INTERVIEWS

Together we are like a pot and its lid. We want to go everywhere together and stay together forever.

日本語 Interview by Isao Tokuhashi Edited by Jennifer A. Hoff info@myeyestokyo.com   Dewi Miyashita & Riri Watanabe Best friends The months of intense heat are finally coming to an end as we enter late autumn. However, we would like to introduce two women originally from Indonesia. Dewi Miyashita, a dancer, and Riri Watanabe, who supports her activities, became very close to each other in Japan—and make us feel like mid-summer is still with us. We first met them around June of last year (2022). These two bright and cheerful women were helping out with the “Multicultural One Family Festival,” an

INTERVIEWS

I wanted to be more honest with myself. If I want to change myself, I have to change my environment—that’s why I decided to go abroad.

日本語 Interview by Isao Tokuhashi Edited by Jennifer A. Hoff   Steward Goenardy (Indonesia) International student We at My Eyes Tokyo have been listening to the voices of many people from Indonesia, including tourists visiting Japan. And this time, we would like to introduce you to a person who is probably the youngest among them so far: Steward Goenardy, who is engaged in research on microorganisms at a university in Tokyo. We have mainly met with people who are engaged in business or unique activities in Japan, but we rarely have the opportunity to meet with people who come to Japan

INTERVIEWS

Even foreigners can do something in Japan. There is nothing they can’t do—That is what I want to prove.

日本語 Interview by Isao Tokuhashi Edited by Daniel Penso   Rino Senlewa Cafe owner/Barista/Cafe consultant Finally, we were able to conduct an in-depth interview with this person. In October 2020, My Eyes Tokyo editor-in-chief Tokuhashi participated in a PR project. He visited an old private house cafe in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture. An Indonesian man, Rino Senlewa, ran a small Indonesian coffee shop called “Mahameru Coffee” there. He never stopped moving, not even for a second, talking to customers while taking their orders and brewing coffee, and politely answered Tokuhashi’s questions even though he was so busy. Around the time

INTERVIEWS

Why do you want to learn English? – Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.21

Produced by Isao Tokuhashi Edited by Daniel Penso Mail to: info@myeyestokyo.com   Haneda Airport Located 14 kilometers (8.7 mi) south of Tokyo Station, it was the third-busiest airport in Asia and the fourth-busiest in the world in 2017, after Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport (Asia’s busiest), and Dubai International Airport. Haneda and Narita combined make Tokyo the third-busiest city airport system in the world, following London and New York City. *Haneda Airport. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved September 6, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haneda_Airport 日本語   Man from Indonesia I’m a medical doctor back home. This is our first trip

Happy Birthday to the countries!

Happy Birthday to Indonesia!

Dancers in traditional costume. *Photo from Wikipedia August 17 is Independence Day, celebrates the proclamation of Indonesia’s independence from Japan in 1945. The earliest evidence of Islamised populations in Indonesia dates to the 13th century in northern Sumatra; other Indonesian areas gradually adopted Islam which became the dominant religion in Java and Sumatra by the end of the 16th century. For the most part, Islam overlaid and mixed with existing cultural and religious influences. Europeans such as the Portuguese arrived in Indonesia from the 16th century seeking to monopolize the sources of valuable nutmeg, cloves, and cubeb pepper in Maluku.

INTERVIEWS

Why are Japanese walking so fast like Shinkansen? – Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.15

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 日本語   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

INTERVIEWS

How many years do we need to learn the Japanese language? – Tell me, Japanese people! Vol. 14

Produced by Isao Tokuhashi Edited by Kelly Sun Mail to: info@myeyestokyo.com   Roppongi Hills The mega-complex which incorporates office space, apartments, shops, restaurants, cafés, movie theaters, a museum, a hotel, a major TV studio, an outdoor amphitheater, and a few parks. *Roppongi Hills. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved September 18, 2017, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roppongi_Hills 日本語   Father and son from the US I am from Honolulu, Hawaii. It is my second time visiting Japan.I visited Japan when I was very young for the first time and it was only for flight transit. We’ve been here 4 days already. We stay in Shinjuku

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

We foreigners should not press for only own our demands.

Interviewed & written by Isao Tokuhashi Mail to: itokuhashi@myeyestokyo.com   Elok Halimah (Indonesia) Vice Chairperson of foreign representatives assembly (She’s been in Japan since 2002) Today we introduce you to Elok Halimah from Indonesia. She is a person whom My Eyes Tokyo has waited for because we felt the goal of her activities is close to our goal. She is working on creating a comfortable environment for foreigners in Kawasaki, a part of Greater Tokyo. Her activities are not at the grass-root level. They involve the government of Kawasaki, a city where 1.4 million people reside. Her goal is to create a