Shinji, exposed
The culinary and atmospheric tastes of trusted compadre Shinji Nohara, exposed first by Kitchen Confidential’s Anthony Bourdain are celebrated yet again this time in the September 2007 issue of Conde Nast Traveler, as the culinary guide to author Adam Platt during a tour of the best Tokyo has to offer. I met Shinji on a rainy night in early 1996 in Roppongi. We were introduced by Michigan dormmate and fellow-expat-at-the-time Drew Hoffman, who had made Shinji’s acquaintance the best possible way - choosing Shinji, carrying an armful of asagao from Tokyo’s asagao market, out of a carful of fellow subway passengers as the object for some steam-blowing and later a beer. Over a decade later, the bilingual city-navigator / foodie / man-about-town skills we trusted and relished are finally being appreciated by a broader audience.
Shinji, I trust you will keep a few anaba to yourself.