Japan’s number one English language magazine JUNE 2014 Songs from the Heart Chris Hart Lets His Music Do the Talking COME TOGETHER Our Summer Festival Guide HELL ON WHEELS Vintage Motorbikes Tear Up a Saitama Race Course WORLD CUP 2014 The Samurai Blue Get Ready to Hit Brazil ALSO: Director Steve McQueen Exhibits a Daring Short Film, People Parties and Places, Agenda, and More ... JUNE 2014 CONTENTS 10 HELL ON WHEELS Taking a look back at Japan’s iconic beast on his return to the big screen 7 9 12 SUMMER FESTIVALS CHRIS HART WORLD CUP GUIDE Insights from one of the most prolific Enjoy some of Tokyo’s top eats and A journey through the landscape and lore of inventors of all time cuisine with a twist two lesser-known Nagasaki islands 13 Manabu Saito Interview 18 Seisen Internatiobal School 26 Movies French luxury brand that has been Legendary culinary arts school and café Long-anticipated X-Men addition, mastering the “Four Arts” for 142 years welcomes you in Daikanyama Fukushima aftermath coverage, and more 14 World Cup Wallchart 19 Popins International School 28 Agenda French luxury brand that has been Learning how to read the hidden histories Bill Hersey is back on the scene, hitting mastering the “Four Arts” for 142 years of Japanese antiques exhibitions and embassy parties 16 Steve McQueen 22 People, Parties, Places 30 Back in the Day A master chocolatier talks about the Bill Hersey is back on the scene, hitting Long-anticipated X-Men addition, innovation and creativity of sweets exhibitions and embassy parties Fukushima aftermath coverage, and more JUNE 2014 www.tokyoweekender.com www.tokyoweekender.com JUNE 2014 THIS MONTH IN THE WEEKENDER iconic products of the storied S.T. Dupont to the high-concept chocolates of La Maison du Chocolat and the culinary tradition of Le JUNE 2014 Japan’s number one English language magazine JUNE 2014 Cordon Bleu. One of our features this month is on Songs from an inventor who might be just as prolific as the Heart spring itself: Dr. Yoshiro Nakamats is one of Chris Hart Lets His those characters who seems to have stepped Music Do the Talking out of a science fiction novel, but he’s as real Publisher BC Media Group as his solid gold toilet. Chairman Ray Pedersen COME TOGETHER Read on, but we’ve got a warning Our Summer Festival Guide Executive Producer Asi Rinestine for you: lurking towards the back of the magazine is the movie monster Godzilla, Editor Alec Jordan HELL ON who’s preparing to rise up to the screens Art Director Liam Ramshaw WHEELS Vintage Motorbikes Tear once again. We took a look back at the Illustrator Liam Akin Up a Saitama Race Course superstar saurian’s first steps out of the Media Director Kotaro Toda ocean and into cinematic history, and chat WORLD CUP 2014 Account Executives Nobu (Nick) Nakazawa The Samurai Blue Get Ready to Hit Brazil with a young Japanese star, Ken Yamamura, Ohad Elbaz ALSO: Director Steve McQueen Exhibits a Daring Short Film, People Parties and Places, Agenda, and More ... who appears in the latest movie. As you page your way to this legendary Media Consultant Mary Rudow hen it comes to spring, those Marketing Ingrid Dubreuil lizard, you might want to take a detour blossoms—the early plum, Editorial Consultant Sami Kawahara and visit two of Nagasaki’s lesser-known and the short-lived cherry— W isles. Lying off the north coast of Kyushu, Society Bill Hersey probably get a bit too much Iki and Tsushima both have rich histories press. It’s when you can see that green riot Editorial Associates Vivian Morelli and inviting landscapes that offer many of the trees’ leaves and the weeds along the Matthew Hernon surprises to the traveler who is willing to train lines that you really know that the Mace Bertumen take the trip. fairest of all seasons is upon us. We hope Finally, the Weekender is happy to see Film Christopher O’Keeffe you can get out there and enjoy it, because Bill Hersey back to full strength and his full Japanese springs are both fair and brief, IT Manager Nick Adams four pages; we’re tempted to think that he and the sauna they call summer will be on Development Manager Stephane Boudoux might just be tougher than Godzilla himself. before you know it. Finance & Admin Sakura Arimura Enjoy your Golden Week(end), DBA Iryna Sundutova Looking at this month’s cover, you whether you get out of town or stick might be thinking that Bastille Day came a around to enjoy a slightly quieter Tokyo, couple months early. But as this year marks and we’ll see you in June. the 90th anniversary of the Japanese- French cultural partnership, we felt a bit too