Eyes on Japan

Robert McGuinness was born in Papua New Guinea to an Australian military officer and an Australian nurse. He moved around the world and experienced many countries and different cultures. In 2005 he came to Japan where he settled down and started a family.

Still traveling around the world for his work, Japan has been the country he has been living the longest. In 2015 he started distributing and importing goods with a focus on health and beauty. Most recently he has been importing organic Honey from Australia. He is the CEO of Knect Japan and the host of TEDxOgikubo and TEDxNiiza.

Young speakers and a young audience - TEDx Ogikubo

Organic honey from Australia

Dezeen: Kengo Kuma designs tessellated Botanical Pavilion as "tridimensional puzzle"

Follow Robert:

◆ Website: KNECT◆ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robert.mcguinness

Dezeen Architecture: Kengo Kuma

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

◆ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/jp/podcast/eyes-on-japan/id1578495900?l=en◆ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/39KCbo4fGGGDJrGEvibFd7

Read More:

Steven Haynes – Confidence Trainer and EntertainerThelma in JapanGirolamo Panzetta - Multi-Talent from Italy

Girolamo Panzetta is an Italian celebrity living and working in Japan. He came to Japan 23 years ago with his father and immediately fell in love with the country. With a background in architecture and economics, he never thought he would end up being a well-known fashion icon and celebrity in Japan. 

Starting off teaching Italian on NHK, appearing in many variety shows, and co-creating a men’s fashion magazine called LEON, Girolamo has certainly created a long-lasting career as a foreign celebrity. He has no intention of slowing down any time soon as his future projects include refurbishing old boats and redesigning old houses in the countryside of Japan.

Watch the video on YouTube

Follow Girolamo:

◆ YouTube：Girolamo Panzetta◆ Instagram：https://www.instagram.com/girolamo.me

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

◆ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/jp/podcast/eyes-on-japan/id1578495900?l=en◆ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/39KCbo4fGGGDJrGEvibFd7

https://youtu.be/l4E1woDU0OQ

Read More:

Steven Haynes – Confidence Trainer and EntertainerThelma in JapanKarolina Styczyńska – Conquering Japan through Shogi

Today's guest is Thelma Run Heimisdottir from Iceland. She has lived in Japan for 7 years as a student and a full-time worker. She quickly dove into the entertainment industry by working as an extra on movie shoots and working behind the scenes as an assistant producer. Recently, she joined the Hersey Shiga team as a manager.

In this episode, we ask Thelma about her experiences in Japan as well as in the Japanese entertainment industry. She talks about her experiences as a student in a Japanese film school studying acting and discusses the differences between Western and Japanese acting including the challenges she faced.

Being one of the few Icelandic people living in Tokyo she talks about her culture, her training as an Elf-expert, and the tight-knit community among Icelandic people living overseas. Finally, as a new member of Hersey Shiga and The Hollywood Reporter Japan, she explains some of the responsibilities she has and the hopes she has for the future.

Thelma at the Icelandic Embassy in Tokyo

https://youtu.be/V8oL3Qf18rY

Watch this episode on YouTube

Follow Thelma:

◆ YouTube：https://www.youtube.com/c/ThelmainTokyo◆ Instagram：https://www.instagram.com/thelmaheimis

Today’s guest is the famed entertainer Steven Haynes. Steven Haynes was born in San Francisco, USA and came to Japan during the golden age of entertainment in Japan. Since then, he has worked as an actor, model, dancer and as walking instructor. Steven soon became a part of the entertainment crowd in Japan and has mingled with several big names in the entertainment industry such as Cyndi Lauper, Jackson 5, or Robert DeNiro. 

Recently, Steven has also been creating waves in the Japanese entertainment industry. He helped create and produce “You Decide!”, a documentary about the life of a young, Japanese transgender woman and how she embraces her new identity. He has also been pushing boundaries in the Japanese beauty pageant industry, by creating a beauty pageant for plus-sized women called “Today’s Woman”. 

