In the past, many versatile master artisans lived in Javorje. Jože Ceglar (1879‒1975) and Ivan Valenčič (1873‒1955) were known for their stonemasonry skills. Their craftsmanship is still visible in older houses, wells and other places. The Urhovi family had a smithy. Milan Urh (1923‒2014) worked in the smithy and also loved to play the accordion; he was a well-known folk musician. The Valin family had a carpentry shop. The village also boasted a tailor's shop (Jože Sluga and Franc Ljubič), inns (of the Koršovi, Lakačovi and later Šimetovi families in Klanec). Janez Valenčič (1906‒1978) was a well-known maker of cooking stoves, a tinsmith and a very gifted master. He was famous far and wide. His stoves are still in use today. For some time, the village also had a shop.
Tone Kusov was active in the cultural sphere at the time. Before he passed away, RTV Ljubljana filmed a show with him, in March 1982, for the “Colourful World” programme. Anton Ivančič aka Tone Kusov was a partisan teacher, folk poet and fairy tale writer. In 1920, he published his contributions in the Mali list newspaper, in the column "The tenth brother in Brkini". Some of his poems were published in the Mladika magazine. He was also writing for the Novice and Edinost newspapers. In 1923 the Edinost newspaper published his sketch “A Christmas Eve Abroad" which he had written while serving in an Italian military post. After World War II, he was a clerk in charge of culture and education. He later worked at home as a farmer but never ceased writing. His last poem was entitled “Dead happiness”. A notebook was found in which Tone Kusov described Brkini in the period around the two great wars. His original notation was published in three parts in the newsletter of the Municipality of Hrpelje - Kozina. At the end of his notation, he wrote: “This is not in-depth information, yet you should be aware that Brkini was not at all a backwater area and does not deserve to be looked down upon.” He wrote a poem entitled “Where does this white road lead” which has become a hymn of Javorje.
Albin Valenčič, the brother of Janez Valenčič, was a maker and repairman of accordions, as well as a popular folk musician. He sang the almost forgotten old melodies and helped write their note sheets. Following World War II, he worked as a male nurse in a military hospital in Maribor and was then reassigned to Rijeka. In the critical post-war period, he made firewood-fuelled cooking stoves for a living. He lived and worked in Croatia until his death and was a member of the Slovenski dom KPD Bazovica society, the Veseli fantje musical band and the Danica Cultural and Artistic Society in Pasjak. He made about 50 accordions, most of them for his fellow countrymen in Australia, but many also for buyers from Slovenia, Italy and the USA. He was a self-taught person. He learned the craft of making accordions in Trieste. He used to visit this Italian town as a child, with his father who sold firewood, potatoes and other produce there. They could sleep overnight at the home of his aunt who lived near the Ploner workshop where the popular “Triestina” accordion was manufactured in the period before World War II. He watched the craftsmen at work and sometimes helped them. He made his first diatonic accordion in 1948 in Rijeka, whereas his last one was of the Triestina model.
Two nuns were also born in Javorje, namely the already deceased Nada Ivančič – Sister Lavrencija (1918‒1999) and Gabrijela Valenčič – Sister Marjeta. Sister Marjeta still lives with the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Ilirska Bistrica. Until her death, Sister Lavrencija was also living there and she gave piano and music lessons to young people from Ilirska Bistrica.
Jože Ceglar (1950) was the Director of the Termoplasti Plama company for many years, until his retirement. He received an award of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia for outstanding business and entrepreneurial achievements in 2010.
Simon Gombač is a member of the Bežigrad Rugby Club and has been a member of the Slovenian National Rugby Team since 2008. He won the “Athlete of Karst and Brkini” award for his successful performance in the rugby national team.
Peter Ljubič, a reputable Slovenian handball referee, was born in Javorje and also lived here in his early childhood. He and his colleague Krstić referee at important handball matches such as the Handball World Championships and also at the finals of the London Olympics in 2012.
Teja Ljubič from the younger generation has several times been the champion and winner of many awards for playing the diatonic accordion.
Javorje is also the headquarters of the “Utrip” quintet which is a well-established group of singers that includes Andrej Ljubič, a local from Javorje.
There is no doubt that many other Javorje villagers have succeeded in establishing themselves in Slovenia and abroad, as the locals are known for their great wit and open heart.
Today, the young people in Javorje are diligent and educated. Some have already acquired high scientific titles. They are good singers and love to sing at festive events such as the patron saint’s festival named “opasilo” or the “škoromatija” carnival. Some are active members of singing choirs or groups and in the church choir.
Many Javorje villagers are also hunters and boules players.
Every single villager is noteworthy and valuable since it is the people who helped develop the village over the centuries so that it still exists today.