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Matt Kaufman
For Matt Kaufman's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Dec 22, 2018
Full stomachs and wallets at Osaka Hanten
At Osaka Hanten, Hisao Tanaka's mission to provide hearty meals at affordable prices comes from the chef's past experiences with hunger.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Nov 10, 2018
The standing bars of Osaka: Cheap, cheerful and nostalgic
The origin of tachinomi can be traced to the Edo Period (1603-1868), when sake shops started offering customers a quick tipple from square wooden measuring cups known as masu. Since then, they have become neighborhood institutions.

Longform

When trying to trace your lineage in Japan, the "koseki" is the most important form of document you'll encounter.
Climbing the branches of a Japanese family tree