If your idea of tacos is just ground beef with lettuce and mini tomatoes—like mine used to be—then you need to head to Chapman Tacos for the real deal! On my recent visit I ordered the three-piece set (¥1,400) with asada (grilled beef steak), carnitas (pork simmered with oranges), and pan-fried white fish–which was admittedly a surprise, having never encountered fish tacos before. The one I recommend most is carnitas. The pork, slowly cooked in lard, comes out tender and juicy. It’s not heavy at all; in fact, once you top it with onion, cilantro, jalapeños, and their homemade salsa,…
Author: Seasider
This past July, Yokohama-based professor Kazue Fujiwara visited Berkeley, California for a very special symposium celebrating her work and that of her mentor, the late Dr. Akira Miyawaki (1928-2021). Fujiwara is a professor emerita of Yokohama National University; following her retirement there, she continued working at Yokohama City University. Her work with forestation projects—notably Miyawaki Forests—is helping to ensure that our planet remains habitable. At the very least, as this symposium proved, Miyawaki Forests are providing comfort and purpose to a generation of youth. Before discussing the symposium, where children shared their experiences with Miyawaki Forests, let’s take a look…
We hope all of our readers had a great summer–what was your most memorable experience? And what are your special goals for the fall? We’re starting something of a new chapter at the Yokohama Seasider. Our long-time office manager Mayura moved to another prefecture to pursue a dream. Thank you for your service, Mayura! In her place, we’ve welcomed local resident Azusa Shotai, who is no stranger to our publication. Welcome aboard, Azusa!
This column is a partnership with Record Bar 45 Yokohama, a bona-fide record bar with excellent vinyl DJs and a supporter of NPO Yokohama Seasider. Here, we check out their Instagram (@recordbar45yokohama) to see what they’ve been playing, then write about one of the artists and/or albums—we’re DJs/musicians ourselves! Lou Donaldson (1926-2024) enjoyed an incredibly long, fruitful career, playing alto sax past the age of ninety (live jazz music is the secret to long life, everyone!). He was also a composer and bandleader. Among the many talented black sax players that emerged in the 1950s and 60s, we find his…
To commemorate the reopening of the Yokohama Museum of Art, the exhibition Masahiko Sato: New × (How to Make + How to Understand) will be held from June 28 to November 3, 2025. Masahiko Sato is a creator and educator who has had a profound impact on Japanese visual expression and educational culture through a wide range of works, including NHK’s PythagoraSwitch, the hit song Dango 3 Kyodai, and NEC’s Bazaar de Gozaru. This exhibition, which looks back on nearly 40 years of Sato’s career, brings together a diverse array of works from video pieces and media art to publications,…
When you discover a new cafe during a walk, do you ever feel the impulse to stop in? Coffee and Baked Ura, tucked away in a back alley near Hakuraku Shopping Street, is a coffee and baked goods shop with an impressive coffee roaster displayed near the entrance. The name “Ura” comes from its backstreet (Uramichi) location; from the last name of the husband-and-wife owners, Tetsuya and Rie Fukaura; and the word ura, a type of bay that evokes a calm, wave-sheltered place. The couple, hoping to eventually open their own shop, worked as baristas at various coffee shops before…
Motomu Shiiya, also known by his stage name Siiya Brown, is one of our favorite local musicians. He’s been delighting audiences in Yokohama (and beyond) for over a decade with his jazz-infused guitar sounds. If you haven’t heard him yet, there’s a wonderful opportunity to see him on an almost weekly basis in central Yokohama. But before we get to that, let us tell you a little more about him. While Shiiya specializes in guitar, he plays multiple instruments, including mandolin, pedal steel guitar, and banjo. He attended the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Japan for two years before…
Founded in 1999, Yokohama Beer is the oldest brewery in the city. For over 25 years, its seasoned brewers have crafted clean, easy-to-drink beers appreciated by locals and far-flung fans alike. The brewery actively collaborates with the community to connect people and expand cultural ties through beer. Notable initiatives include the beer bike that cruises through Minato Mirai, a running club, and joint activities with local universities. Any time there’s something fun going on in the city, you’re likely to find Yokohama Beer there. One such initiative is the “Brewers One Series”, a special project where each Yokohama Beer brewer…
Welcome to the June-July edition of the Yokohama Seasider. Wait! What happened to May?! In short, we had to delay the release due to a complete office move. We left our old home of 15+ years in Noge for a new one in Negishi that we share with our old friends and office mates, Dark Room International. Yes, we still have a photo lab, studio, gallery… and our own magazine production space. A new era begins. We hope it will be a good one. Thank you for your support.
Izumibashi Sake Brewery is one of the Kanto region’s best, and it’s located right in Yokohama’s backyard, just a 20 to 30-minute walk from Ebina Station. If you haven’t been before, there’s even more reason to pay a visit now. They’ve just added a beautiful new tasting room to their attractive facilities. The family-owned brewery was founded in 1857. It’s currently run by sixth-generation president Yuichi Hashiba, though his daughter Haruna is quite active in the business as well. The brewery’s sake is easy to recognize on shelves of local retailers, as it features an iconic dragonfly logo. This fascinating…