How will you remember 2020? Most of us will probably remember this as an unusual year. Many may remember it negatively because of the way COVID has altered our lives–or, if you are a business, then how it has affected the bottom line. Change is stressful, especially the dramatic change we’ve faced this year. Change can also be a chance for self-reflection and growth, or a moment of opportunity. We hope you’ve been able to squeeze plenty of positives from this year. Assuming you are in good health, and that your employment hasn’t been affected, then we’re sure you can…
Author: Seasider
There has been quite a buzz about the JR EAST Welcome Rail Pass 2020, which went on sale on October 16. While most JR rail passes can only be bought and used by visitors to Japan, this new pass is available to all foreign passport holders, regardless of visa status. The pass allows holders three consecutive days of unlimited travel on the Tohoku, Yamagata, Akita, Joetsu and Hokuriku shinkansen, along with JR East train lines and a number of local railways… for just ¥12,000 (or ¥6,000 for children 6~11). With the hiking season in full swing and the snow season…
Japan is full of international residents with interesting stories about how they got here and what they’re doing now. It always seems to involve unexpected twists and fortuitous encounters. One of those residents is Yokohama’s Brian Hutto. Hutto is the owner of Craft Sake Shoten, a casual sake-tasting room a few blocks from Yokohama Station. A little more than five years ago, Hutto was working in San Francisco in the hotel industry with no plans of moving to Japan. How do you go from there to being one of the few international residents in all of Japan to run a…
We are always singing the praises of Yokohama in this greeting–its convenience, laid-back atmosphere, sense of community, opportunity, tightly knit business network, friendly neighborhoods, music venues, art scene, educational institutions, relaxing strolls, and overall commitment to a balanced lifestyle. This city is great. But its greatest asset? Its people. Hopefully, you’ve been enjoying our interview series in which we feature the people who are making this city so dynamic. In the big scheme of things, their influence on the city’s culture may seem small. Collectively, their impact is priceless. Whatever you do, if you’re doing something positive for Yokohama, you’re…
1988 was the year I opened my first Japanese bank account. Wait! Did I say “I”? It wasn’t all me, actually. With no functional Japanese at the time and little English infrastructure in Japan, I wouldn’t have had much luck at a bank on my own. It was thanks to my senior colleague at the Japanese company where I worked that I was able to find one, be welcomed there and open an account. It didn’t hurt that my employer was one of the bank’s largest customers. I’m sure my connection with an important client was pretty much the only…
Ruth Jarman seems to have endless stores of energy and positive initiative. She’s a bona fide Hamakko (Yokohama-ite), having lived 18 years in the Hodogaya area before relocating to a quieter part of Kanagawa in recent years–her children graduating from Saint Maur and going overseas for school prompted the move. As the CEO of her eponymously named company, Jarman International KK, she stays busy helping Japanese companies and local governments reach targeted audiences–another way of saying “likely customers.” The customers Jarman helps with are primarily from the international community. Explaining her company, Jarman says, “We’re connectors. There’s this gap between…
We hope our readers have been enjoying the longer interviews with Yokohama illuminaries that we’ve been running these last few months. We find the personal stories interesting, educational and inspiring. They give us a better sense of the people who are shaping Yokohama culture and the local economy. These people may be friends, neighbors, former classmates or even clients. Hearing the details of their lives, we feel the closeness of this great community. Many of these individuals have been engaged in their work here for decades. But it doesn’t necessarily take that long to make a mark in the city…
Due to the rainy season ending the latest we’ve ever witnessed (August 1st!), the dog days of summer were tolerable. For beach lovers the absence of annual summer beach shacks was an almost alien experience, but getting out for a dip in the ocean during these times when many of us are spending more time at home has been more refreshing than ever. Fans of cooler weather can revel in the fact that we are on the edge of fall already. In the Yokohama Seasider have always highlighted optimism in uncertain times. We won’t alter course now! COVID-19 continues, but…
It’s difficult for an establishment in the lively Noge area to set itself apart, but Sandaime Hulk does so with a unique, engaging atmosphere and excellent cuisine made from locally procured ingredients. Previously a medical clinic, the residential-looking building was repurposed as an upscale izakaya near the beginning of 2020. The spacious interior is decorated with a seemingly endless variety of figurines, ceramics, and other ornaments providing a homey feel. Owner Hiroshi Kuroda chose the interesting name due to an admiration for the wrestler Hulk Hogan. A Chigasaki resident, Kuroda likes to showcase local pride as evidenced by a menu…
Teddy Lee is one of the most respected people in Yokohama’s Chinatown. A Yokohama native who graduated from Yokohama International School (YIS), he is the CEO of an extensive family business that includes Rose Hotel Yokohama, the Chungking Szechwan Chinese Restaurant group, and also a line of related packaged food products which are sold nationwide via its online shop. As if running such a complex business weren’t enough, from 2013, he served three two-year terms as chairman of Chinatown Development Association. Somehow, he still finds time for family and playing guitar. These days, however, his thoughts are occupied with how…