Jean-Phillipe Rousse
Favourite Japanese dish:
This may be an odd answer, but I really like tamago-gohan (raw egg mixed with rice). It might be because I've been eating since I was a child, but it's so easy to make. And that's great for me since I don't have much time.
How you became interested in Kyoto/Japan:
My mother is Japanese (from Osaka), so I've been visiting Japan since I was a child.
About me:
I've been working for intercultural exchanges for more than ten years. Since I'm half French half Japanese, I'm very happy to work now for French/Japanese cultural exchanges at the Institut Franco-Japonais du Kansai. Built in 1927, the Institut Franco-Japonais du Kansai acts as a cultural centre for the French government. Facilities include: French language classes, event spaces, library, hall and cafe. Since December 2009, the institut also functions as the French consulate. It's a little piece of France in Kansai.
URL: http://www.ifjk.jp/ Email: info@ifjk.jp
Recommended restaurant/bar:
I should recommend a French restaurant, but I'm afraid I'd be accused of favouritism, so I'll recommend something Japanese. Kagurazaka Sushi, near Kyoto University. This is a very small restaurant, but it delivers to Kyoto's most famous temples so the quality is top rate. The restaurant itself is very small. Try it!
Leah (lisa) Gershten
Favourite Japanese dish:
To choose one Japanese dish is impossible for me. I truly love all Japanese dishes. Daifuku mochi, a Japanese confection made from glutinous rice and usually filled with tsubu-an or koshi-an, (azuki beans) is my favorite dessert if the beans are not too sweet. The mochi shops started making delectable Ichigo daifuku, strawberry mochi, in the 80's. Ichigo daifuku are only available in the spring, though my favorite mochi store, Sokyudou (Kitayama/Oharamichi, www.hatomochi.jp) makes them from December through April. For me, the soft delicate and gummy texture is sublime. These treats are blissful with matcha (Japanese powder whisked green tea).
How you became interested in Kyoto/Japan:
I was interested in Japan since I was a child. Once a month I had the opportunity to eat Japanese food in restaurants around Los Angeles. I was always curious as to why changes in the menu were never possible, was mesmerized by the exquisite presentation, and felt an odd connection with the Japanese dolls with golden hats in the glass cases. Those memorable experiences sparked my interest in Japan and I wanted to learn and understand the Japanese way of thinking. In college, I was deeply moved by a Butoh dance performance by Sankai Juku. I knew I had to come to Japan to study with them.
About me:
I have been singing/performing Japanese Douyou and Minyo (folk songs) around Japan for twelve years. These precious melodies/lyrics that are unfortunately fading out, represent in my opinion, one major cultural aspect of Japan. Douyou (children songs) is closely tied to nature, expresses human emotions and experiences. It is a pity that these songs are no longer being taught in schools. You can hear two Douyou songs that I sing at I also lead group and private Yoga lessons. Feel free to contact me about concerts or Yoga classes.
URL: http://www.webspace.co.jp/lisa / Email: showjiki18@yahoo.com
Recommended restaurant/bar:
Great soba lunch sets at Youshyuji in Kurama, just before the Kurama Temple gate. Their fu/tofu/konyaku on sticks topped with a variety of miso sauce is scrumptious. For a two hour Yuba/Tofu experience; Ume no Hana. Also, Nishiki, in downtown Kyoto is wonderful. I have a favourite Kyoto Tea House but best to keep it secret. Happy eating! And Eat-ta-da-key-mas!
Tong Cheuk Fung
Favourite Japanese dish:
Ramen (Chinese noodles in soup). There are lots of varieties and different regions have their special ramen. Many different things can be added to Ramen. You can always find surprises in a bowl of Ramen.
How you became interested in Kyoto/Japan:
I started learning Japanese in junior high school in Singapore. Then I came to Japan for the first time for a home-stay program in Shizuoka prefecture. Seeing and experiencing many new things had a big impact on me as a young boy. Then, I decided that I have to experience living in this country once in my life. Kyoto has an amazing combination traditional and modern Japan, and it has always been my favorite city in the country. By luck, I was hired by a company in Kyoto upon my graduation and that was how I started my new life in Kyoto.
