While sitting and chatting in Starbucks in Meguro, fellow photographer Herbie Yamaguchi asks me, “Did you know that next to the Leica store in London there is a life-size, bronze statue of Donovan shooting the model/actress Twiggy?” Englishman Terence Donovan started his famous career as a fashion photographer with those photos of Twiggy, then went on to shoot the likes of Margaret Thatcher, Jimi Hendrix, Lady Diana and other celebrities. Born in 1936 to a British working class family, he originally pursued a career as a chef, but in 1957 switched gears to move into the world of photography. In…
Author: Seasider
Fans of premium sake, rejoice! In June the Meishu Center Yokohama opened its doors for business, boasting a selection of about 100 different high-end sake. Bottles indicating staff recommendations and tasting notes cover one wall of this cosy standing bar. A few small tables and two enticing fridges packed with sake complete the interior. The bar is run by American Brian Hutto, who moved to Japan in early 2016. He fell in love with sake and decided to start exporting it. To further financially support his business, adding a bar was a logical move for him. Now officially a Certified…
As the rainy season comes to a close and summer truly gets underway, we welcome the appearance of beer gardens and beach houses. Cold beer and a dip in the ocean are surely great ways to beat the heat. Heading to the mountains for some hiking is another fine option. We are fortunate in Yokohama to be able to enjoy life in a cosmopolitan city and yet have easy access to nearby beaches and mountains. The summer season is also celebrated with fireworks festivals in virtually every city and town across the country. These festivals are enjoyed by all from…
There is a colloquial saying in Kumamoto that goes, “Dekuru kotsuba dekuru shiko”. It means to do what you can, but don’t push yourself. If you simply read the words in Japanese as they are, it sounds a little strange, especially if you aren’t familiar with the dialect. But if you come upon it in conversation, it’s much easier to grasp the meaning. The phrase came up in a conversation with fellow photographer Taisei Kanamoto. I’m not sure why, but it got stuck in my head. Kanamoto was born in Kumamoto Prefecture in September of 1961. He grew up in…
Opened in April of 2016, Blue Moon Zushi is the sister restaurant of the popular beach house of the same name in Isshiki-Kaigan. A short walk from Zushi Station, the restaurant offers the same comfortable and cosy atmosphere as the beach house. Its friendly staff, intimate decor, and throwback music selection of reggae and chill tunes from the 70s make it a welcome addition to the Zushi city center. Being close to the ocean, it’s no surprise that Blue Moon has a varied selection of sashimi (¥1000~) as part of their main offerings. On our visit these included Misaki tuna,…
If you are looking for some outdoor fun this summer season, then we highly recommend Camp Baird, in Shuzenji, Shizuoka. There are many highlights to speak of. The surrounding Izu peninsula is rich with nature, offering plenty of biking and hiking opportunities. The town of Shuzenji is famous for hot springs, too, and campers have day-use access to some. Anything else? Indeed; the campgrounds are located on the property of one of Japan’s biggest and best craft breweries: Baird Brewing. Some in Yokohama might already be familiar with the name, as the company operates Bashamichi Taproom, the popular barbecue and…
Sake bar “be Rock” is located along the Ooka River just across from the popular nightlife district of Noge. You won’t miss the sake bottles placed out to welcome visitors. This spacious bar has a modern design with a raised ceiling and high tables. The all-glass front facing the riverside is especially impressive. Owner Mana Tanaka developed a passion for sake and decided to return to school to study brewing science. She frequently visits sake breweries all over Japan in order to decide which products should be on her menu. In her mind, direct communication with the brewers allows her…
Even though Yokohama is recognized as a cosmopolitan city, there are few studios that offer yoga classes in English. Well, we have good news for those looking for such a place. Migiwa Yoga offers classes in both English and Japanese conducted by Chami Nagai, an experienced instructor with an international background. Although Chami was born in Nagano Prefecture, since childhood she has lived in five foreign countries. It has always been her desire to be involved in some form of community service. In her 20s she spent three years in an impoverished area of Cambodia providing educational support. In 2011…
It’s always good for a professional photographer when a talented director reaches out. The nature of the work, of course, and also the actual person in charge is very important beyond the work itself. Just the other day, a branding company called Cell Division conducted new employee training. The company motto is to share the dream of the customer. That means being a good partner, presenting an array of options and then fulfilling that dream. It necessitates experience and knowledge that enables one to present wide-ranging solutions. With that in mind, the director’s idea was to bring the new employees…
June is France Month in Yokohama. Every year, we help spread awareness of the associated events. We are grateful this year to have received support from Vranken-Pommery, the French champagne producer (see back cover), to provide this coverage, starting on page 16. We hope you will enjoy a little bit of France in Japan this month, and also drink some bubbly from this generous sponsor. We now want to draw your attention to all those advertising in these pages because without them, we can’t produce this community magazine–it is funded entirely by their support. If you enjoy reading us, we…