Knee High Media Japan

Knee High Media Japan is a creative publisher and media agency founded and based in Tokyo, Japan since 1996. The agency is run by a husband-wife editorial and creative team, Lucas Badtke Berkow (U.S.A.) and Kaori Sakurai (Shizuoka, Japan).
History:
The first magazine Knee High Media originally produced was Tokion, a print publication which shed light on Tokyo's unique and dynamic youth culture while maintaining a balanced perspective on the rest of the world. Tokion's editorial focus is often cited as a primary example of kickstarting the movement of collaborations between businesses and brands with publications which abound today. Today, Tokion is considered an archetypal cultural magazine.
In 2000, Tokion further increased its reach by initiating a Chinese-translated version which supplemented the separately published American version which had been publishing since 1997.
In 2000, Kaori Sakurai began to lead another print publication focusing on getting children 5 to 8 years old excited about creativity, life and culture. Mammoth also spun off into Baby Mammoth which inspired new mothers. In 2008 on Children's Day in Japan, Mammoth started the Mammoth Pow-Wow, an annual event with live music, workshops and camping which families could attend.
In Spring 2002, in response to evolved tastes, Lucas and Knee High Media Japan began working on Paper Sky Magazine which celebrated a life of travel while focusing on culture and lifestyle. The aim of the magazine is to be a journey itself, inspiring readers to actually make the same trip.
While running these publications, Knee High Media also drafted the blueprints and produced METRO MIN (2002-2003) which is still known as the first free subway paper in Tokyo.
In addition to their independent publications, Knee High Media also developed a creative media consulting agency, Knee High Creative, to assist international clients setting up their own media to better communicate their message and vision in Japan.
In 2004, Knee High Media produced a concept store in Tokyo's Aoyama district by turning Paper Sky Magazine into a bookstore. The store was titled Book 246 and was a place to get information and travel goods, tools and books and guides in Japanese, English and other languages.
In 2006, Lucas Badtke-Berkow teamed up with Japanese personality Seiko Ito to produce Planted magazine, adopting the slogan, "life with plants on this planet." After three years and 9 issues, Planted ceased print circulation and due to naming and copyright issues, was rebranded, re conceived and continued in a WebTV format now known as Plants+, or Plants Plus. Producing a series of short programs in TV format to continue telling their story, Lucas is often joined by Seiko Ito on excursions trips and shows covering anything relating to life with plants.
In December 2009, Paper Sky Magazine returned to offering bilingual content and started an online International Edition which focused on people behind the places. Lucas and Knee High Media Japan adopted the idea of Applied Media and launched Papersky clubs (Books, Mountain, Japan, Bicycle and Food) for their readers to join and get involved with the stories presented online as well as in the magazine.

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