INTERVIEWS

We should always think differently in order to succeed in business.

日本語 Interview by Isao Tokuhashi info@myeyestokyo.com   Aw Wanping (Singapore) Entrepreneur/Researcher One day we received a message on LinkedIn that said, “I came across one of your interviews and wonder if it would be possible to be interviewed.” This message was sent to us by an entrepreneur from Singapore. However, looking at her background, most of her experience was as a researcher in the medical field. The website of her company, TokudAw, introduced not only her but also her co-owners, but we were still very curious about how she started her own business in the travel field with almost no experience

INTERVIEWS

I have spent almost half of my life outside of my comfort zone. Because of this experience, I believe that we can overcome this tough situation together.

Interview by Isao Tokuhashi Edited by Jennifer A. Hoff Mail to: info@myeyestokyo.com   Soichi Tatsuzato National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter After 2020, many of us have had the longest and hardest time we have ever experienced. Nevertheless, we believe that all of you who are now visiting us have overcome, or are about to overcome, such hardships. We would like to introduce you to a gentleman who has been working in one of the industries that the New Coronavirus has hit hard. Soichi Tatsuzato is a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter. He considers his job is to be an “entertainer”, and

INTERVIEWS

Why do you like your country? – Tell me, Japanese people! Vol. 24

Produced by Isao Tokuhashi Edited by Jennifer A. Hoff Mail to: info@myeyestokyo.com   Hamarikyu Gardens, Chuo-ku Located at the mouth of the Sumida River, it was opened to the public April 1st, 1946. The park is surrounded by a seawater moat filled by Tokyo Bay. It was remodeled as a public garden park on the site of a villa of the Shogun Tokugawa family in the 17th century. *Hamarikyu Gardens. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved January 27, 2019, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamarikyu_Gardens 日本語   Man from Australia This is my first trip to Japan. There are seven of us on our trip and

INTERVIEWS

Why do Japanese people like natto? – Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.23

Produced by Isao Tokuhashi Edited by Jennifer A. Hoff Mail to: info@myeyestokyo.com   Rikugi-en Garden, Bunkyo-ku Rikugi-en (六義園) is one of the Tokyo metropolitan parks. The name Rikugi-en means Garden of the Six Principles of Poetry (六義) which comes from the idea of the six elements in waka (和歌, a type of poetry in classical Japanese literature), while en (園) means garden or park. The construction of the park took place between 1695 and 1702. The founder of Mitsubishi, Iwasaki Yatarō bought the garden in 1878 and restored it. It was donated to the Tokyo City government in 1938. *Rikugi-en.

INTERVIEWS

Isn’t it difficult to abide by social etiquette from a young age? – Tell me, Japanese people! Vol. 22

Produced by Isao Tokuhashi Edited by Jennifer A. Hoff Mail to: info@myeyestokyo.com   Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture Located approximately 30 kilometers from downtown Tokyo. The city is known locally as “Little Edo” (小江戸 Koedo) after the old name for Tokyo, due to its many historic buildings. *Kawagoe. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved November 18, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawagoe,_Saitama *Related article: Tokyo Getaways #3 Kawagoe ‘Ancient Edo’ Walking Tour 日本語   Man from Australia I’m originally from Sydney but have been living in San Francisco for the last two years. The reason I came to Kawagoe is that my wife’s host suggested it to

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

INTERVIEWS

Why are your shoes one size too big? – Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.20

Produced by Isao Tokuhashi Edited by Daniel Penso Mail to: info@myeyestokyo.com   Yanesen This word is formed with the initials of three neighborhoods: Yanaka (谷中), Nezu (根津) and Sendagi (千駄木) in Bunkyo-ku and Taito-ku, the northeastern area of Tokyo. It’s a non-commercial residential area known as “Shitamachi” (下町, old downtown) where there is a significant nostalgic and retro local atmosphere remaining. 日本語   Yanaka Located north of Ueno, there are around 70 small, privately owned stores in the area. Also, it is a district where more than 60 small Buddhist temples are situated. Couple from the US “We are from

INTERVIEWS

Why do you have the senior-junior relationship system? – Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.19

Produced by Isao Tokuhashi Edited by Jennifer A. Hoff Mail to: info@myeyestokyo.com   Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden One of the most popular destinations for cherry blossom viewing in Tokyo, which has approximately 1,500 cherry trees which bloom from late March (Shidare or Weeping Cherry), to early April (Somei or Tokyo Cherry), and into late April (Kanzan Cherry). *Shinjuku Gyoen. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved April 29, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinjuku_Gyoen *Another interview session at Shinjuku Gyoen: See this page. 日本語   Family and their friends from Norway We’re from Oslo, the capital city of Norway, and Bergen, a city on the west

INTERVIEWS

I don’t want Japan to change to be a lot more comfortable for me.

Interviewed by Isao Tokuhashi Mail to: info@myeyestokyo.com   Daniel Snowden (UK) Software Developer Today we introduce you to one of frequent visitors to Japan – Daniel Snowden from the United Kingdom. When we held a small drinking party in Roppongi, one of its attendees joined us with him. Fortunately all of our attendees could speak English, so he seemed to enjoy talking to local Japanese people and sharing his ideas with them. We’ve met him almost every time he came to Tokyo so far. Therefore we came up with an idea of interviewing him to return his attachment to our

INTERVIEWS

Do you get bored of cold weather? – Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.18

Produced by Isao Tokuhashi Edited by Katy Phillips Mail to: info@myeyestokyo.com   SHIBUYA HOTEL EN *Photo provided by SHIBUYA HOTEL EN The hotel is a 7-minute walk from Shibuya station and its JR, Tokyu, Keio, and Tokyo Metro lines. From the outside, it looks very western, but inside each floor is decorated to showcase both traditional and modern Japan. Many visitors from around the world have chosen this hotel for their travels around Tokyo. *See this page for more details. *Photos provided by SHIBUYA HOTEL EN 日本語   Man from UK I’m from Cardiff in Wales. This is my first