Follow singer Yoko Ando on a quest for old Tokyo flavors — a cultural stroll through Yanaka’s downtown district

Photos & Text / excite

What would you wear, and who would you stroll with through the working-class charm of Tokyo’s eastern districts? As the spring sunlight bathes the area, walking along streets that exude a relaxed, timeless vibe brings to mind Yoko Ando’s gentle song lyrics: “On the road where red flowers bloom, the two of us walk hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder, no matter when.”

It’s been 10 years since her album ‘Merry Andrew,’ which includes the song “Hoozuki,” was released, yet her innocent charm hasn’t faded one bit. On the contrary, with age, she radiates an even greater sense of clarity. This is likely because, through long-term dedication to music and self-reflection, she’s learned to live so freely.

Next, join her — dressed in a beautiful kimono and wearing a gentle smile — as she explores well-known shops in Tokyo’s eastern area.

“Matsuno-ya” in Yanaka, adding color to daily life

First up is a shop selling simple everyday items made by local workshops and rural artisans“Everyday Tools Matsuno-ya”. Since its founding in 1945, Matsuno-ya has specialized in affordable tools for everyday use. Guided by the philosophy that their goods are “not the best, not the worst, but good,” the store is a wholesale retailer of daily-life tools and sundries that are both made and sold with practicality in mind.

▲ “Everyday Tools Matsuno-ya” in Yanaka

Matsuno-ya opened its doors in Yanaka in 2010. In recent years, the Yanaka-Nippori-Yanaka-Ginza area has become very popular, attracting many young visitors every weekend. The owner told us, “These items may be nostalgic for the older generation, but they seem incredibly novel and fun to younger people.”

The shop displays a wide variety of goods — from retro, elegant celluloid (synthetic resin) storage boxes to exclusive canvas bags and traditional Japanese brooms. Among them, Ms. Ando first noticed a wooden bento box and exclaimed, “This one ~ is so pretty!” showing clear admiration. She mentioned that she makes bento for her 4-year-old child every day, adding with a motherly smile, “The one I’m using now has Sophia [a Disney character] on it.”

▲ Yoko Ando admiring the wooden bento box

Unexpectedly, when she saw a set of heat-resistant aluminum trays, she said, “These are school lunch trays — how nostalgic!” suddenly feeling like a child again. By the way, the shop sells various heat-resistant aluminum kitchenware and tableware, each priced around 2,000 yen. With mostly affordable and highly practical items, refreshing your entire kitchen setup here could also be a great idea to boost its ambiance.

▲ Aluminum trays that evoke memories of school lunches

[Shop Information]
Everyday Tools Yanaka Matsuno-ya
3-14-14 Nishinippori, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo
03 (3823) 7441
Business Hours: Mon, Wed–Fri / 11:00–19:00
Sat–Sun, Holidays / 10:00–19:00
Closed: Tuesdays (Open on holidays if Tuesday is a national holiday)

http://www.yanakamatsunoya.jp/

First shop in Nigeria — enjoy a smoothie in a Yanaka alley at “imena”

Next, we visited a smoothie specialty store just inside the alley next to Matsuno-ya.“imena”Yanaka is its second branch, and the first store is actually located in Nigeria. Imena’s smoothies are made using ingredients imported from developing countries, such as baobab fruit from Senegal, honey from Nepal, and ginger from Nigeria.

▲ The smoothie specialty store “Imena” nestled in a Yanaka alley

Imena was founded by three high school classmates — one of whom had been deeply concerned about poverty in developing countries since student days. That’s what inspired this smoothie shop. They said, “If more people start drinking delicious, healthy smoothies every day, income for those developing countries that supply our ingredients will also increase.” There are many intriguing drinks on the menu — like “Green Power” (¥550), packed with nutrient-rich spinach and carrots; and “Drinkable IV” (¥440 / spring limited), blended with amazake (often called “drinking IV”) and milk.

▲ “Green Power” (¥550), loaded with spinach and carrots, and “Drinkable IV” (¥440 / spring limited), made with amazake and milk

Ms. Ando ordered the “Mango Coconut Tokonuts” (¥660), made with tropical fruits like mango and pineapple, coconut milk, and aloe vera. “This smoothie has different textures in each sip,” she said, explaining how different areas offer varying flavors. She also added, “I’ve never strolled around Tokyo’s eastern area so leisurely before. I thought it would only have vintage shops, but there are such stylish places too. It’s perfect for a walk. Although there are many foreign tourists around, you can really feel Japanese culture here while buying everyday items you can actually use. I’m really happy!” She seemed to really love the overall vibe of the area.

▲Inside Imena, bathed in soft sunlight

–The second part continues in “Meat-loving Yasuko Ando savors steak in Shitaya Higashi-mukōjima and visits Maru Ubon? (to be published on the 5th)”

【Store Information】
Imena
3-14-6 Nishi-Nippori, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo
03 (3486) 5496
Business Hours: 11:30–17:30
Closed: Mondays (if a national holiday falls on Monday, the shop is closed on Tuesday)

http://imena-smoothies.com/

News Source Singer Yasuko Ando takes you on a search for Tokyo’s old flavors—A cultural stroll through Yanaka’s Shitamachi district

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Japanese Original Text http://www.fashion-headline.com/article/2016/05/04/14399.html