e-Japan Journal Interviews
2023/6/6
The JIC will periodically interview a person who is active with Japan-related activities and introduces them in our newsletter. This is so our followers can learn more about the interesting people and groups within our community.
Archived Interviews
July 2023 Featured Interview: Yoshihisa Arai, professional ballet dancer
June 2023 Featured Interview: Matt 'Sweets' Jorgenson, founder or Sweets Kendamas
March 2023 Featured Interview: Chef Satoshi Ito, Official Residence Chef to the Consul-General of Japan in Chicago
February 2023 Featured Interview: Japan Outreach Initiative (JOI) Coordinators Shunsuke Aoki, Takeshi Hayasaka, and Yoshie Hisatomi
December 2022 Featured Interview: Minami and Conrad Klinkhammer, founders of Fargo Meets Japan
September 2022 Featured Interview: Jim Kanki, Honorary Consul of Japan in Kansas City
August 2022 Featured Interview: Margot Wang, President of the Chicago Chapter of Ikebana International
July 2022 Featured Interview: Naoto Masamoto, Major League Coordinator/Pacific Rim Liaison for the Chicago Cubs
June 2022 Featured Interview: Attendees at the 2022 Anime Central (ACen)
May 2022 Featured Interview: Erina Ueda, professional company dancer
April 2022 Featured Interview: Joe Palermo, former Monbusho English Fellow and author of "No Pianos, Pets, or Foreigner: My Life in Japan in the 80's"
March 2022 Featured Interview: Naomi Pollock, FAIA, American architect, author, and journalist
February 2022 Featured Interview: Wesley Bishop, Localization Director at Capcom
January 2022 Featured Interview: Dr. Ayako Yoshimura, folklorist and Japanese studies librarian at the University of Chicago
December 2021 Featured Interview: Aiko Hatano and Mariko Nagai, Japan Outreach Initiative (JOI) Coordinators
November 2021 Featured Interview: Cheri and Teri, founders of the Kimono import company Tangerine Mountain
October 2021 Featured Interview: Julia Momosé, Creative Director of Kumiko
September 2021 Featured Interview: Daniel Carolin, Japanese teacher and recipient of the 2020 Elgin Heintz Outstanding Teacher Award
August 2021 Featured Interview: Dr. Kazumi Hatasa, Japanese professor and Chair of East Asian Languages in the School of Languages and Cultures at Purdue University
July 2021 Featured Interview: Saku Yanagawa, Japanese Stand-Up Comedian (originally published in the July 2019 issue)
June 2021 Featured Interview: James Kennedy, Alumni of the JET Program and author of "The Order of Odd-Fish".
May 2021 Featured Interview: Lindsey Stirek, Assistant Director of Academic Programming at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
April 2021 Featured Interview: Rachel Kimura, the owner and head farmer at Hinata Farms
March 2021 Featured Interview: Akane Kumagai, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and co-chair of the Osaka Social Services Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International
February 2021 Featured Interview: Megumi Ishikawa, All-Japan National Champion judoka and founder of Global Kids Judo Network
January 2021 Featured Interview: Airi Yamamoto, Japanese teacher
December 2020 Featured Interview: Mami Takahashi, Japanese Artist
November 2020 Featured Interview: Yuta Katsuyama, founder of Onigiri Shuttle Kororin
October 2020 Featured Interview: Ty Yamamoto, Filmmaker, Photographer, and Origami Instructor
September 2020 Featured Interview: Maaya Yamauchi, Founder of Japanese beauty company Keshoume, LLC
August 2020 Featured Interview: Momoko Taguchi, Cultural Exchange Facilitator in Indiana for the GEN-J Program
July 2020 Featured Interview: Chikako Jo, owner and manager of Torino Ramen in Wilmette, IL
June 2020 Featured Interview: Beth Hawley, Aikido Yudansha and Program Coordinator at the Japanese Culture Center
May 2020 Featured Interview: Gabe Coronado and Lara "Zara" Espinoza, JETAA Chicago President and Vice President
April 2020 Featured Interview: Hinano Ishii, Nationally Acclaimed Musician and Associate Producer at Ravinia Festival
March 2020 Featured Interview: Gabriel Kim Wilkinson, MEXT Scholar and Student at Bunka Fashion College, Tokyo
February 2020 Featured Interview: Toshiko Sugii-Steffes, Acclaimed Wagashi Artist and Instructor
