Bilal Karakus, 36, is a native of Sanliurfa, Turkey, and has lived in Japan since 2015. He manages his own food truck, Bilo Kebab, and serves kebabs usually around Musashi-Kosugi and Okurayama stations in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, as well as at festivals and events.
1. How did you first fall in love with the kebab? When I was little, my older brother took me to a restaurant. It was a snowy day, and I was very hungry. I still vividly remember the taste and the sight of the kebab I ate there for the first time.
2. Who had the biggest influence on you in your younger years? My brother, who’s five years older than me. My family wasn't wealthy. I wanted to leave home but didn't have the money. My parents wanted me to help with the family business. But then, my older brother secretly gave me money for a bus ticket and encouraged me to come to the town where he lived. After that, I started working in a restaurant with him and learned how to make kebabs. Without his help, I might not be where I am today in Japan.
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