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Matt Kaufman
For Matt Kaufman's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Jan 15, 2022
Bunny Awchat: ‘Cuisine should have no borders’
Bunny Awchat attended the prestigious Cordon Bleu culinary school in France. After working in Europe, he decided to follow an interest in Japanese food and arrived in Osaka.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Aug 29, 2021
Stefan Le Du: 'These storefronts are like urban time capsules, traces of a not-so-remote past'
Fascinated by urban environments, Stefan Le Du began a project to document Tokyo's storefronts. It has taught him a lot about the Japanese approach to cities.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Jul 25, 2021
Abraham 'Araji' Oppong: ‘Chefs with an original style will attract people from all over’
Recruited from a hotel in the Ghanaian capital of Accra, chef Abraham 'Araji' Oppong came to Japan and built a new life in the western region of Kansai.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives
Jun 6, 2021
Ash Hudson: From outfitting hip-hop's icons to finding new inspiration in Japan
Albion 'Ash' Hudson's Conart streetwear brand defined the fashion of many rappers in the 1990s. His designs are now popping up on new acts such as Travis Scott and BTS.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Oct 31, 2020
A local’s guide to the backstreet eats of Osaka's Baika neighborhood
With its timeless vibe, Baika's slower pace and rich food culture makes it a welcome getaway from the hustle and bustle of central Osaka.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
May 24, 2020
Takashi Omae: Uplifting his community through udon
Noodle chef Takashi Omae on coming up with ramen-udon noodle fusion recipes, how COVID-19 has impacted business and his recent film debut.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Jan 25, 2020
Clive Davies: A peek behind the scenes of saigen dramas
Tokyo-based actor and writer Clive Davies on what, exactly, a saigen reenactment drama is, the hardest thing he's ever done for a shoot and his film reviews — all 7,000-plus of them.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Dec 21, 2019
Gregory Hilton: An artist inspired by the city
Osaka-based artist Gregory Hilton on the 1980s New York downtown art scene, how his recent gallery show art utilized Roombas and what he misses about his Texas hometown.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Nov 9, 2019
C.C. Haydel: Bringing a taste of 'The Big Easy' to Osaka
Bistro New Orleans owner-chef C.C. Haydel on the differences between Cajun and Creole cuisine, his go-to cocktail and the hardest ingredients to find in Japan.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Oct 26, 2019
Kyoto after dark: Sip like the locals at these five bars
Five of the best bars where you can cut loose in Kyoto.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Sep 21, 2019
The sky's the limit for Cafe Y's jumbo portions
At Cafe Y, 'Toast Lady' Chisato Kijima has been serving airline personnel, students and local families massive, homestyle meals for 43 years and counting.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Aug 24, 2019
A riot of a good time at Hachifukujin, Nishinari's lucky watering hole
Located in Osaka's vibrant, working-class district of Nishinari, this restaurant serves up authentic local dishes at affordable prices.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Aug 17, 2019
Rhythm and Kushikatsu Agatta!: Osakan soul food gets a funky remix
Rock stars Haruko Sakuragawa and Yasuhiro Ando serve up innovative kushikatsu skewers — Osakan soul food — in a blues-themed environment.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jul 27, 2019
Doner Kebab Chao: Doner kebabs get a wagyu brisket upgrade
Don't let Doner Kebab Chao's nondescript 'take-out joint' decor fool you: It serves some of the most innovative chicken and beef doner kebabs in Osaka.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jun 22, 2019
Discovering a Japanese-Korean fusion feast in Osaka Ikuno Koreatown
Steeped in local history, Osaka Ikuno Koreatown's 120 shops are a mecca for locals or visitors hankering for some Korean, Japanese or fusion cuisine, as well as shops selling contemporary K-pop merchandise.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
May 18, 2019
Imagination Pika Space: Building a new world of art, music and soul food
A desire to promote self-expression and creative endeavors inspired Haruki Kumagai to open the Imagination Pika Space performance venue and bar in Osaka's Shinsekai neighborhood.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Apr 20, 2019
At Daimon Okonomiyaki, 450 dishes and counting
With a seemingly endless menu of hearty and tasty options, Daimon Okonomiyaki Dojo has made a name for itself as a must-visit okonomiyaki restaurant.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Mar 23, 2019
At family-run izakaya Kurasuno, the secret ingredient is a smile
After surviving as a prisoner of war in Krasnoyarsk, Eastern Siberia, Toyokazu Matsubara taught himself to cook and opened up an izakaya bar-restaurant, Kurasuno, which has become a multigenerational family enterprise and beloved neighborhood treasure.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Feb 23, 2019
Jigokudani is Osaka's hidden 'Hell Valley' for barhopping
Jigokudani (Hell Valley) is a hidden labyrinth of about two-dozen small bars and restaurants near Noda Station in Osaka's Fukushima Ward.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jan 26, 2019
Calayer's curry slays with both flame and flavor
At Calayer, a curry restaurant that pays homage to thrash metal band Slayer, chef Takahiro Kubo prepares innovative, constantly changing curries for meat-lovers and vegans alike.

Longform

Historically, kabuki was considered the entertainment of the merchant and peasant classes, a far cry from how it is regarded today.
For Japan's oldest kabuki theater, the show must go on