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Ayako Nakano
For Ayako Nakano's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Jun 29, 2019
Masana Izawa: The 'poop soil master' is dumping it outdoors
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.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Jan 26, 2019
Maho Kato: Living life by nature's design
Drawing from nature and past experiences, jewerly maker Maho Kato says don't fear failure to live life to the fullest.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Nov 10, 2018
Hidemitsu Shimizu: Realizing the full extent of vocal possibility
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.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Sep 8, 2018
Kosuke Kurotaki: The 'festival guy' who just wants everyone to have fun
Whether he's serving you drinks, playing you records or carrying a festival float, Wokini bar owner Kurotaki is detrmined to entertain you.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Jul 21, 2018
Punk Drunkers: When it's cool to be uncool
Chikayoshi Satomi, the man behind cult brand Punk Drunkers says, for him, the line between work and play is always blurred.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Jun 9, 2018
For curator Yayoi Motohashi, no exhibit detail is too small
Museum curator Yayoi Motohashi on how she approaches exhibit design, her favorite works of art and a few guilty pleasures.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Jan 27, 2018
Sosuke Kitamura: A man of painted words
Name: Sosuke Kitamura
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Jan 13, 2018
Mural painter can't relax in bathhouses
Name: Mizuki Tanaka
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Dec 31, 2017
20 Questions: The best answers of 2017
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.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Dec 23, 2017
Illustrator Luis Mendo: 'Only listen to intelligent people'
Luis Mendo's most embarassing moment is yet to come.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 4, 2017
Frederik Schodt recalls the 'different world' of manga translation in the 1970s
"I loved manga but there was no way to make a living (with it)," recalls manga translation pioneer Frederik Schodt.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Nov 25, 2017
Designer Takeshi Nishio prefers 'cute' to 'cool'
"Kawaii" has more sense of affection than "kakkoii," says designer Nishio.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Nov 11, 2017
Hiroyuki Shimizu: Tasty tips from a mobile deep-fried chicken cook
Tokyo street vendor on flexibility, lines for food and missing underwear.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Oct 21, 2017
Koto player Azumi Yamano revels in space and atmosphere
"The koto is a plucked string instrument in which the sound and music really reflect the player."
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Sep 23, 2017
Mayuko Okada's last meal: Pancakes over nattō
Japanese cooking teacher on the joys of Bills' famous creation and fermented soybeans.
Japan Times
CULTURE
Sep 14, 2017
Written or rapped, Seiko Ito has a way with words
It's hard to describe Seiko Ito with one handy label. When I ask my friends to do it, they struggle.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Sep 9, 2017
Michael Drzmisek Sozui: 'Come share a bowl of matcha'
A tea master explains the comforts of a three-tatami-room teahouse.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Aug 26, 2017
Sayuri Suzuki: Showbiz interpreter who works with witches and Dalmatians
Translator reveals the strangest request she's ever been asked in her career.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Aug 12, 2017
Larissa Corriveau: Cormorant fisher hooked on the small details
Cormorant fisher in Kyoto discusses her new challenges.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Jul 22, 2017
Paul Christie: Exploring the heart of Japan on foot
The British CEO of Walk Japan discusses hiking in Japan.

Longform

A statue of "Dragon Ball" character Goku stands outside the offices of Bandai Namco in Tokyo. The figure is now as recognizable as such characters as Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man.
Akira Toriyama's gift to the world