Cultural and language barriers might make it harder for many expats to find their footing in Japan yet some ventured there and have planted their tent.
I found my way to Bespoke Tokyo via On a Roll in Tokyo (Budget Travel, April 09 Issue) a piece by newlyweds Laura Stern and Mike Soltz, of Springfield (New Jersey) so we are almost neighbors.
Their visit to Tokyo's Tsukiji Market was arranged by Bespoke Tokyo and they were guided through the maze of stalls by Yukari Sakamoto whose food writing and appetizing pictures can be found on Tokyo Station her Japanese Food and Food Lover's Guide to Tokyo.
Bespoke Tokyo calls their city tours 'Urban safaris for savvy city trekkers' a whole program. They want you to feel the pulse of the city and help you discover off the beaten path spots.
It was founded by 2 British expats, Nicole Fall and Charles Spreckley (pictured above, from their site) who turned the knowledge and contacts they gathered while working in media ventures into this service opening eyes and doors in the Japanese capital.
They help both individuals and companies navigate the Tokyo waters.
As for Shizuoka Gourmet, he describes himself on Foodbuzz where we got in contact as an "Agnostic Hedonist Forever!
Frenchman (Bourgogne) who spent the last 33 years riding his bicycle in search of great food and drink in Shizuoka, Japan."
In The Pride of Shizuoka: Sakura Ebi/Cherry shrimp! (March 26, 2009), I learned that "With Spring comes the season for a specialty found in Shizuoka Prefecture only!
“Sakura Ebi” or Sakura shrimp is a vey small (maximum 5 cm) crustacean caught in the Suruga Bay of Shizuoka Prefecture" and that local French and Italian restaurants use these crustaceans in quiche.
Feel free to share the adventures and ventures of other Expats in Japan with us.
A little hand holding for Tokyo Thursdays # 81
Related: In 'Japanamerica', Roland Kelts rides the New York-Tokyo Express
and Hedgehog leads me to Villa Kujoyama, a French Artist Den in Japan
Previously on Tokyo Thursdays: The Grassy Aroma of 'Igusa' Tatamis