Double interview with Zen and The City, Claudia and Stefania, who together are a creative couple but above all friends.
The first part of the interview is for Claudia Casu, art director born in Sardinia and moved to Japan for passion.
Interview with Zen
How did your passion for Japan start?
I owe my very first encounter with Japan to my mother who, at Carnival, instead of dressing her little girl as a princess or fairy, thought it best to buy her a dressed as a geisha. A figure that has always fascinated the Western world since the beginning of the last century, with its powerful sensuality veiled by the arts of singing and acting, just to name a few. Just think of Puccini's Madama Butterfly or Gustav Klimt's wonderful portraits of the early twentieth century. To these two artists I can attribute the contest of guilt together with my mother :)
When did you make your first trip?
Probably at the best time it could happen. I was studying Japanese language with commitment for a couple of years already, and I thought there was no better thing than perfecting it in the place of origin. I had already been working as a freelancer for a while, and I allowed myself a couple of months full immersion in the capital of the Rising Sun. Clearly it was love at first sight.
What do you like about Japan?
If I said all I would not be credible, and in any case it would not correspond to the truth. Japan also has its dark sides, which are discovered above all and perhaps almost exclusively by living there. So I would say almost everything: the elegance of writing, the painful conception of life that shines through above all in ancient traditions, the continuous search for perfection that torments the spirit of the Japanese people.
And what don't you like?
The difficulty they have today i young to express themselves, which leads them to extreme their behavior and to be further misunderstood. Paradoxically, when Japan was closed to the outside world it seemed to suffer less, not having to deal with communication systems so contrasting with its own culture. But in a couple of centuries it has perfectly absorbed it Western culture, managing to keep its traditional soul alive.
What are the unmissable things to do in Tokyo, the city you live in?
To all the friends who come to see me I immediately take a nice walk to Asakusa, one of the few areas where you can still feel the old 1600 atmosphere. Just get on Ginza-line, the oldest subway line in the city, and get off at the terminus. There is no shortage of small shops to make the most original purchases and restaurants to taste the real traditional cuisine. Technology enthusiasts will be spoiled for choice in every corner of the city, but their mecca certainly is Akihabara, famous for its electronic shops and for the characteristic characters that parade through its streets.
For those who want to indulge in something really special, I recommend a tempura-based dinner on one Yakatabune, a typical restaurant-boat that floats lightly in the waters of the Tokyo Bay. It is a somewhat expensive but absolutely unforgettable experience
Is it true that Japan is very expensive?
Absolutely not. Of course, if you book in the most luxurious hotels and the best restaurants, Japan is a champion of costs, but there are many ploy to save and make your holiday unforgettable. For example, staying in the cheap and very central business hotels, equipped with small but absolutely clean rooms and with all amenities included. Or by eating in the chains of traditional food, which with 5/800 yen (currently our 4/7 euro) satisfy even the most demanding palates. Sure, if we talk about sushi it's a whole other thing. True sushi lovers cannot settle for the cheap kaiten found in every corner of Tokyo, but will indulge in a luxurious dinner in some renowned and, above all, traditional restaurant. I would like to clarify that Japanese cuisine is infinitely varied and changes according to the seasons, there really is something for all tastes and palates.Those who want to travel far and wide in the Archipelago will need Japan Rail Pass, a special card that allows for a very discounted price and for a limited period of time to board all JR trains (with the exception of the Nozomi Shinkansen).
Other tips for those who want to go there?
From our website www.zenandthecity.com you will find lots of useful information to organize your trip to Japan in an original way. With my friend Stefania Campanella, who takes care of telling us his New York, I have been taking care of this small zen space for over a year.
You are all welcome ^ _ ^
