For Ayako Nakano's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Meet the man who has only used a toilet 14 times this century: "Poop soil master" Masana Izawa explains the philosophy behind his carefully perfomed outdoor bathroom habits.
Drawing from nature and past experiences, jewerly maker Maho Kato says don't fear failure to live life to the fullest.
Narrator and voice actor Hidemitsu Shimizu on how he brings characters to life, who has the sexiest male voice and rapping about math for work.
Whether he's serving you drinks, playing you records or carrying a festival float, Wokini bar owner Kurotaki is detrmined to entertain you.
Chikayoshi Satomi, the man behind cult brand Punk Drunkers says, for him, the line between work and play is always blurred.
Museum curator Yayoi Motohashi on how she approaches exhibit design, her favorite works of art and a few guilty pleasures.
Name: Sosuke Kitamura Age: 59 Nationality: Japanese Occupation: Calligrapher Likes: Analog stuff, food, clothing, housing from 1960s Japan Dislikes: Digital stuff, especially touch screens 1. What do the kanji that comprise your first name mean? 宗 (so) means "to better oneself" and positively influence one's surroundings. My father chose a ...
Name: Mizuki Tanaka Age: 35 Nationality: Japanese Occupation: Sento (public bathhouse) mural painter Likes: Reading, art, movies Dislikes: Headaches 1. When did you first go to a public bathhouse and how did you like it? I went in my second year of university when I started to consider writing a ...
What brought you to Japan? I came here for the magic. Osaka is home to some of the best close-up magicians in the world. — Ben Daggers, magician Richard Brezina | COURTESY OF RICHARD BREZINA What's your favorite Japanese word or phrase? I like Japanese tongue-twisters; my ...
Luis Mendo's most embarassing moment is yet to come.
