Made in Japan-- Conversations with Meljo Catalan – Details, episodes & analysis

To be or not to be, that is the way of the “Manga-ka” or Manga artist.  I’m back diving deep into the business of what it means to strive as a successful Manga artist.  Meet Tatsumi, whom at a young age found passion and with his talent which caught the attention of the giants of the manga publishing world.  I was grateful he took time to come and chat with me about what it takes to live and die in this hyper competitive yet internationally loved artistic medium.  

You can check out Tatsumi’s portfolio here:  https://tatsumikyo.com

For more info on the Nakameguro Taproom and other Baird Beer taprooms, please visit:  http://Bairdbeer.com/

To donate and buy drinks for the guests  of my podcast:

https://ko-fi.com/madeinjapanpodcast

IG & FB:  @madeinjapanpodcast

Email:  japanmademepodcast@gmail.com

On this episode, let’s head out to a quaint but comfortable beach town of Hiratsuka, Japan.  About ninety minutes southwest of central Tokyo, lies a craft beer bar/brewery blasting heavy metal on some days and showing matches of its local soccer club on other days.    Converging different types of crowds in one place for the love of craft beer and supporting its community, meet Davido and Yggdrasil Brewing.  Davido and his beer making passion placed him and his family face to face with a quiet shoreline community that never knew they needed but quickly grown to love and support.  

Yggdrasil Brewing: Instagram  Facebook  

Yggdrasil Brewing online shop:  

For more info on the Nakameguro Taproom and other Baird Beer taprooms, please visit:  http://Bairdbeer.com/

To donate and buy drinks for the guests  of my podcast:

Ko-fi

IG & FB:  @madeinjapanpodcast

Email:  japanmademepodcast@gmail.com

When I look back to my first few years of Japan, there is one Tokyo native that helped shape my identity and feel accepted in the local community.  Meet my kindred spirit and one of my oldest Japanese friends, Ryuta.  He was one of my first students I’ve taught in Japan that soon became my brother from a Nihon-Jin mother.  Ryuta, his wife Nao, along with their precocious toddler, Umi-chan joined me for a catch up and reminisce.  Seeing  Ryuta now, these words come to mind:  “Open your hearts, Stay grounded.” For more info on the Nakameguro Taproom and other Baird Beer taprooms, please visit here  To donate and buy drinks for the guests  of my podcast, check out my Ko-fi page . IG & FB:  @madeinjapanpodcast For Inquiries, Questions and Comments, email me here.

Dear Listeners,  Season 4 is a wrap.  Thank you all for sticking around and listening!   Stay tuned.

To donate for the production of this podcast check out my Ko-fi page.  

To contact and listen to all the episode check out my Linktree.  

It’s time once again to showcase an up and coming singer who’s been getting a lot of buzz in the Tokyo Jazz and R&B scene.  Meet Chloe, establishing herself in Japan as a musical force to be reckoned with.  Alongside with her group Pajaumi, an international neo-soul and experimental jazz quintet, they are making waves in their scene domestic and internationally.  Chloe is also on the brink of launching her solo career.  Join us as we kick back to talk shop as well as sharing the sentiment of “how it feels to be somewhat emo”.

You can listen as well as go see Chloe and Pajaumi live here  and through her Instagram

For more info on the Nakameguro Taproom and other Baird Beer taprooms, check out their website.  

To donate and buy drinks for the guests  of my podcast, check out my Ko-fi page

You can contact me and listen to all the episodes here.  

Ramen (or as the purists will say, “Chuka-soba” 中華そば）has been the trendiest cuisine exporting out of Japan after sushi. Meet my homie, Frank, a die hard Ramen enthusiast who’s made a sudden career change becoming a popular ramen blogger as well as a charming, sought-after Tokyo ramen tour guide. Frank has built enough street cred to bring tourists to some unknown tasty ramen joints as well as the Michelin star heavyweights in the Japanese Ramen Scene. I felt it was time to have Frank sit down and talk about his undeniable passion for a bowl of umami noodle bomb goodness. You can check out more amazing ramen shops at https://www.5amramen.com If you’re interested in joining Frank’s tours: https://www.tokyoramentours.com For ordering some amazingly tasty instant ramen: https://www.instantramen.jp For more info on the Nakameguro Taproom and other Baird Beer taprooms, please visit: http://Bairdbeer.com/ To donate and buy drinks for the guests of my podcast: https://ko-fi.com/madeinjapanpodcast IG & FB: @madeinjapanpodcast Email: japanmademepodcast@gmail.com

