concrete to be poured. Let’s hope for good weather! ▶️ Watch a short video

29 October 2025

Ground-breaking ceremony

Before construction begins, we held a traditional Japanese Jichinsai, a Shinto ceremony to bless the land and pray for safety during construction. 

The ceremony was held on a Taian (大安), traditionally considered an auspicious day for new beginnings. It was a memorable start to what will be an exciting journey ahead.

22 October 2025

On site landscaping meeting

I met on site with the landscaper and architect to review the garden plans. Although it rained throughout the meeting, it was helpful to see where water naturally pools. They discussed practical ways to manage the rainwater and keep the garden well-drained.

We also met with the plumbers that day to discuss water connections for the shop.

22 October 2025

Ground investigation

A ground investigation was conducted today to determine the firmness of the soil. The results showed that support piles will be needed beneath the foundation to ensure stability. The engineer worked hard in the rain to complete the testing, which was impressive to see.

17 October 2025

Marking the site

I often meet the architect on site to work out details of the project. Today, we revisited the footprint of the future shop and made some adjustments. It was helpful to get a clear sense of the space. 

We also took the opportunity to visit neighbours and surrounding shops to let them know construction will be starting soon. It was nice to connect with the community.

12 October 2025

Land preparation begins

Work has begun to prepare the land for construction. Soil was brought in and carefully filled and levelled to create a solid base for the area where the shop will be built. It’s exciting to see things starting to move!

Once construction is complete, the remaining areas around the shop will be filled in and prepared for the gardens.