Alex Quinn's Japan Journal

10/13/2004, People who eat okonomiyaki at Minato-ya every Wednesday night

Updated: 11/11/2004

I go to the city of Ako for Okonomiyaki every Wednesday.  I've written about it before.  This week, I took pictures of everybody who showed up tonight.  There are others who come on and off.  Anyway, here are the pictures.

This is Minato, the owner of the okonomiyaki shop we go to.  He lives in Aioi, fairly close to me.  He loves taking photographs.  The walls of his shop are lined with pictures of his customers, mostly Japanese, but also including many foreigners.  Minato is a very casual guy and he loves to joke around.  Every week, he lets me come behind the counter and make my own martini.  In fact, he bought olives and a cocktail shaker just so I could have martinis when I come.  He and Nate to to hot springs (onsen) from time to time.  When Nate's dad was in town, Minato showed them around the area.  Minato is the main reason why we all get together each week.

Matt lives in my building.  He works at Kamigori High School, about 20 minutes from my school.  He's from Rhode Island.  He majored in Religion.  He likes surfing and playing drums.

Ewan likes surfing.  He's been here for a while and has a girlfriend here.

These are some random guys who showed up tonight.

Machiko.  She works at a nearby bakery.  She majored in English and speaks it beautifully.

Ayako (Aya) is a high school student.  She is planning to move and study in Australia starting January 2005.  She likes to listen to music (hip-hop, r&b, classical, pop, rock, etc.).  She had her own piano concert when she was 14.  Needless to say, she is good at classical piano.  She is in the choir in Ako.  She can speak English naturally, which is amazing for a high school student.  She has always lived in Ako.

Nate lives in my building and also lived near me in Seattle.  He studied Documentary Production in college.

Yuuka lives in Aioi and works at Ako City Hall.  She helps manage the Ako International Friendship association.  She majored in Hindi.

This is Youko.  She works at Spring-8, the local cyclotron (particle accelerator, physics facility).

This is Nick Redman.  He teaches English at various schools in Ako.  In Australia, he double-majored in Japanese and Computer Science in college.  He did a year of exchange study at Konan University in Kobe.  He likes playing baseball and listening to music.

This is Nick John.  He teaches English at various junior high and elementary schools in Ako.  In college he majored in law and Japanese in Australia.  He is good at basketball, guitar, and Japanese.  He is Kanako's boyfriend.

This is Kanako.  She works for a paint manufacturer.  She is Nick's girlfriend.  She plays rock drums with Nick and Kazu.  She majored in international economics in Kanagawa.  She loves the Beatles.  She was raised in Ako.

This is Kazu.  He works for the City of Ako with solid waste management.  He was born in Ako and plays guitar in a band with a good reputation.  He majored in international communication in Osaka.  Lately he has been getting into surfing.

This is Keiko.  She works at a school in the office.  Recently, she went on a trip to England.  She loves the Beatles.  In college, she majored in law.  She likes to travel, ski, and snowboard.  She was raised in Akashi.

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