Birthplace: Shin-Yamashita
Born: 1958

“The same year as Tokyo Tower, the same day as Donald Duck”
Father is American, but went to Japanese schools all his life—”I prefer speaking Japanese.”
Currently in his third year as owner of the pub-restaurant Miracle Shôkai.
Before that, worked for ten years as a carpenter.
30 years ago, was the first manager of “bar bar bar” in Kannai. “That’s where I learned this line of work.”

Plusses of the job: I get to talk to all kinds of people
Best item on the menu: whatever uses our fresh vegetables of the day
Hobbies: Aikido (ten years). Has been practicing for five years at a temple in Minami-Ôta. Also likes ocean fishing.
Proverb: scholarship is studying what you are ignorant about.

There are mannequins with horse heads standing outside Miracle that really grab your attention (you’ll know the place immediately). When we asked why they are there, he replies: “A staff member got them for his birthday from the other staff. He didn’t want to take them home so we stuck them outside the store and decorated them.” Right.

Words of parting: “Let’s have a blast at Miracle together!”

Miracle ミラクル商會
〒横浜市中区野毛町１−１３　吉川ビル１F
1-13-1F Nogecho, Naka-ku, Yokohama
Tel: 045-262-2635

Founded as recently as April 2006, ZAIM is located in an historical brick building whose facilities are currently designed to provide artists with a place both to work and display their finished material. The organization defines “artists” very broadly, however, and the many rooms host individuals and groups ranging from architects and digital artists to the more traditional. Essentially, ZAIM is looking to support creative endeavor of any kind. There is a darkroom and theatre, as well as space for dance, music or other kinds of performances. Workshops and symposiums are also welcome. ZAIM café next door even hosts fashion events.

ZAIM has already showcased artists from dozens of countries around the world, and would like to act as a stepping-stone for emerging artists. As ZAIM manager Fukutomi Junko notes, “We would like young artists to think of us as their PR spot.” Anyone can use the facilities, however, and powerhouse Japanese directors Beat Takeshi and Kurosawa Kiyoshi have both done filming there. The facilities are that nice.
Yokohama City generously supports the foundation, but companies with CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) departments could make a big difference for the arts with donations of their own. In the meantime, ZAIM tries to connect with other organizations and individuals to lift the greater artistic community. Art has no borders. In that spirit, this organization tries to erase its own.

ZAIM
〒２３１-００２１神奈川県横浜市中区日本大通３４
34 Nihon Odori, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0021
Tel: 045-222-7030
Fax: 045-662-0509
休館日／施設点検日（不定期）および年末年始
開館時間／午前10時〜午後10時（展示時間は企画によって異なります）
Open 10am-10pm, with occasional holidays. Closed at year’s end. Exhibit times vary.
» ZAIM

When hunger hits the community, children suffer the most. For those tormented by empty stomachs, it is not going to school that is important, but eating. At present, there are between 350 and 400 million children in the world who are suffering from hunger. Among those who have reached elementary school age, 115 million are not attending. Eradicating the hunger of children who support the future of nations, as well as further educating them, is essential for poor countries trying to escape from poverty and hunger.
Poor families generally do not have enough to eat. Most schools in developing countries do not have kitchens or cafeterias. Hungry children become distracted easily and cannot concentrate on their studies. Such hunger stymies a child’s learning ability. In serious cases of malnutrition, there are even adverse affects on a child’s physical and mental development. This makes the burden on poor countries all the greater.

WFP has been providing school feeding for over forty years in developing countries. In 2007, roughly 19.3 million children received meal support. This program tries to broaden educational opportunities and guarantee that education is being received while also providing highly nutritious meals and helping child development. WFP’s school feeding program serves an important role in helping poor countries escape from poverty and hunger.

Results of school feeding:

• a striking increase in enrollment and attendance
• if hunger is satisfied, pupils are able to dedicate themselves to their studies
• children are at least able to take one highly nutritious meal a day
• even girls who were confined to the home by custom receive educational opportunities
• parents choose to send their children to school rather than work

Please donate. For more information, please visit: World Food Programme

Tired? Stressed-out? Feeling down? Or do you simply want a place to kick back and relax, regardless of your mood? If you’ve already been to the Man’yô Club, well, it’s time to ago again. And if you haven’t been yet, what in the world are you waiting for?

The Man’yô Club is a huge spa facility in Minato Mirai. Real onsen water is brought in daily from Atami and Yugawara down the coast and used to fill the expansive baths. There are a number of indoor baths as well as open-air baths that look out across the bay. On the rooftop, a huge circular footbath provides breathtaking views of Minato Mirai, especially at night. Couples and families can also rent private baths.
Baths are the main attraction, but the facilities also include saunas, professional massage rooms, an array of esthetic services, fine eating, a game room, specialty shopping and even accommodations. For a slightly extra charge, you can dip yourself in the baths with tiny fish that nibble away at dead skin.
There is no bad time to go and you are almost sure to leave feeling refreshed and healthy. Go pamper yourself.

Man’yô Club 万葉倶楽部
〒２３１−０００１神奈川県横浜市中区新港２−７−１
2-7-1 Shin-minato, Naka-ku, Yokohama
Tel: 045-663-4126
営業時間: 午前10:00〜翌朝9:00まで/23時間営業/年中無休
Open: 10am to 9am (the next morning)
» Man’yô Club

The Yokohama Archives of History is both a tourist attraction and research facility. It preserves a vast array of public historical documents dating to the 1850s and has several permanent exhibitions that showcase Yokohama’s history as a gateway to Japan. There are also special exhibitions four times a year so that repeat visits will always be interesting. Many of the items displayed provide a unique window to the past, when Yokohama was the primary conduit between Japan and the rest of the world. As Japan began rapidly modernizing in the late 19th century, Yokohama, in fact, often embraced the changes first. Some guests use the building for study. There is a reading room with an abundance of books, old newspapers and other documents. The staff can help you locate materials for your research. On your way out, check out the tree in the courtyard and read the plaque. Why? You’ll just have to visit to find out.

Yokohama Archives of History
〒２３１－００２１　横浜市中区日本大通３
3 Nihon-odori, Naka-ku, Yokohama 231-0021
Hours: 9:30am to 5pm (admission until 4:30pm), closed Mondays
Fees: adults, 200 yen; primary & junior high school students, 100 yen; reading room only, 200 yen.
開館時間: 午前９：３０～午後５：００まで（入館は午後４：３０まで）
休館日: 月曜日
入館料: 大人２００円、 小中学生１００円, 閲覧室のみ利用１００円
» Yokohama Archives of History

Easy Living specializes in dishes made with organic ingredients. That’s good for you and good for the environment. From fish to pork, tofu to vegetables, whatever you are eating, it is fresh and made from scratch. Think home cooking, only better. The menu is reasonably priced. Most orders are around 1000 yen. There is an ample selection of spirits, too, including wine and shochu, which goes well with the style of food. The chef recommends her soft boiled pork with green onions.

The lunch hour sees mostly office workers, taking advantage of the lunch sets. At night, however, the atmosphere is more intimate and couples are common. Easy Living only seats a maximum of 12 people. The restaurant is available for private parties (between 7 and 10 people). You can also bring your dog, but please call in advance.

Easy Living
〒２３１-００２３横浜市中区山下町９３-２-２０２
Naka-ku, Yamashita-cho 93-2-202
Tel: 045-664-9676
Lunch: 12pm-4pm (last order, 3pm)
Dinner: 6pm-10:30pm (last order, 9:30pm)
» Easy Living