Today’s Woman

In this episode, Steven shares his stories with us and we look forward to having him as The Hollywood Reporter Japan brand ambassador. 

https://youtu.be/bXRu2uP538o

Director and Entertainer Steven A. Haynes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUAc0V8axAw

Watch the full interview on Youtube

Read more: http://hersey.jp/interviews/

Follow Steven: @steven_a_haynes

Website: www.steven-smile.comToday’s Woman website: https://www.todayswoman.com/

今回のゲストは、日本とイギリスのハーフで俳優、武道家、スタントマンでもあるアンドリュー・コージさんです。アンドリュー・コージさんは、「The Wrong Mans」や「Call the Midwife」などのテレビ番組や、最近ではシネマックスのアクションドラマ「Warrior」などで知られています。現在、GIジョーのスピンオフ映画「スネークアイズ」のために来日しています。ヘンリー・ゴールディングやサマラ・ウィービングなどと共演している本映画では、兄弟であり宿敵でもある、スネークアイズ（ゴールディング）と対決しなければならない忍者、ストームシャドーを演じています。新作ではこれまでのエピソードに比べて、文化的背景、日本刀での戦闘、忍者の文化、ロケーションなどがより本格的になっているとコージは語ります。日本とイギリスのハーフである彼は日本での滞在中に、大好きな日本食や名所を楽しみながら、自分のルーツや家族の伝統を確かめることができたそうです。映画は10月に公開予定です。

[00:50] スネークアイズの日本での撮影について[03:05] 新作映画について、ストームシャドーを演じてみて[05:41] 「Warrior」で演じたAh Sahmについて[08:21] イギリスでの生活について[10:17] 幼い頃、日本で過ごした日々について[11:20] 歳を重ねるにつれてのキャリアプラン[12:28] 日本で好きなレストランについて[13:40] 日本でのナイトライフについて - LEX TokyoとTaka Masuda[15:20] コロナについて思うこと[17:12] 日本滞在期間中に体型を維持する方法[18:18] 武道、カンフー、空手について

インタビュー開催場所: パークハイアット新宿 - レストラン　ジランドール

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8k2kSYgPav/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebacs3Nyojk

Follow Andrew: @kojiandrewIMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4010671/

Our guest is a British actor of mixed-Japanese heritage, a martial artist and stuntman - Andrew Koji. Koji is known for TV shows like The Wrong Mans, Call the Midwife, and most recently the Cinemax action-drama, Warrior. He’s currently back in Tokyo for the GI Joe spin-off movie, Snake Eyes. He co-stars along with Henry Golding, Samara Weaving, and the rest of the production crew. Andrew Koji is set to play Storm Shadow, a ninja who must face off against his nemesis, Snake Eyes (Golding,) who is also his sword brother. Koji says the new movie is more authentic in its cultural background story, its Japanese sword fights, its Ninja culture, and its locations than the previous episodes. The movie will premiere in October. In his free time, Koji explored his own roots. Half British, half Japanese, he had a chance to revisit his own cultural roots and family heritage in Japan while enjoying his favorite Japanese food and many interesting locations Japan has to offer.

Read More:

Ikumi Yoshimatsu – Role Model for Japanese Women

The Coronavirus, the economy and the Olympic Games in Tokyo

Karolina Styczyńska – Conquering Japan through Shogi

[00:50] Andrew talks about filming Snake Eyes in Japan[03:05] His thoughts about his new movie and his role as Storm Shadow[05:41] Andrew talks about his role as Ah Sahm in the TV series ‘Warrior’[08:21] His life in England[10:17] Talks about his life in Japan when he was younger[11:20] Andrew talks about his plans for when he gets old[12:28] Restaurants he likes in Japan[13:40] Chats about the nightlife in Japan - LEX Tokyo and Taka Masuda[15:20] Thoughts about coronavirus[17:12] Talks on how he stays in shape while in Japan[18:18] Speaks about martial arts, kung fu and karate

Interview Location: Park Hyatt Shinjuku - Restaurant Girandole

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8k2kSYgPav/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebacs3Nyojk

