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Double-page spread from Manami Okazaki’s book “Kokeshi from Tohoku with Love”
Interview with Author Manami Okazaki
From Shitamachi with pride
Her articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Japan Times, and the South China Morning Post. Given the breadth of her work, the author Manami Okazaki can justifiably be described as tireless. I meet Manami in the historic district of Kyojima, at her studio which is housed in a traditional nagaya (row house). A conversation about traditional crafts, transformation, and cultural continuity, seated on tatami mats and surrounded by books.
Anti-gentrification protest in Kōenji, 2018. Photo: Andhika Faisal
Interview with SUBstore Founder Andhika Faisal
Koenji, Tokyo’s Defiant Neighbourhood
Just a few stops west of Shibuya in western Tokyo, the neighbourhood of Koenji feels like a different world. While the capitals famous entertainment districts are defined by neon lights and constant redevelopment, this corner of the city has long maintained a more independent spirit. Few people embody that connection between music, community and activism better than Andhika Faisal (Andy), founder of SUBstore. I met him to talk about the neighbourhoods unique character, its long-running anti-gentrification movement and why zines remain an important tool for documenting communities before they disappear.