Produced by Isao Tokuhashi
Edited by Alisa Sanada
Mail to: info@myeyestokyo.com
Shibuya
Shibuya was historically the site of a castle in which the Shibuya family resided from the 11th century through the Edo period. Following the opening of the Yamanote Line in 1885, Shibuya began to emerge as a railway terminal for southwestern Tokyo and eventually as a major commercial and entertainment center.
*Shibuya. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved October 6, 2017, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibuya
Family from Spain
We’re from Andalusia in Southern Spain. We learn how to dance flamenco in childhood. But I cannot dance because I forgot how to do it lol.
This is my second trip to Japan, but my husband and son came here for the first time. We’ve been here for 2 days. We came to Shibuya to see a huge crossing and will go to Takeshita Dori Street in Harajuku to see cosplay people and visit a shrine near Yoyogi Park. We went to Nikko yesterday to see beautiful temples.
We’ll be here for 15 days and go to Kyoto and Hiroshima with Japan Rail Pass.
I love everything about Japan. I bought a small kimono for my son. And we’re planning to buy Japanese dresses and chopsticks for my friends. I love the country, its food and people… except for wasabi paste! It’s too strong for me lol
Question: What do you know about our country (Spain)?
Women from Indonesia
We came to Japan from Bali four days ago. We’ve stayed in Kyoto for two days and came to Tokyo. This is our first trip to Japan. We’ll leave here tomorrow.
We’d like to ask you. We want to buy the Japanese souvenirs and the cheaper, the better. We stay in Asakusa now, so we know there are many souvenir shops. We’ve already been to Daiso, a huge 100-yen shop chain, but there were just a few Japanese things. And we’ve already been to Uniqlo shops. So, where can we buy the reasonable Japanese souvenirs?
Question: Have you been to Bali?
Men from France
We’re from Paris. This is our first time visiting Japan. We’ve been in Tokyo for three days. We’ll be here for two weeks and stay in Tokyo for one week, then we’ll go to Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Kobe next week. We want to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but maybe we won’t have enough time.
I (left in photo) loved Japanese anime such as “Naruto”, “Bleach”, “Dragon Ball” when I was child and now I read books. So I don’t watch anime anymore besides Naruto.
I (right in photo) don’t watch anime. I prefer to read manga than watch anime, but I stopped reading manga two years ago because I got busy.
As for food, I (left in photo) have tried natto. I didn’t feel it was bad because we have some strong cheeses. But its taste was very special.
We have some questions. We’ve heard that there is a unique dialect in Osaka area. What’s the difference between Tokyo language and Osaka language? (MET gave them an example such as “Thank you”.) And what should we reply when restaurant staff say “Irasshaimase! (Welcome!)”? (MET told them that they don’t need to say anything.) Also what should we say after eating? (MET taught them the word “Gochisosama” meaning “Thank you for the meal”.)
Question: What do you think about France?
Women from Malaysia
We came here for the first time besides one girl. This is her second trip to Japan. Tokyo is very busy, but people are so polite and helpful. We came here yesterday and went to Lake Kawaguchi near Mt. Fuji by bus. Unfortunately it was cloudy so we couldn’t see the mountain very well.
We’ll go to Harajuku, then go to Akihabara to get some gadgets and Asakusa. We will be in Japan for eight days.
We want to see the crossing and Hachiko statue. We know how great the dog is. But cats are much popular than dogs in Malaysia lol We love Hello Kitty! Also we grew up watching “Doraemon”, a Japanese anime which revolves around a robotic cat.
As for anime, “Case Closed” (Also known as “Detective Conan”), “Naruto” “Dragon Ball” and “Crayon Shin-chan” are very popular in Malaysia.
Now we are looking for the interesting places in Shibuya. Do you know where they are?
Question: Why are Japanese walking so fast like Shinkansen?
Men from Bangladesh
We’re lawyers. We came here for the international conference for lawyers called “LAWASIA Conference”. It was held at Hotel New Otani in Tokyo this year. Japanese Crown Prince and Princess attended it.
*Far left in the photo is a student from Bangladesh attending a Japanese university.
We’ve been in Japan for one week and visited the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Disneyland, many temples and gardens and Hiroshima. We’ve enjoyed the river cruise, too. Japanese people are so helpful.
We’ll leave here tomorrow.
Opinion: We should give attention in English language.
Man from the US
I’m from Dallas, Texas. I came here last week and will be in Japan for two weeks.
(One of us asked him “Your T-shirt is very nice. What kind of T-shirt is it?)
It’s a Japanese band called “BABYMETAL”. Actually my favorite band is Iron Maiden. I have a friend who lived in Japan and she told me about them in 2011. I looked at some videos. It was interesting, but since they didn’t have an actual band, I was not into them. But when they got an actual band, they played much more interesting. I’ve been to their live concerts twelve times so far; In Japan seven times, the US and England the rest. One of my friends from England is coming to Japan tomorrow and go to their concert at Saitama Super Arena. Then I’ll be back here to go their live show held in Osaka in October. Of course I’ll enjoy the visit to Kyoto and Kobe, too.
Some of my friends listen to the Japanese idol group called “Momoiro Clover Z” and the Japanese band called “MAN WITH A MISSION”. I know AKB48, but I’ve not seen their shows.
I played the French horn when I was a high school student, but I’ve never played the guitar.
Question: If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
Thank you very much for your cooperation!
…Who wants to ask the next question?
Shibuya
*Interviews by Keiko Murayama, Kumiko Yuki, Misao Tachibana, Tomomi Tada
*Photos by Tomomi Tada
*Special thanks to Eikaiwa Begin
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