Features

Ceremony of the 10th Japan International MANGA Award

Reported by Isao Tokuhashi Photos by Yutaka Toyama Mail to: info@myeyestokyo.com   The season of “Nobel Prize of manga” also came this year. The Japan International MANGA Award was set up in 2007, a desire of Mr. Taro Aso, the Foreign Minister then. Mr. Aso thought, “We want to give a ‘Nobel Prize for Manga’ as people from its birthplace to the young standard-bearers of Manga abroad”. In 2017, they marked the 10th anniversary of the award. 296 works were submitted from 55 countries/regions – the largest number ever. Moreover, works were exhibited from Estonia, Kuwait, Democratic Republic of Congo,

INTERVIEWS

Why do Japanese teens take so many selfies? – Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.4

Produced by Isao Tokuhashi Edited by Daniel Penso Mail to: info@myeyestokyo.com   Meiji Jingu Shrine The Shinto shrine that is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji (明治天皇) and his wife, Empress Shoken (昭憲皇后). Founded on November 1, 1920. *Meiji Shrine. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 6, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji_Shrine 日本語   Women from US and Israel Woman from New York: I’m Sheri from New York (*Shown at far left in the photo above) and both of them are Naomi from New York and Israel. We’ve been friends for many years. Naomi from Israel has been here several times

INTERVIEWS

I believe conflicts can be resolved with a ball.

Interviewed & written by Isao Tokuhashi Mail to: itokuhashi@myeyestokyo.com   Daisuke Ikenaga Part2 Playing manager of French baseball team We bring you the interview of Daisuke Ikenaga, a playing manager of the French baseball team called “Savigny Lions”. Now we tell you his activities as a bridge between Japan and France. – Daisuke Ikenaga – Born in Tokyo in 1980. He started playing the baseball in 5th grade. After he graduated university, he worked part-time and took team tryout tests. Moved to the US in 2005 he joined a team called “Japan Samurai Bears” there. After the US, he played

INTERVIEWS

French farm players were almost all amateurs. I wondered whether they could play catch well.

Interviewed & written by Isao Tokuhashi Mail to: itokuhashi@myeyestokyo.com   Daisuke Ikenaga Part1 Playing manager of French baseball team Have you heard of the “independent baseball league”? In Japan, there are independent leagues separate from the professional baseball. There are 4 leagues in Japan called respectively “Baseball Challenge League” “Shikoku Island League Plus” “Kansai Independent League” and “Girl’s Professional Baseball League“. Today we introduce you to a young baseball player who works as a bridge between Japanese independent leagues and a French team. Daisuke Ikenaga, a playing manager of the French baseball team called “Savigny Lions”. We met him through

INTERVIEWS

What I hate in Japan is that people don’t make much of their own history.

Interviewed & written by Isao Tokuhashi Mail to: info@myeyestokyo.com   Stephane Danton (France) Japanese tea merchant (He’s been in Japan since ’92) Stephane Danton has been offering unique products with his fresh ideas. You can relax yourself with a cup of fragrantly-scented tea and delicious cakes there. Also you can buy adorable gadgets at a shop. He created such a relaxing space, so you may think he is a calm person. But actually he offers harsh words about Japan and Japanese people. This healing space was created by his adversarial quality. *Interview at “Ocharaka” (Kichijoji, Tokyo) *You can learn his business

INTERVIEWS

I’m not Japanese. I’m not French. I’m myself.

Interviewed & written by Isao Tokuhashi Mail to: itokuhashi@myeyestokyo.com   Maia (Japan/France) Musician (Born in Tokyo and raised in Paris) We enjoyed talking with Maia, a musician who has both a French and Japanese cultural background. She sings and plays many kinds of instruments, such as flute, sax, pandeiro (Brazilian tambourine) and so on. Maia has been really familiar with many kinds of music since she was a child. It’s because of her unique environment. Actually her music life started at age 6, when she started to play the piano. But not only that. You’ll see how her surroundings are and