Snake Eyes - G.I Joe - Origin Story: To be released in October 2020

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4010671/

Our guest is a British actor of mixed-Japanese heritage, a martial artist and stuntman – Andrew Koji. Koji is known for TV shows like The Wrong Mans, Call the Midwife, and most recently the Cinemax action-drama, Warrior. He’s currently back in Tokyo for the GI Joe spin-off movie, Snake Eyes. He co-stars along Henry Golding, Samara Weaving and the rest of the production crew. Andrew Koji is set to play Storm Shadow, a ninja who must face off against his nemesis, Snake Eyes (Golding,) who is also his sword brother. Koji says the new movie is more authentic in its cultural background story, its Japanese sword fights, its Ninja culture and its locations than the previous episodes. The movie will premiere in October. In his free time, Koji explored his own roots. Half British, half Japanese, he had a chance to revisit his own cultural roots and family heritage in Japan while enjoying his favorite Japanese food and many interesting locations Japan has to offer.

Read More:

* Ikumi Yoshimatsu – Role Model for Japanese Women* The Coronavirus, the economy and the Olympic Games in Tokyo* Karolina Styczyńska – Conquering Japan through Shogi

[00:50] Andrew talks about filming Snake Eyes in Japan[03:05] His thoughts about his new movie and his role as Storm Shadow[05:41] Andrew talks about his role as Ah Sahm in the TV series ‘Warrior’[08:21] His life in England[10:17] Talks about his life in Japan when he was younger[11:20] Andrew talks about his plans for when he gets old[12:28] Restaurants he likes in Japan[13:40] Chats about the nightlife in Japan – LEX Tokyo and Taka Masuda[15:20] Thoughts about coronavirus[17:12] Talks on how he stays in shape while in Japan[18:18] Speaks about martial arts, kung fu and karate

Interview Location: Park Hyatt Shinjuku – Restaurant Girandole

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8k2kSYgPav/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Snake Eyes – G.I Joe – Origin Story: To be released in October 2020

Follow Andrew: @kojiandrewIMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4010671/

Ikumi Yoshimatsu

Our special guest is a well-known activist and former Miss International 2012 - Ikumi Yoshimatsu. We met her and her manager on the 52nd floor of the Andaz Hotel in the heart of Tokyo. Aside from her career as Miss International, she is known as an actress and stuntwoman in Hollywood. She’s currently back in Tokyo to shoot multiple episodes for a new Hollywood TV series and promote her youth education program: Global Student Diplomacy Network, or GSDN. She talked about her new movies and her career as a stuntwoman. As the interview progressed, we dived into her passions and her endeavors as a women's activist in Japan. She also introduced some helpful products in the fight of the coronavirus that can strengthen our immune system. A role model for many women in Japan, a person full of wisdom, the lovely, Ms. Ikumi Yoshimatsu.

00:24     Staying in Japan01:07     Talks about her movie career01:38     Talks about her new series 02:13     Talks on how she stays fit for her movies02:41     Specialty on stunts - Nunchucks03:45     Talks about her charity program for children04:54     Talks about being a Women’s Rights Activist, and how she let her voice be heard as a victim of stalking and harassment09:15     Talks about being the first Japanese woman to win Miss International10:20     Talks about the differences between the USA and Japan11:50     Thoughts about the #MeToo movement in Hollywood13:36     Thoughts on what Japan needs to do to continue moving forward15:20     Talks about staying safe from coronavirus15:55     How to use Dental Spa Pro as one of the precautions to protect yourself from Corona Virus18:40     What she misses about Japan, and what she recommends for visitors to Tokyo

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8vyzdiByTm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Contact Info:

Youtube: Ikumi’s VoiceInstagram: @ikumiyoshimatsu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtV-ya_5tqA

Check here  Larry Ogunjobi New Podcast.