Down, Set, Hut! ‘Tis the season of my favorite sport, (American) Football. I’d like to share a story of a Hawaiian native raised from the North Shore of Oahu. A man born and raised with the gridiron game literally in his bloodline. Meet BJ, a professional footballer playing 10 years with Obic Seagulls, one of Japan’s top pro football teams in the X-League. Making a name (and threat to rivals), BJ helped grow the sport to where future generations of Japanese players have aspired to outside of Japan’s other classic pastimes, baseball and soccer. For me, it was second nature to kick back and talk about what happened on and off the field as well what the future holds for BJ and his contribution to expose more interest for football in Japan. You can follow BJ through his IG: @buffalosoja For more info on the X-League: xleague.jp (site in Japanese) For more info on the Nakameguro Taproom and other Baird Beer taprooms, please visit: http://Bairdbeer.com/ To donate and buy drinks for the guests of my podcast: https://ko-fi.com/madeinjapanpodcast IG & FB: @madeinjapanpodcast Email: japanmademepodcast@gmail.com

Charisma and tenacity goes a long way in any profession and it’s crucial in the world of fashion. Meet Eli, a Bolivian-Japanese Fashion Designer who’s just graduated from one of Japan’s prestigious fashion schools, Bunka Fashion College. Just on the wake of finishing her graduation runway collection, Eli sat down and had a chat with me about her story as a Latino Nikkei (日系人) representing her roots with Japanese technique through her love of fashion. Whether on the runway or on the streets of Tokyo, Eli’s pieces will surely add some “oshare-picante”. You can contact and find more of Eli’s clothing designs and artwork on Instagram: @_elitamo_ For more info on the Nakameguro Taproom and other Baird Beer taprooms, please visit: http://Bairdbeer.com/ To donate and buy drinks for the guests of my podcast: https://ko-fi.com/madeinjapanpodcast IG & FB: @madeinjapanpodcast Email: japanmademepodcast@gmail.com

On this episode, I’m thrilled to introduce a rising artist in the Tokyo art community. Meet Ken, aka Kenfrog, an artist that specializes in intricate floral drawings which in my eye resembles a juxtaposition of a Japanese washi paper backdrop with exquisite, controlled sketches that closely resembles Inca tattoo designs. Ken was gracious enough to take time from his hectic schedule to sit down with me and chat about his family background as well as his creative process. He encompasses that persistent adage of “art is life”. However Ken’s values and art are much more in depth than being encapsulated in a three word slogan. Check out Ken’ s work here: www.kenfrog.com If you’re in Japan this summer, you can see Ken’s pieces here at Harry’s Sandwich Co. , Harajuku/Omotesando, Tokyo from June 11-July 2 here: https://linktr.ee/harryssandwichco Ken will also have an exhibit at INCredible Coffee in Koenji, Tokyo from July 11-July 18th. For more info check out on Instagram: @inccoffee2020

Welcome back, dear listeners. This was a longer than usual MIJ episode because I was excited share a relaxing catch-up with my friend, Mina. She’s been in the Japanese film/TV industry since the pre-digital film days of the early 2000’s. This was actually the first time for me to sit down and talk about her career in the (at-times) constricting Japanese entertainment industry. From reflection on her early years to her transition to the stage, Mina truly shows her versatility in her craft and her unapologetic sincerity. Kick back and share a drink with us. You can check out Mina’s performances here: IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1659615/ Asian Wiki: https://asianwiki.com/Mina_Shimizu For more info on the Nakameguro Taproom and other Baird Beer taprooms, please visit: http://Bairdbeer.com/ To donate and buy drinks for the guests of my podcast: https://ko-fi.com/madeinjapanpodcast IG & FB: @madeinjapanpodcast Email: japanmademepodcast@gmail.com