What does the word ‘Tokyo’ evoke for you?

A dynamic balance of destruction and creation. A city that is always breaking down and always being reborn.

Your first memory of Tokyo?

When I was 13, in my second year of middle school, I secretly went to a concert at Korakuen Hall. On the way back to my hometown, Yokohama, slipping through the night streets among adults, my heart kept racing with excitement. My first experience of Tokyo, chosen on my own, was colored by ‘night’ and ‘taboo’.

Where do you feel most at home?

The library at the University of Tokyo, where a serene stillness prevails in this bustling city.

What makes a true Tokyoite?

One who holds their own convictions and obsessions.

Who do you think best embodies Tokyo?

The main character in Lost in Translation, Bob Harris played by Bill Murray. Through the eyes of an outsider, he reflects both the solitude and the allure of Tokyo.

Your favorite breakfast place?

Yakumo Saryo. A place with the purity and spaciousness that mornings deserve.

And favorite dinner spot?

Tonkatsu Tonki. Delicious theater.

Where are the best boutiques?

Kappabashi Street. A one-stop destination where more than 170 boutiques specializing in kitchen utensils.  

Who would be your dream guests for a dinner party?

War orphans around the world.

Where do you go out in Tokyo?

Chatei Hatou – a café in Shibuya that has been with me since my university days.

What work of art best represents Tokyo?

Taro Okamoto’s mural Myth of Tomorrow. It depicts the power of regeneration that resides within destruction.

What would you recommend a visitor see and do during Art Week Tokyo?

It’s the season of new rice and soba. I hope visitors savor these fleeting flavors like a work of art.

What is the craziest thing you have heard or seen in the streets of Tokyo?

The fact that a wallet dropped on the street finds its way back to you.

What can you only do in Tokyo?

Eat sushi made by a 99-year-old master – if you are fortunate enough to secure one of the few coveted seats.

What do you miss most when you are away from Tokyo?

Edomae sushi.

Your best advice for someone visiting the city?

Tokyo has countless hidden charms that no guidebook can contain. Find a friend here and discover a journey that no one else can experience.