impatient to wait until July to recognize EST. Corky Alexander, 1970 some of the French businesses that are making an impression in Japan, from the Editor Published monthly at the Regency Shinsaka Building, 5th floor 8-5-8 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052 (03) 6666-4924 / (03) 6432-9229 (fax) [email protected] To subscribe to the Tokyo Weekender, please call (03) 6666-4924 or email: [email protected] For ad sales inquiries, please call (03) 6666-4924 or email: [email protected] www.tokyoweekender.com Opinions expressed by Weekender contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher Published by BC Media Group www.bulbouscell.com Fried Sushi by Liam Akin. To see more of Liam’s work check out www.friedsushi.net JUNE 2014 www.tokyoweekender.com www.tokyoweekender.com JUNE 2014 YOYOGI CULTURE FESTIVALS ALL SUMMER HERE COMES What is it: You know it’s officially summer when Yoyogi Park gets overtaken by swarms of people, waiting in front of countless food stalls exuding delicious, spicy THE SUMMER aromas—for every single weekend until the leaves turn red. Sam- ple foods and performances from Indonesia, Brazil, Thailand, Latin America, Vietnam, India and Sri Lanka, to name a few. Gearing up for a summer in Tokyo? You don’t have to go too far to get your share FOR YOU IF: You’d rather not leave the city and don’t mind queuing up of fun—whether it’s music festivals, beach bashes or traditional matsuri, it’s time FUJI ROCK 2014 for food. JULY 25–27 to let you hair down and fill up your calendar with those celebrations. What is it: An outdoor, weekend-long festival tucked amidst the misty WHAT TO BRING: An empty stomach and your patience. mountains of Niigata. Whatever the weather—it will rain, and you will get a sunburn—the trip to Japan’s best-known music festival will be an epic journey. This year’s lineup includes Arcade Fire, Denki HOSTESS CLUB SUMMER SONIC 2014 Groove, Manic Street Preachers, The Flaming Lips, Jack Johnson, SUMIDA RIVER WEEKENDER AUGUST 16–17 Franz Ferdinand, Blur’s Damon Albarn, Travis, The Lumineers, Out- FIREWORKS FESTIVAL JUNE 21–22 What is it: A short (and cheap!) kast, Lorde, Basement Jaxx and a few more handfuls. JULY 26 What is it: Music festivals don’t get train ride away in Chiba prefec- What is it: By far the oldest and much more indie than this. The ture, Summer Sonic has been FOR YOU IF: Camping for three nights and skipping a few showers largest (not to mention busiest) twice yearly festival tends to bring building a solid reputation over doesn’t make you want to run away. fireworks display in Tokyo, the a mix of old favorites and obscure the last decade. Featuring, as Sumida River Fireworks Festival bands for a two-day showcase. usual, an eclectic mix of important WHAT TO BRING: Mosquito repellent, rain boots, a tent and sunscreen. is one of the most popular events This June edition presents Blonde Redhead and Cat Power as headlin- international names as well as local talent, everyone from pop me- in summer. The last Saturday of July is always synonymous with a ers, alongside Simian Mobile Disco, Cloud Nothings, Perfume Genius, gastars to 90s punk rockers will take to the stages of Makuhari Messe, night sky filled with dazzling shades, and packed crowds below trying Sohn, Toy, Highasakite, Joan as Policewoman and The Bohicas. Marine Stadium and the beach. So far, Arctic Monkeys, Avenged to get the best spot to view them. Nearly a million spectators gather Sevenfold, Phoenix, and rock legends Queen and Robert Plant have every year to see the colorful explosions, which come in an array of FOR YOU IF: None of those band names sound obscure, and you’ve been announced. managed to install Spotify in Japan. patterns, shapes and sizes. FOR YOU IF: You like your music with a side of air conditioning. WHAT TO WEAR: Pair those New Balance sneakers with stonewash FOR YOU IF: Crowds don’t scare you. jeans, we hear normcore is big this year. WHAT TO WEAR: Flat shoes, as the distance between the Marine Stadi- WHAT TO WEAR: Your yukata (light summer kimono), of course. um and Makuhari Messe isn’t short, and a watch, as you won’t want to miss your top acts. ELECTRIC RUN KOENJI AWA ODORI JULY 11–12 AUGUST 23–24 What is it: Fitness and laser SONIC MANIA 2014 What is it: Just about the biggest shows? Run a 5K along a ne- AUGUST 15 in Tokyo, Koenji’s annual street on-adorned course on the shores What is it: The all-night dance dance festival crams the streets to of Chiba, and end the workout party is Summer Sonic’s warm-up, ASAKUSA SAMBA FESTIVAL capacity for an evening of revelry.