About me:
In order to make new friends and get to know more about Japan, I started We Are One Japan sometime after my arrival. We Are One Japan is a voluntary group that connects internationally-mined people in Kansai through all kinds of events and activities. Over time, we have developed many social, cultural, outdoor, adventurous activities, allowing our members to learn more about Japan and the other parts of the world, learn and share through real friendships made within the community. We also have some educational and environment-related projects in the pipeline. We are always inviting talented individuals to join our international team in organizing our activities, partners to co-organize meaningful events, and members to enjoy and have fun with us. We also welcome people outside Kyoto or outside Japan to join our events whenever they drop by the region. So, contact us to sign up as a team member, a partner or simply a group member and join us in this biggest international community in Kansai.
URL: http://www.weareonejapan.com/ Email: we.are.one.japan@gmail.com
Recommended restaurant/bar:
Café Frosch near Senbondori/Imadegawa. They offer very nice desserts and have an international menu on weekends. Events such as Travelers’ Lunch (every second Saturday), Mandarin Night (every first Friday evening), Melting Pot (international party, every last Friday evening) and International Film are held regularly.
Bridget Scott
Favourite Japanese dish:
Handmade soba (buckwheat noodles) are delicious and nutritious and are great value for lunch. You'll find them served in a variety of ways: cold in summer (zaru soba) is especially recommended to taste and experience the chew of a handmade noodle and hot in a warming broth in winter. I enjoy hunting out neighbourhood soba restaurants and sampling their lunch set (teishoku) and there are many to stumble upon in Kyoto.
How you became interested in Kyoto/Japan:
As a child I remember staring at a plate in my mother's antique cabinet with a motif of a geisha on it. This sparked my curiosity about the land where this image came from. I began making ceramics in my early 20's and was inspired by the work of Bernard Leech, a British ceramicist who had trained in Japan. I came to Kyoto with the intention of studying ceramics....however, I ended up learning something completely different.
About me:
There are so many things going on in Kyoto that it is always easy to find something interesting to do. It was after being moved during a butoh performance (avant garde dance) that I became inspired to study and perform in a butoh group. Now, years later I'm a solo performer and I'm teaching regular butoh workshops.Since 2006 I've also been training in nihon buyoh (traditional Japanese dance). During my weekly lesson dressed in yukata I enter a unique Kyoto world. I also trained here as a shiatsu therapist and now have a clinic nestled in a bamboo grove in a beautiful neighbourhood near Shisendo temple. So, you never know what you will discover in Kyoto. For information about my performances and butoh workshops contact me directly at bridgetscottnow@me.com
URL: http://www.bridgetscottshiatsu.com
Recommended restaurant/bar:
My local soba restaurant is Soba Tsuru, in Ichijoji そば鶴一乗寺. It is just west of Higashioji Manshuin-michi. I would recommend their Tenshin, a special set for lunch. You'll get a choice of hot or cold handmade soba, tempura, a fish dish, a vegetable dish, rice and homemade pickles. Not only is the food delicious, but there is a good local atmosphere and very friendly staff.
Takafumi Kawakami
Favourite Japanese dish:
It is very hard to choose one. But I will choose ayu-gohan of sweet fish rice. Sweet fish is considered as delicacy in summer. Normally, people just grill the fish. In ayu-gohan's case, you grill sweet fish and cook it with rice and little dashi (soup broth).
How you became interested in Kyoto/Japan:
I was born in Kyoto, but I wasn't really interested in Japanese culture until I went to the U.S. While living there for 7 years, I noticed that it is my strength to know my own country and culture.
About me:
I offer Zen meditation classes, Dharma talks, and tours of Shunkoin Temple in English almost daily to the visitors and foreign university groups. Also, I provide the Buddhist wedding services in English at the temple, as well. I welcome all the couples regardless of their faiths and sexual orientations. More details are on my website.
URL: http://www.shunkoin.com
Recommended restaurant/bar:
"Nagatake" on Pontocho St. They serve wonderful dishes with Kyoto's special vegetables. And, "Agiyao" near Gojo St. & Karasuma St is the best seafood restaurant in Kyoto.
