We at TOKION asked Peppe to create a manga series to find out what an Italian man thinks of Japanese culture. In the series, Peppe will experience Japan’s unique culture and introduce it in the form of a short manga story. For the 6th edition, as a spin-off, we asked Peppe, who is currently back in Italy, to try a popular ramen dish in Milan.

–This time, since you are in Italy, we asked you to try ramen, one of the most typical Japanese foods. How was the taste when you actually tried it at a restaurant that is said to be delicious in Milan?

Peppe: Hmmm……….If you want good food in Milan, you would definitely be better off going for the risotto! So far, I have been impressed by it no matter where I’ve eaten it or what ingredients were in it.

–What flavor was the ramen you had this time?

Peppe: It was hard to choose because all the ramen had strange combinations of ingredients, not like in Japan where they are categorized into miso(salty soy bean paste), shoyu(soy sauce), tonkotsu (pork bone), and shio (salt). I was surprised to find sashimi in some of them. I tried the vegetarian ramen this time.

–Is there any kind of ramen that is unique to Italy? 

Peppe: The restaurant I went had peperoncino ramen, so I guess that would be it (laughs).

— Do you remember the first time you ate ramen in Japan? 

Peppe: I remember it well. I had champon ramen at a famous Chinese ramen restaurant in Nippori called Bazoku. It was really delicious and brought tears to my eyes. I took a picture and even wrote “Thank you, Champon” on Facebook.

–When you come back to Japan, what would you like to eat first?

Peppe: Rice. I want to eat good rice. Since I haven’t eaten it for a long time, I long for that first bite of warm, soft, and delicious Japanese rice. Oh no! I think my taste buds have totally turned Japanese.

Translation Shinichiro Sato

The post How good is Ramen in Milan? : Italian Manga Artist Peppe’s Encounter with Japanese Culture Vol. 6 appeared first on TOKION - Cutting edge culture and fashion information.

We at TOKION asked Peppe to create a manga series to find out what an Italian man thinks of Japanese culture. In the series, Peppe will experience Japan’s unique culture and introduce it in the form of a short manga story. In the fifth installment, Peppe goes to Sumida-ku, Tokyo, to experience for the first time the design of “Edo Kiriko” (a generic name for faceted glassware produced in Tokyo from the end of the Edo period to the present). Discover how it turned out.

–This time, you tried your hand at designing “Edo Kiriko,” a traditional form of Japanese glass art designated as one of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s traditional crafts.

Peppe: I was truly committed to it for an hour and a half, so it was just as or even more tiring than when I concentrate on drawing manga. Or it was probably because I am just getting older (laughs). I had a vague idea of what “Edo Kiriko” was, but it was great to know that this is how it is made.

–How was it to actually sharpen and design the glass?

Peppe: At first, as a manga artist, I was really worried that I might cut my hand on the machine. So this time I tried to express that fear in the manga as well (laughs). But in reality, I was able to work safely. And just as I had expected, it was fun to create things with my hands.

Just like when I drew manga for the first time, I couldn’t do it right at first. I really wanted to try a more complicated design, but I thought I must not fail, so I decided to keep it simple this time, using the form of a bamboo thicket. Now that I know how to do it, I would like to do it again after developing a specific design.

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We at TOKION asked Peppe to create a manga series to find out what an Italian man thinks of Japanese culture. In the series, Peppe will experience Japan’s unique culture and introduce it in the form of a short manga story. In the fourth installment, he visits the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum in Koganei, Tokyo. The museum restores historic buildings from the end of the Edo era to the beginning of the Showa era, and visitors can experience what life was like in the past. What did Peppe feel at the museum, which he went to use as a reference for his next manga?  

–We visited the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum because you wanted to use it as a reference for your next manga. How was it? 

Peppe: I’m thinking of depicting the early Showa era in my next manga, so I really wanted to visit the museum. I found it so helpful. There are many photos of the exterior of [the buildings], but I’m glad I could witness the details, such as the reconstructed interior, tools, and advertisements. It was bigger than I expected, so I got exhausted (laughs). 

–I see. I went there thinking it would be an easy trip, but I was surprised by how spacious it was. The museum’s seven hectares big. You took so many photos of the buildings. Which ones stood out to you? 

Peppe: I took about 2,000 photos (laughs). I’ve seen the exterior of the House of the Leader of the Hachioji Guards from the late Edo era, but the interior was bigger than I imagined. There was a recreated bathroom as well. I was happy to see a glimpse of the world of Vagabond because I like that manga. I enjoyed how the House of Kunio Maekawa, built in 1942, had a blend of the East and West. It made me want to live there. 

–What do you think is the difference between Italian and Japanese architecture?  

