INTERVIEWS
One rakugo performer is holding very simple tools and create anything by themselves. That’s the magic of rakugo.
Interviewed & written by Isao Tokuhashi Mail to: itokuhashi@myeyestokyo.com Spence Zaorski (USA) Graduate student/Rakugo researcher (He’s been in Japan since 2006) My Eyes Tokyo went west to Osaka and Kyoto (cities in Kansai region, western Japan) then we had interviews with two foreigners. Both of them really loves one of the traditional Japanese art called “rakugo”（落語）. Rakugo is a Japanese verbal entertainment. Look at a picture above. A guy wearing kimono sits on a cushion and tell comedic stories to the audience. “Raku” means “fall”, “Go” means “Words” then “rakugo” means “punchline”. (see more → Click) . Rakugo has a very long history and people
INTERVIEWS
What people eat or what people drink is a window onto the culture.
Interviewed & written by Isao Tokuhashi Mail to: itokuhashi@myeyestokyo.com Melinda Joe (USA) Sake/food journalist （She’s been in Japan for several years） Do you like sake, a Japanese alcoholic beverage made from rice? If so, how much do you love it? We met an American woman who really loves it enough to work for that. Melinda Joe, a sake/food journalist. She is the drinks editor for Bento.com (a website which provides you information of restaurants and bars in Japan) and a frequent contributor to publications such as CNNGo and Japan Times (One of Japan’s English newspapers). Also she writes articles
INTERVIEWS
My goal is to spread fake food replicas originating from Osaka around the world.
Justin D. Hanus (USA) Founder/CEO of Fake Food Japan (Resident in Japan since 2001) Have you seen “fake food replicas”? Ones that are made out of plastic and sculpted to look like actual dishes? The fake food items we’re referring to are the ones in display cases of restaurants or cafes throughout Japan. Mr. Hanus started the “Fake Food