Kevin Lin
Favourite Japanese dish:
My favorite Japanese food is Ramen (Chinese noodles in soup). What makes me love ramen so much is the soup. The chef usually spends more than 10 hours and puts in a lot of effort to cook the soup. For me, the soup usually decides whether I like the ramen or not. What I really enjoy is that the soup offers different layers of flavor throughout the year. Especially in the cold of winter, eating the hot ramen is the one of pleasure in my life.
How you became interested in Kyoto/Japan:
For me, Kyoto stands for tradition, art, and the history of Japan. It could be hard to say Kyoto stands for Japan, but when talking about Japan, it is hard to leave out Kyoto. When I came to Kyoto, I was fascinated by everything: the temples, traditional crafts, historical remains, and so on. Besides the historical aspect, there is also a modern side to Kyoto, such as its downtown shopping district and art museums. I always can find something new in Kyoto.
About me:
Now I’m a student and am studying Japanese. I like to make new friends and try different things (as well as taste delicious dishes).
Recommended restaurant/bar:
I would like to introduce one of my favorite restaurants, Manzara-tei (もんざら亭), just west of Karasuma on Nishiki-dori. It has elegant decoration and atmosphere.
Eric Luong
Favourite Japanese dish:
There are a lot of Japanese dishes I like, but if I had to choose one, I think it would be yakitori (grilled chicken and vegetables on a skewer). I have always loved grilled foods, but there’s a lot of variety in yakitori, not just meat. There are vegetables like asparagus and shiitake mushrooms, as well as less common chicken parts such as heart and gizzard. One of my yakitori favourites is tsukune (minced chicken balls) eaten with raw egg. The bite-size portions of yakitori also perfectly complement a long evening of beverages!
How you became interested in Kyoto/Japan:
I have always wanted to live in Japan, but I first came to study Japanese art history in graduate school. With all the world famous shrines and temples, this was really the ideal place, and I knew immediately I would stay for a while. Kyoto has the best of both worlds: it's small enough that you run into friends on the street, yet you can also enjoy world-class restaurants and museums.
About me:
I've been helping to edit and contribute to Eat Drink Kyoto for the last year. Our goal has always been to create a community of food lovers in Kyoto and to share information on the fabulous restaurants in this city. Eating is also a bonding experience, so we've also been hosting wine parties and dinners throughout the year. Please check the site regularly for new information or email us and we’ll add you to our mailing list: info@eatdrink-kyoto.com
Recommended restaurant/bar:
Sumiyaki Akari (Yakitori), Marutamachi/Teramachi – Yakitori for wine lovers. Menu features twists on yakitori classics such as grilled chicken and shiitake mushrooms with parmesan cheese.
Favourite Japanese dish:
It is really difficult to choose my favorite Japanese food. I probably enjoy the ingredients themselves more than anything... fresh raw seafood and meat, myoga (Japanese Ginger), etc... I would probably choose Yakitori (Skewered & Grilled Meats & Vegetables), Oden (Warm Stewed Fishcakes & Vegetables), Nabe (Stew), Yakizakana (Grilled Fish), and Sushi... but I also love Soba, Ramen, Sukiyaki, Shabu-Shabu... its all delicious.
How you became interested in Kyoto/Japan:
My main interests are African, Middle Eastern, and Asian cultural studies... specifically Religion and Art History. Japan has a long and rich history, plus beautiful traditions and cultural artifacts. I became interested in Japan as a teenager because I loved to draw and was amazed by Japanese Manga and Anime. This initial interest led me to other artists and genres both traditional and contemporary, and the obsession grew. I came once to study language and met a few really amazing people, and that experience led me to pursue a scholarship which would allow me to come back (a scholarship that I was blessed to receive).
About me:
I teach English to students of all ages, including Elementary School students, University students, and retirees. I practice yoga and capoeira, and I am interested in diverse subjects such as fractal geometry, Jungian Psychology, and others. I am also a visual artist, spoken word poet, and composer of experimental electronic music.
Recommended restaurant/bar:
I love and frequent many bars and restaurants in Kyoto - far too many to list here... but here is a short list of some favorites: Anchovie Cafe. Zapp. Nakagawa Saketen. Isozumi. Chidori-tei. Nora. Ukeya. Okute. Pon
