Sweet dreams are made of these and who am I to disagree. I’m back with a fresh new band dropping in the Tokyo scene. Meet Lucas and Nayokenza, two artists/musicians that have unbreakable musical synergy which led them to create Moondahlia, a lo-fi, chillout project which I’m happy to promote. Unsurprisingly we all had similar tastes and I felt these were two rad dudes with vision, purpose and creativity worth sharing. I hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I had “talking shop” with other like-minded musicians. Here is their passion on a musical plate. Bon appétit.

To check out Moondhalia’s first ep, “The View on Midnight” you can find it on all music streaming platforms as well as their YouTube channel : https://youtube.com/@moondahliamusic?si=DGozxvDzixvudKnu

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1GwUm01fS5mAOD1YVpUoWV?si=DfRyOn4-T0qUdfSIw4gzNw

Apple: https://music.apple.com/jp/artist/moondahlia/1810533462?l=en-US

Website: moondahlia

For more info on the Nakameguro Taproom and other Baird Beer taprooms, please visit:  http://Bairdbeer.com/

To donate and buy drinks for the guests  of my podcast:

https://ko-fi.com/madeinjapanpodcast

IG & FB:  @madeinjapanpodcast

Email:  [email protected]

There’s an old Japanese proverb “ennoshita no chikaramochi” (縁の下の力持ち),  “the powerful person that holds up the house“ or “the unsung hero”.  Meet Brandon, I don’t know if he can carry a house but he is the founder of Tokyo Vibes. An event/ community space which brings together art and music lovers in the Tokyo area.  This social gathering is a wonderful opportunity for those looking to network, make new friends and give artists from all mediums a platform.  This episode is for those who feel let down to create as well as for those in Japan who want to connect.  Brandon is the wizard behind the curtain urging you to never give up.    You can find more info on Tokyo Vibes through their Instagram, here.

For more info on the Nakameguro Taproom and other Baird Beer taprooms, please visit:  http://Bairdbeer.com/

To donate and buy drinks for the guests  of my podcast:

https://ko-fi.com/madeinjapanpodcast

IG & FB:  @madeinjapanpodcast

Email:  [email protected]

On the seventh season of Made In Japan Podcast, we start with equating the first capital of the U.S. , Philadelphia with the OG downtown center of of commerce in Edo/Tokyo , Nihonbashi. Meet Kousuke and Tomomi, who’ve glued both city areas from opposite ends of Earth with a hoagie; the Philly cheesesteak. To my surprise yet unsurprisingly, they’ve managed to make this beloved Philly sandwich a magnet for both locals and tourists visiting Japan come to their welcoming bar/ restaurant and teleport them to the city of brotherly love. This is their story and love through the food. Go Birds!

For more info on the Nakameguro Taproom and other Baird Beer taprooms, please visit:  http://Bairdbeer.com/

To donate and buy drinks for the guests  of my podcast:

https://ko-fi.com/madeinjapanpodcast

You can follow Nihonbashi Philly on Instagram here
@nihonbashi_philly

IG & FB:  @madeinjapanpodcast

Email:  [email protected]

From the volcanic region of Bicol, Philippines to the quiet shores of Shizuoka, Japan, meet Kei, who exemplifies the fire and water of Philippines and Japan.   I’m honored to share her story of blending roots as well as her discovering new shades of her identity as she starts her modeling career in Japan.   She also happens to be an excellent brownie baker with her new business called “ Brownie Shots”.  This was definitely a treat to have her on, speak her truth and meditate on the perfect brownie bite.  

Check out Brownie Shots on IG: @brownie.shots

For more info on the Nakameguro Taproom and other Baird Beer taprooms, please visit:  http://Bairdbeer.com/

To donate and buy drinks for the guests  of my podcast:

https://ko-fi.com/madeinjapanpodcast

IG & FB:  @madeinjapanpodcast

Email:  [email protected]

To be or not to be, that is the way of the “Manga-ka” or Manga artist.  I’m back diving deep into the business of what it means to strive as a successful Manga artist.  Meet Tatsumi, whom at a young age found passion and with his talent which caught the attention of the giants of the manga publishing world.  I was grateful he took time to come and chat with me about what it takes to live and die in this hyper competitive yet internationally loved artistic medium.  

You can check out Tatsumi’s portfolio here:  https://tatsumikyo.com

For more info on the Nakameguro Taproom and other Baird Beer taprooms, please visit:  http://Bairdbeer.com/

To donate and buy drinks for the guests  of my podcast:

https://ko-fi.com/madeinjapanpodcast

IG & FB:  @madeinjapanpodcast

Email:  [email protected]

On this episode, let’s head out to a quaint but comfortable beach town of Hiratsuka, Japan.  About ninety minutes southwest of central Tokyo, lies a craft beer bar/brewery blasting heavy metal on some days and showing matches of its local soccer club on other days.    Converging different types of crowds in one place for the love of craft beer and supporting its community, meet Davido and Yggdrasil Brewing.  Davido and his beer making passion placed him and his family face to face with a quiet shoreline community that never knew they needed but quickly grown to love and support.  

Yggdrasil Brewing: Instagram  Facebook  

Yggdrasil Brewing online shop:  

For more info on the Nakameguro Taproom and other Baird Beer taprooms, please visit:  http://Bairdbeer.com/

To donate and buy drinks for the guests  of my podcast:

Ko-fi

IG & FB:  @madeinjapanpodcast

Email:  [email protected]

What do you get when you mix punk rock, Emperor Go-Daigo and the rise of abandoned property in rural Japan?  Meet Matt, co-founder of AKIYAZ, a real estate brokerage and Akiya lifestyle services firm helping clients purchase an Akiya (abandoned property) in Japan’s countryside as well as helping connect to the local community to ensure a seamless integration to rural Japan life.  Post-Covid, the rise of investing and purchasing Akiya in Japan has been on the rise and I was curious to what this is all about.   Matt’s once  hobby turned business brought me to a world that I didn’t know existed; just like an underground music scene.

To  learn about Akiya real estate check out:  AKIYAZ

You can find out more about Matt’s projects here:  mkultraman.com

 For more info on the Nakameguro Taproom and other Baird Beer taprooms, please visit:  http://Bairdbeer.com/

To donate and buy drinks for the guests  of my podcast:

https://ko-fi.com/madeinjapanpodcast

IG & FB:  @madeinjapanpodcast

Email:  [email protected]

Warning:  Do not listen to this episode on an empty stomach.  Meet Jeremy, a born and raised New Yorker, reggae head, and former Brooklyn based record store owner.  Along with his wife Maiko, opened “Freeman Shokudo” in a quaint yet hip neighborhood in Shibuya city ward.  Specializing in barbecue, pastrami sandwiches, falafel and whatever Jeremy feels like smoking or pickling, I get the sense this is the kind of establishment that helps accentuate if not revitalize a local community.  This is a story of Jeremy, Maiko and their family taking a huge risk of leaving what they had in New York to bring his passion  of barbecue to Tokyo.  With help along the way as well as awkward yet funny circumstances, the restaurant works. In my opinion, it will continue to thrive.

You can follow Freeman Shokudo on FB and IG : @freemanshokudo

For more info on the Nakameguro Taproom and other Baird Beer taprooms, please visit:  http://Bairdbeer.com/

To donate and buy drinks for the guests  of my podcast:

https://ko-fi.com/madeinjapanpodcast

IG & FB:  @madeinjapanpodcast

Email:  [email protected]