January 2020 Featured Interview: Gina Pollara, Chief Operating Officer at Wrightwood 659
December 2019 Featured Interview: Ruby Benigno, Blogger for Kokoro Cares
November 2019 Featured Interview: Derrick Fields, Video Game Designer and Illustrator
October 2019 Featured Interview: Alaina Werkhoven, Mori no Ike Language Immersion Camp and JET Program Participant
July 2019 Featured Interview: Saku Yanagawa, Japanese Stand-Up Comedian
June 2019 Featured Interview: Julia Momose, Award-winning Mixologist and Creative Director of Bar Kumiko
May 2019 Featured Interview: Ronnie Prince, Internationally Renowned Japanese-American Hair Stylist
April 2019 Featured Interview: Akemi Nakano Cohn, Japanese Textile Artist
March 2019 Featured Interview: Deyan Kolev, Kakehashi 2018 Sports Program participant
February 2019 Featured Interview: Joyce Kubose, Urasenke Tankokai Chicago Association instructor
January 2019 Featured Interview: Hitomi Kameyama, Japanese Teacher at Amundsen High School
December 2018 Featured Interview: Aya Fukai, Pastry Chef of Aya Pastry
November 2018 Featured Interview: Van Paugam, Japanese City Pop DJ in Chicago
October 2018 Featured Interview: Natsuki Tsuge, Cheerleader on the Indianapolis Colts
September 2018 Featured Interview: Professor Jennifer Gunji-Ballsrud, Director of Japan House at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
August 2018 Featured Interview: Jessica Prescott-Smith, Family Programs Coordinator at the Chicago Botanic Garden and Chris Baker, Bonsai Curator at the Chicago Botanic Garden
July 2018 Interview: Kenton Knop, Former CIR on the JET Program and Associate Attorney at Masuda Funai
June 2018 Interview: Ikuko Nichols, Co-Vice President of Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai
May 2018 Interview: Jamie Sanchez, President of AnimeChicago
April 2018 Interview: Dr. Kerry Ross, Assistant Professor at DePaul University
March 2018 Interview: Anna Takada of the Japanese American Services Committee
February 2018 Interview: Erika Kono of the Japan America Society of Chicago
January 2018 Interview: Dr. Phyllis Lyons of Northwestern University
December 2017 Interview: Yoshihisa Arai, Joffrey Ballet Dancer
November 2017 Interview: Steven Sundstrom, former MEXT Scholar and JET Program participant
October 2017 Interview: Dr. Patrick Noonan of Northwestern University
September 2017 Interview: Chef Takashi Yagihashi of Slurping Turtle
August 2017 Interview: Shigeaki Aso, Glove Maker at Wilson Sporting Goods
July 2017: Yuka Shibano, Indianapolis Colts Cheerleader
June 2017: Dr. Emily Metzgar, Associate Professor at Indiana University
May 2017: Saira Chambers, Director at the Japanese Culture Center in Chicago
April 2017: Kentaro Yamada, Photographer and Founder of The Uplifted
March 2017: Chef Rick Bayless, Frontera Restaurants (On his recent visit to Japan and Japanese cuisine)
February 2017: Jun Takanarita, Owner of Murasaki Sake Lounge
January 2017: Alex Akira Akiyama, Japan Outreach Initiative (JOI) Coordinator for Iowa Sister States
December 2016: Chef Mari Katsumura of Entente (currently executive chef at Yugen Chicago)
November 2016: Ella McCann, President of JETAA Chicago and Outreach Coordinator at Consulate-General of Japan in Chicago
October 2016: Yasunori and Etsuko Matsumoto of US Shidokan Karate
August 2016: Eric Hattori of Piko Street Kitchen
July 2016: David Anderson, Founding Family Member of Anderson Japanese Gardens
June 2016: Dr. Akihiko Takahashi, Professor at DePaul University
May 2016: Chef Rieko Wada of Chocolatines
April 2016: Hiroshi Sawada of Sawada Coffee
March 2016: Yoko Noge Dean, musician, Chair of the Osaka Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International and correspondent for Nikkei America Incorporated
February 2016: Hassan Awaisi, Japanese Language Speech Contest Award Recipient
January 2016: Wesley Julian, President of JETAA Chicago and Associate Director of Public Relations at the Art Institute of Chicago
December 2015: Tatsu Aoki, musician and director of Asian Improv aRts Midwest (Tsukasa Taiko, Toyoaki Shamisen)
