I think, mainly, it’s like the whole general atmosphere. I never…you don’t stand out here. As a Japanese American, you don’t stand out in society. You blend in. As far as…for me, it was very interesting to live here as a foreigner and as a non-Japanese because I enjoy watching people, watching society.
Probably other than kendo – kendo is very interesting for me – to study here is the food. I really enjoy eating in Japan. I really enjoy the food. I think that was the most…that’s one singular thing I can point to. When I came to Japan, I was so happy wherever I worked until I could get rice. I had rice and there was Japanese food. It was really good. And even the Chinese, Japanese/Chinese food is really good. I always enjoyed it. Still enjoy it.
The other thing is I found Japanese have a very highly refined culinary culture here. And I enjoy eating fish. I like eating fish and they really had a lot of varieties of fish. I think if I had to point to one thing, it would be food. I really enjoy living here. Each season – now it’s fall – we can’t afford it, but they have matsutake (mushroom) and they have oysters from Hiroshima will come up. Mikan (tangerine oranges) are coming in season now. I like to sit down with a bag full of mikan and watch TV and eat four or five mikan.
Date: November 11, 2003
Location: Kyoto, Japan
Interviewer: Art Nomura
Contributed by: Art Nomura, Finding Home.
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