INTERVIEWS

Why are Japanese walking so fast like Shinkansen? – Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.15

Produced by Isao Tokuhashi Edited by Alisa Sanada Mail to: info@myeyestokyo.com   Shibuya Shibuya was historically the site of a castle in which the Shibuya family resided from the 11th century through the Edo period. Following the opening of the Yamanote Line in 1885, Shibuya began to emerge as a railway terminal for southwestern Tokyo and eventually as a major commercial and entertainment center. *Shibuya. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved October 6, 2017, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibuya 日本語   Family from Spain We’re from Andalusia in Southern Spain. We learn how to dance flamenco in childhood. But I cannot dance because I forgot

Features

GTIC x Bangladesh!

Reported by Isao Tokuhashi Mail to: itokuhashi@myeyestokyo.com “Amalgamate different business areas, nationalities, and ages… and one step forward!!” “Let’s exchange your opinions of start-up, entrepreneurship, innovation. — more open, more global, more innovative!!” — Those are slogans of the entrepreneurs’ group called “GTIC” (Global Techno Innovation Cafe) led by Tomo Akiyama, a former investment banker who’s worked for Merrill Lynch, UBS and so on. They welcomed the high-level government delegation and entrepreneurs from Bangladesh to their 37th session (October 8, 2013). The theme was “Circumstances of Bangladeshi IT industry and business development with Japan”. Many Japanese business people joined the

INTERVIEWS

Cooking is not something to teach.

Interviewed & written by Isao Tokuhashi Mail to: info@myeyestokyo.com   Munshi R. Sultana (Bangladesh) Bangladesh cuisine instructor (She’s been in Japan since 1976) She conveys an extremely gentle atmosphere which embraces her students, so they totally became like her daughter. They were charmed by her gentle way of talking, her smile which seems like it accepts everything and of course her cuisine. They lost track of time talking to each other with laughs. It was already candle-night when they looked at a clock and hastily cleared off the dishes and washed them. Once you step in her classroom, everyone becomes

INTERVIEWS

The crisis situation made Japanese people more courageous and united to rebuild the country.

Tasnoova Tahia March 11, 2011 – Alone on the 45th Floor During the Big Earthquake   Tasnoova Tahia, a Bangladeshi woman who lives in the waterfront area of Tokyo, will be our guest on My Eyes Tokyo radio program on 84.0 ChuoFM on April 16 and April 23, 2011. She has written an essay about her experience. *Tahia on radio: 4/16/11 4/23/11   日本語   “I’m going to die” We got earthquake alert from the emergency center of our building 20-30 seconds before. I just got back home when the alert went on, on 11th march, around 14:45. As always, I

INTERVIEWS

Niki’s Kitchen is a great opportunity to make Japanese friends.

Interviewed & written by Isao Tokuhashi Mail to: itokuhashi@myeyestokyo.com   Tasnoova Tahia Bangladeshi cuisine instructor (She’s been in Japan since 2007) About a month and a half has passed since a big earthquake hit Japan. Many foreigners left Japan to avoid aftershocks and radiation, but many foreigners still stay here without hesitation. Cooking instructors of Niki’s Kitchen are the same. They were obliged to cancel their classes due to the earthquake, but some have been already returned to normal. Tasnoova Tahia, a young Bangladeshi instructor, had the earthquake on March 11 on 45th floor of a high-rise apartment in Tokyo. She’s closed

INTERVIEWS

I didn’t want to close my business because I’d worked hard for 20 years to have my own restaurant.

Interviewed & written by Isao Tokuhashi Mail to: itokuhashi@myeyestokyo.com   MD Humayun (Bangladesh) Managing chef of a Bangladeshi restaurant (He’s been in Japan since ’87) Have you enjoyed a great New Year’s vacation? My Eyes Tokyo wishes you and your families the best during the year 2010. We bring you the first interview in this year with a guy from Bangladesh. He is MD Humayun, who is managing a Bangladeshi restaurant in Tokyo. Humayun has been living in Tokyo for more than 20 years and he speaks Japanese very fluently. He doesn’t uncap his toque blanche even at lunchtime. He

INTERVIEWS

I’ll never give up my dream for the rest of my life.

Interviewed & written by Isao Tokuhashi Mail to: itokuhashi@myeyestokyo.com   Mohammed Khairul Islam (Bangladesh) Trading company CEO (He’s been in Japan since 2001) We introduce you to a hot-blooded man from Bangladesh. Mohammed Khairul Islam is running various kinds of businesses such as exporting used cars. When we talked to him over the phone for the first time, we felt that he would be a gentle guy. But when we met him in person, he talked passionately, often flinging up his arms. He is like a ball of energy or of intellectual curiosity. However he is far from a big

INTERVIEWS

I never think that giving something to people for free as a donation helps them.

Interviewed & written by Isao Tokuhashi Mail to: itokuhashi@myeyestokyo.com   Atif Dewan Rashid (Bangladesh) Matrighor Limited director *At that time Do you remember a Japanese woman, Eriko Yamaguchi who is making bags from jute in Bangladesh? Today we introduce you to a Bangladeshi gentleman, Atif Dewan Rashid, who is one of her most trusted partners. He is a director of the local corporation of Motherhouse, Yamaguchi’s bag company. Yamaguchi had faced many difficulties in Bangladesh when she started her business and she decided to hire a local staff of Motherhouse. Her ideal person was someone who understood the Japanese sense

INTERVIEWS

I experienced both more happy things and more hard things after starting this business. So my challenge enhanced my life.

Interviewed by Isao Tokuhashi & Hisa Written by Isao Tokuhashi Mail to: itokuhashi@myeyestokyo.com   Eriko Yamaguchi Part2 Bag designer/CEO We are bringing you the interview with Eriko Yamaguchi, a young entrepreneur who manages her own bag brand called “Motherhouse”. In this part, we tell you about her present state and future vision. *You can go to the first part from here! *Eriko Yamaguchi (1981-) Born in Saitama, Japan. She endured fierce bullying as a grade school girl. She started practicing judo in junior high school and then joined a “men’s” judo club in high school. She placed 7th in the national competition of judo. Educated

INTERVIEWS

I wouldn’t trust other people at all for the rest of my life if I gave it up.

Interviewed by Isao Tokuhashi & Hisa Written by Isao Tokuhashi Mail to: itokuhashi@myeyestokyo.com   Eriko Yamaguchi Part1 Bag designer/CEO We bring you the interview with Eriko Yamaguchi, a young Japanese entrepreneur who manages her own bag brand called “Motherhouse“. Her bags are made in Bangladesh and made from jute, a long, soft, shiny vegetable fiber. Jute bags are sold at other shops, too, in Japan but the features that differentiate her bags from others are cute, fancy and functional quality. Motherhouse declares on their brochures proudly: “We want to show to people that there are wonderful resources and possibilities in the places lumped together