November 2015: Dr. Masami Takahashi, Professor at Northeastern Illinois University and Chair of the Chicago Sister Cities International Social Services Exchange Program between Chicago and Osaka
October 2015: Jason Matsumoto, Creative Director of Ho Etsu Taiko
June 2023 Featured Interview: Matt 'Sweets' Jorgenson, founder or Sweets Kendamas
March 2023 Featured Interview: Chef Satoshi Ito, Official Residence Chef to the Consul-General of Japan in Chicago
February 2023 Featured Interview: Japan Outreach Initiative (JOI) Coordinators Shunsuke Aoki, Takeshi Hayasaka, and Yoshie Hisatomi
December 2022 Featured Interview: Minami and Conrad Klinkhammer, founders of Fargo Meets Japan
September 2022 Featured Interview: Jim Kanki, Honorary Consul of Japan in Kansas City
August 2022 Featured Interview: Margot Wang, President of the Chicago Chapter of Ikebana International
July 2022 Featured Interview: Naoto Masamoto, Major League Coordinator/Pacific Rim Liaison for the Chicago Cubs
June 2022 Featured Interview: Attendees at the 2022 Anime Central (ACen)
May 2022 Featured Interview: Erina Ueda, professional company dancer
April 2022 Featured Interview: Joe Palermo, former Monbusho English Fellow and author of "No Pianos, Pets, or Foreigner: My Life in Japan in the 80's"
March 2022 Featured Interview: Naomi Pollock, FAIA, American architect, author, and journalist
February 2022 Featured Interview: Wesley Bishop, Localization Director at Capcom
January 2022 Featured Interview: Dr. Ayako Yoshimura, folklorist and Japanese studies librarian at the University of Chicago
December 2021 Featured Interview: Aiko Hatano and Mariko Nagai, Japan Outreach Initiative (JOI) Coordinators
November 2021 Featured Interview: Cheri and Teri, founders of the Kimono import company Tangerine Mountain
October 2021 Featured Interview: Julia Momosé, Creative Director of Kumiko
September 2021 Featured Interview: Daniel Carolin, Japanese teacher and recipient of the 2020 Elgin Heintz Outstanding Teacher Award
August 2021 Featured Interview: Dr. Kazumi Hatasa, Japanese professor and Chair of East Asian Languages in the School of Languages and Cultures at Purdue University
July 2021 Featured Interview: Saku Yanagawa, Japanese Stand-Up Comedian (originally published in the July 2019 issue)
June 2021 Featured Interview: James Kennedy, Alumni of the JET Program and author of "The Order of Odd-Fish".
May 2021 Featured Interview: Lindsey Stirek, Assistant Director of Academic Programming at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
April 2021 Featured Interview: Rachel Kimura, the owner and head farmer at Hinata Farms
March 2021 Featured Interview: Akane Kumagai, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and co-chair of the Osaka Social Services Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International
February 2021 Featured Interview: Megumi Ishikawa, All-Japan National Champion judoka and founder of Global Kids Judo Network
January 2021 Featured Interview: Airi Yamamoto, Japanese teacher
December 2020 Featured Interview: Mami Takahashi, Japanese Artist
November 2020 Featured Interview: Yuta Katsuyama, founder of Onigiri Shuttle Kororin
October 2020 Featured Interview: Ty Yamamoto, Filmmaker, Photographer, and Origami Instructor
September 2020 Featured Interview: Maaya Yamauchi, Founder of Japanese beauty company Keshoume, LLC
August 2020 Featured Interview: Momoko Taguchi, Cultural Exchange Facilitator in Indiana for the GEN-J Program
July 2020 Featured Interview: Chikako Jo, owner and manager of Torino Ramen in Wilmette, IL
June 2020 Featured Interview: Beth Hawley, Aikido Yudansha and Program Coordinator at the Japanese Culture Center
May 2020 Featured Interview: Gabe Coronado and Lara "Zara" Espinoza, JETAA Chicago President and Vice President
April 2020 Featured Interview: Hinano Ishii, Nationally Acclaimed Musician and Associate Producer at Ravinia Festival
March 2020 Featured Interview: Gabriel Kim Wilkinson, MEXT Scholar and Student at Bunka Fashion College, Tokyo
February 2020 Featured Interview: Toshiko Sugii-Steffes, Acclaimed Wagashi Artist and Instructor
January 2020 Featured Interview: Gina Pollara, Chief Operating Officer at Wrightwood 659
December 2019 Featured Interview: Ruby Benigno, Blogger for Kokoro Cares
