This Week in Tokyo – 7 February 2023

Welcome to ‘This Week in Tokyo’, a review of the Maction Planet week that was and a look ahead to what’s coming up in the city. Hosted by Mac, our Founder and Lead Guide, you can check out photos from our tours and read insights into our explorations as we get under the skin of the World’s Greatest Metropolis, and beyond! This week: Setsubun 2023; Garden by Rina Mizuno; All About Matt Frank; Chilling with Chichibus and GREAT SUCCESS at Sakamichi.

Featured image – Setsubun 2023: Setsubun is a Japanese festival that marks the end of winter. The next day, the start of spring, was traditionally considered the start of the year. For more on the range of festivities that accompany the day, check out our ‘Ode to Setsubun‘. Check out these videos of Setsubun 2019 on the Maction Planet YouTube to experience the fun in Full HD glory!

I spotted this sign at Yushima Tenjin. The shrine official is saying “Devils out, fortune in” and throwing beans. Gotta feel sorry for those devils though…

Garden by Rina Mizuno: Rina Mizuno creates layered mixtures of contradictory elements: detailed ornamentation, broad strokes, vivid colours, monochromatism… all inspired by both the East and West.

Her latest exhibition, at Roppongi Hills A/D Gallery, focuses on her new oil paintings related to gardens. Enjoy it until Sunday 19 February!

All About Matt Frank: Matt Frank has been the cover artist for several Godzilla series, provided interiors for Transformers titles, worked with Tsuburaya Productions, and has even designed a Maction Planet Apparel T-shirt! I tracked Matt down for All About Japan to find out how he became the King. Read the insightful and inspirational interview here!

Chilling with Chichibus: Don’t mind me… just hanging out with some Mizunara barrels at the Chichibu Distillery…

The Chichibu Distillery started distilling in 2008, a craft producer creating liquid at the bottom of a 25-year decline in whisky sales in Japan. Let’s just say that some were cynical, but they have had the last laugh. The influence that its founder Ichiro Akuto has wielded on the subsequent development of Japanese Whisky is immeasurable.

Watch the ULTIMATE guide to the Chichibu Distillery’s biggest-selling product, Ichiro’s Malt & Grain on the Kanpai Planet YouTube channel!

GREAT SUCCESS at Sakamichi: I am back to being the guestingest guest on Sakamichi Brewing’s Sakamichi Nights podcast! 🍻🍻

I was joined by Sam of Baird Beer. We drank my favourite Baird seasonal beer, The Carpenter’s Mikan Ale, and talked content creation! Listen here!

Maction Planet runs bespoke Private Tours and Experiences in Tokyo, and beyond. To book yours, or to purchase a gift card, contact us at info@mactionplanet.com

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