What a wonderful time to visit Sankei-en Garden with all its blooming variety of plants that change from month to month! In this issue, we introduce a unique restaurant there that’s part of Yokohama’s rich history of combining different cultures in interesting ways. There are many ways to celebrate our city’s international heritage–and a bowl of delicious noodles in a beautiful park is not a bad way to start! -Ry Beville & My Huynh (founders)
Author: Seasider
It’s hard to believe but this issue marks our 17th anniversary of publishing the Yokohama Seasider. It’s older than our two middle-school-aged children and almost feels like a child in how we’ve cared for it, struggled for it, worried over it, and celebrated its successes through the years. We’ve watched it change and grow, and hope you’ve enjoyed being a part of the family as our readers. Thank you for your support (and thank you, too, sponsors and staff, past and present). -Ry Beville & My Huynh (founders)
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! “New oldies” is a simple way to describe the sound of Durand Jones & The Indications. The group takes you back to the 1950s, 60s, and 70s with soulful R&B like that of Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, and Marvin Gaye. Having released their eponymous debut album in America less than a…
With this issue we turn the pages on another year. How was your 2025? Did you achieve any goals? Maybe fall short? Don’t ever forget the popular saying: It is never too late to be what you might have been. 2026 provides renewed opportunity, especially after what we hope will be a rejuvenating holiday season. Some of you may need some rest and quiet; others among you may choose to recharge by living it up with friends and family. However you spend the holidays, we hope it sets the stage for a wonderful 2026!
Machines can be beautiful works of art. We need look no further than the legacy of Steve Jobs at Apple. Or Dean Moon (1927-1987), for that matter. Moon was a legendary American automobile designer who took hot rods and custom cars to great heights. He was the founder of the company MOONEYES which still operates today, selling artful but functional car and motorcycle parts, accessories, clothing, and related items. In addition to its original location in California, there is a Japan branch in Honmoku, Yokohama. Since the early 1990s, the company has been led by Shige Suganuma, who was a…
Angelina Lee is an L.A..-based independent filmmaker who recently shot and produced a documentary about the Miyawaki Method. Please tell us more about your film. It’s called Making a Mini-Forest. It’s about the renaissance of Miyawaki forest planting over the last five to ten years in Europe. This film specifically focuses on a network of tree planters that share knowledge, resources, and ethics–much like the interconnected underground root network of a mature forest! I was touched by this blossoming example of how one person can make a difference. One person inspires another, and another, who then takes mini-forest planting to…
We introduced Yokohama’s own Professor Kazue Fujiwara in the previous issue of the Yokohama Seasider, detailing her work in the context of the Miyawaki Method for forest development, which is becoming a worldwide phenomenon (download a free pdf of the magazine if you missed it: www.yokohamaseasider.com). Here, in the second part of the feature, we interview her directly. Can you please tell us how you got into this line of research and professional work? When I was doing research for my undergraduate thesis topic (“Changes in Peat Bog Vegetation Due to Human Impact”) assigned by Professor Miyawaki, I found that…
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! Grover Washington, Jr. (1943-1999) knew how to soothe and excite alike with his saxophones. He enriched the traditions of soul, jazz, funk, and R&B, but is perhaps best known for driving the smooth jazz genre to worldwide popularity. Between his debut work in 1972 and a posthumous release in 2000, he…
As far back as we can remember, this issue carries the longest feature we’ve done for the Yokohama Seasider–and this magazine is more than 16-years-old! It’s a five-page feature about Miyawaki Forests. Moreover, it’s the second part of a larger piece that started with the previous issue. It felt great to do a long article and we hope you liked that change, too. If so, we’ll keep running them!
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! Lauryn Hill is one of the most influential vocalists of the 1990s (and perhaps the last 50 years). She grew to fame with her powerful voice and, in her solo career, was known for her introspective lyrics. She made her first splash as a member of the Fugees, whose 1996 album…