November 2019 Featured Interview: Derrick Fields, Video Game Designer and Illustrator
October 2019 Featured Interview: Alaina Werkhoven, Mori no Ike Language Immersion Camp and JET Program Participant
July 2019 Featured Interview: Saku Yanagawa, Japanese Stand-Up Comedian
June 2019 Featured Interview: Julia Momose, Award-winning Mixologist and Creative Director of Bar Kumiko
May 2019 Featured Interview: Ronnie Prince, Internationally Renowned Japanese-American Hair Stylist
April 2019 Featured Interview: Akemi Nakano Cohn, Japanese Textile Artist
March 2019 Featured Interview: Deyan Kolev, Kakehashi 2018 Sports Program participant
February 2019 Featured Interview: Joyce Kubose, Urasenke Tankokai Chicago Association instructor
January 2019 Featured Interview: Hitomi Kameyama, Japanese Teacher at Amundsen High School
December 2018 Featured Interview: Aya Fukai, Pastry Chef of Aya Pastry
November 2018 Featured Interview: Van Paugam, Japanese City Pop DJ in Chicago
October 2018 Featured Interview: Natsuki Tsuge, Cheerleader on the Indianapolis Colts
September 2018 Featured Interview: Professor Jennifer Gunji-Ballsrud, Director of Japan House at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
August 2018 Featured Interview: Jessica Prescott-Smith, Family Programs Coordinator at the Chicago Botanic Garden and Chris Baker, Bonsai Curator at the Chicago Botanic Garden
July 2018 Interview: Kenton Knop, Former CIR on the JET Program and Associate Attorney at Masuda Funai
June 2018 Interview: Ikuko Nichols, Co-Vice President of Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai
May 2018 Interview: Jamie Sanchez, President of AnimeChicago
April 2018 Interview: Dr. Kerry Ross, Assistant Professor at DePaul University
March 2018 Interview: Anna Takada of the Japanese American Services Committee
February 2018 Interview: Erika Kono of the Japan America Society of Chicago
January 2018 Interview: Dr. Phyllis Lyons of Northwestern University
December 2017 Interview: Yoshihisa Arai, Joffrey Ballet Dancer
November 2017 Interview: Steven Sundstrom, former MEXT Scholar and JET Program participant
October 2017 Interview: Dr. Patrick Noonan of Northwestern University
September 2017 Interview: Chef Takashi Yagihashi of Slurping Turtle
August 2017 Interview: Shigeaki Aso, Glove Maker at Wilson Sporting Goods
July 2017: Yuka Shibano, Indianapolis Colts Cheerleader
June 2017: Dr. Emily Metzgar, Associate Professor at Indiana University
May 2017: Saira Chambers, Director at the Japanese Culture Center in Chicago
April 2017: Kentaro Yamada, Photographer and Founder of The Uplifted
March 2017: Chef Rick Bayless, Frontera Restaurants (On his recent visit to Japan and Japanese cuisine)
February 2017: Jun Takanarita, Owner of Murasaki Sake Lounge
January 2017: Alex Akira Akiyama, Japan Outreach Initiative (JOI) Coordinator for Iowa Sister States
December 2016: Chef Mari Katsumura of Entente (currently executive chef at Yugen Chicago)
November 2016: Ella McCann, President of JETAA Chicago and Outreach Coordinator at Consulate-General of Japan in Chicago
October 2016: Yasunori and Etsuko Matsumoto of US Shidokan Karate
August 2016: Eric Hattori of Piko Street Kitchen
July 2016: David Anderson, Founding Family Member of Anderson Japanese Gardens
June 2016: Dr. Akihiko Takahashi, Professor at DePaul University
May 2016: Chef Rieko Wada of Chocolatines
April 2016: Hiroshi Sawada of Sawada Coffee
March 2016: Yoko Noge Dean, musician, Chair of the Osaka Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International and correspondent for Nikkei America Incorporated
February 2016: Hassan Awaisi, Japanese Language Speech Contest Award Recipient
January 2016: Wesley Julian, President of JETAA Chicago and Associate Director of Public Relations at the Art Institute of Chicago
December 2015: Tatsu Aoki, musician and director of Asian Improv aRts Midwest (Tsukasa Taiko, Toyoaki Shamisen)
November 2015: Dr. Masami Takahashi, Professor at Northeastern Illinois University and Chair of the Chicago Sister Cities International Social Services Exchange Program between Chicago and Osaka
October 2015: Jason Matsumoto, Creative Director of Ho Etsu Taiko