吉松育美

今回のスペシャルゲストは、ミス・インターナショナル2012グランプリの吉松育美さんです。都心にあるホテル、アンダーズホテルの52階で、吉松さんと彼女のマネージャーさんにお話を伺いました。吉松さんは、ミス・インターナショナルのほかに、ハリウッドで女優やスタントウーマンとしても活躍しています。現在は、新しいハリウッドのテレビシリーズのを撮影するために帰国しております。青少年教育プログラム、GSDN（Global Student Diplomacy Network）のプロモーションも行っています。女優やスタントウーマンとしてのキャリアについて語っていただきました。

インタビューを通して、私たちは彼女の情熱や日本人女性としての取り組みに感銘を受けました。またコロナウイルス対策として、免疫力を高めるのに役立つ商品なども紹介していただきました。多くの日本人女性のモデルであり、知的で素敵な吉松育美さんです。

00:24     日本での滞在について01:07     映画でのキャリアについて01:38     新作映画について02:13     映画に向けての体の管理について02:41     スタントの特技 - ヌンチャク03:45     子供へのチャリティについて04:54     女性の権利を守る活動家として、またはストーカーやハラスメントの被害者として、どのように自分の声をあげてきたのかについて09:15     日本人初のミス・インターナショナルになったことについて10:20     アメリカと日本との違いについて11:50     ハリウッドの#MeToo活動について13:36     日本人が前に向かって突き進むために必要なことについて15:20     コロナウイルス対策について15:55     コロナウイルス感染症の予防策として、デンタルスパ・プロを使う際の使用法18:40     日本の恋しい部分、東京でのオススメ

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8vyzdiByTm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Contact Info:

Youtube: Ikumi’s VoiceInstagram: @ikumiyoshimatsu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtV-ya_5tqA

We had the honor of interviewing Karolina Styczyńska. She is a Polish women's professional shogi player and the first non-Japanese to be awarded professional status by the Japan Shogi Association. During her interview she described how she came to playing Shogi, her adventures to visit Japan for the first time and her professional career as a non-Japanese Shogi master.

>> Meet your Comic Con Heroes<<

Karolina discovered shogi at the age of sixteen while reading Japanese manga. Her favorite: Naruto. She began playing online at a website called 18Dojo, refining her skills against competitors of various ages and nationalities from the world over. She was eventually noticed by women’s professional Madoka Kitao who was impressed by Styczyńska’s ability. Kitao invited Karolina to come to Japan for a two-week trip to study shogi in 2011 all expenses paid.

On May 19, 2012, Styczyńska participated in Women’s Oza Tournament wherein she became the first non-Japanese female amateur to defeat a women's professional in an official game. In June 2013, Styczyńska became the first non-Japanese female to be accepted into one of the Japan Shogi Association's training groups. In 2017, during her second year of graduate school, she was promoted to 2-kyu, achieving her goal of becoming a professional.

She

wrote her master’s thesis on the internationalization of shogi, and after

graduation played in an international tournament in Los Angeles in 2018—an

event intended to popularize shogi overseas. As the game’s first foreign

female shogi professional, she’s playing a huge role in popularizing

the game worldwide, including introducing the rules of shogi in

English on her website and publishing International shogi Magazine.

She is currently living in Tokyo, Japan and has been able to get used to the lifestyle and food. In addition to playing official matches, Japanese shogi professionals are involved in diverse activities to spread the popularity of their game, including teaching shogi workshops, writing books and participating in various events.

Styczyńska is currently under contract to a Japanese corporation that sponsors her—another noteworthy item on her resume since she is the first female shogi player to earn corporate sponsorship. As a non-Japanese shogi professional, she also teaches courses on the game in English. Her popularity in Japan, as well as overseas she, was honored to be an anime character herself. If you know Japanese culture well, you understand what a high honor that is. >> Check out her anime video <<

Most recently, she was a guest of honor at the Polish embassy where she was able to meet the Polish Prime Minister during a visit to Japan. At that time, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended as well and he was impressed by Karolina’s achievements.

Follow Karolina

Website: Anime characterTwitter: @oneye

About Shogi

Shogi,

also known as Japanese chess or the Game of Generals, is a two player strategy

board game native in Japan. Shogi is the Japanese version of chess. While

they share some common elements and strategic principles, they are really

two different games.

History of Shogi

The

world has many games that resemble shogi. These games reportedly all originated

in the game of chatoranga, which was played in ancient India. As that game

spread to various countries, it was influenced by the history and culture in

each. As a result, each country developed its own type of game from it. For

Chinese style shogi, it is called xinagqi while the Thai-style shogi is called

makruk.