Peppe: In Italy, people don’t rebuild buildings frequently like in Japan. Most of the buildings there are old. There are many skyscrapers in one part of Milan, but not as many as in Japan. There are just so many in Shibuya. I personally like old Japanese houses with tatami mats and sliding doors.  

Translation Lena Grace Suda

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We at TOKION asked Peppe to create a manga series to find out what an Italian guy thinks of Japanese culture. In the series, Peppe will experience Japan’s unique culture and introduce it in the form of a short manga story. For the third installment, he visits a Japanese sake brewery in Okutama, a town located an hour and a half away from the center of Tokyo.

—You’re from Italy, a country known for wine, but have you had experience drinking sake before?

Peppe: I had my first Japanese sake in Japan. I once had too much wine when I was in university in Italy, and ever since, I get sick just from the smell of it. So I can’t drink wine. In Japan, I often get embarrassed as people say, “I can’t believe you’re Italian and don’t drink wine!” [laughs]. One day, I found a small bottle of Japanese sake at a convenience store and tried it, but I didn’t like the taste at all. But I started liking it after I asked and learned about fine sake from a sake connoisseur. By the way, Atsukan （roughly translates to “hot sake”） is one of my favorites.  

—Did you know anyone in Italy familiar with Japanese sake? 

Peppe: Wine is more common in Italy, and none of my friends knew about Japanese sake. But I think if they tried, they would like it. So I want to introduce sake to my friends in Italy someday. 

—Great! How was the tour of the Sawanoi sake brewery in Okutama? 

Peppe: When I went, it was just after the shikomi phase [the initial mixing of ingredients to be fermented], so it was a shame that I couldn’t see the actual process. But I got to see inside the cellar and learn about the procedure of sake crafting.

—How was the tasting you did after the tour? You tried two different sake, “凰 (Kou)” and “蔵守 (Kuramori).” 

Peppe: “凰” (Kou) was easier for me to drink. But I was drunk after two cups.[laughs]. Gotta be careful.

Translation Ai Kaneda

The post “You Can Drink but Don’t Get Drunk” Sake Brewery Tour Manga Series: Italian Manga Artist Peppe’s Encounter With Japanese Culture Vol.3  appeared first on TOKION - Cutting edge culture and fashion information.

We at TOKION asked Peppe to create a manga series to find out what an Italian guy thinks of Japanese culture. In the series, Peppe will experience Japan’s unique culture and introduce it in the form of short manga story. For this installment, he shares his experience of Pachinko which does not exist in his maternal land of Italy. 

——How was your first experience of Pachinko?

Peppe: We have casinos in Italy, but it was a completely different vibe. First, when I entered the pachinko place, I was shocked at how it was way louder than I’d expected.

——I know it’s hard to get used to the loudness when it’s your first time. So how was it playing the pachinko?

Peppe: I didn’t know how to play it in the beginning, so I was copying what people around me were doing, but it didn’t work out at all. I started understanding a bit after I was taught how to play, but I used up 1,000yen worth of balls in a second. After that, though, I kept trying and hoping I would win the next round, but it was only to spend another 1,000yen. I spent all the money I had really fast. Now I know that I’m just not cut out for gambling.

——[Laughs]. So I guess there was no beginner’s luck.  

Peppe: Thanks to this experience, I don’t think I’d ever get into Pachinko. I’m never going to play it again [laughs]. But I’m still curious about the TUC shop—it remains a mystery to me.

Translation Ai Kaneda

The post “The First Experience of Pachinko—How did it go?” Manga Series: Italian Manga Artist Peppe’s Encounter with Japanese Culture Vol.2 appeared first on TOKION - Cutting edge culture and fashion information.

We at TOKION asked Peppe to create a manga series to find out what an Italian guy  thinks of Japanese culture. In the series, Peppe will experience Japan’s unique culture and introduce it in the form of short manga story. In the first installment of the series, Peppe will experience Kabuki for the first time at the Kabuki-Za Theater in Ginza, Tokyo. Let’s find out how Peppe feel about Japanese Kabuki .

——How did you find your first Kabuki performance?

Peppi: Just like the first time I went to a Japanese movie theater, I was quite nervous because I was wondering if my Japanese proficiency was good enough or not. And I just realized it wasn’t good enough at all in the first few minutes. Haha. I didn’t understand the words, but I decided to concentrate on watching the performance. When I was watching it, I thought it was similar to an opera. It was an amazing experience.

——Did you enjoy it even if you didn’t understand the language?

Peppe: There was an explanation of the story in English in the pamphlet, so I was able to enjoy it even if I didn’t understand conversations among the characters.

——Would you like to see it again?

Peppi: Since it was all so much fun, I would like to see another Kabuki perdormance next time. I also became curious about Bunraku, so I’d like to try it if I have a chance.

Translation Shinichiro Sato

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