A Kiss to Kagoshima

Kagoshima

An Insider’s Guide

Inerview

web_s18_201 Alex Bradshaw
Public Relations Department, Shimadzu Limited
When you visit Sengan-en Gardens, don’t be surprised if you see a Westerner on the grounds speaking fluent Japanese to guests. It could very well be Bradshaw, who manages public relations for Sengan-en Gardens.

Tell us a bit about your background.
I’m originally from Sheffield in the UK but I’ve always been interested in Japanese culture ever since I was a child. My mum used to host Japanese exchange students in our home. 12 years ago, I left England for Japan and worked as an English teacher in Kagoshima. From there, I started my own school, and even had my own television programme. In April 2016, I was offered a job here and having always been interested in samurai history, I gladly took it on.

What are some of your job responsibilities?
Not many people—especially those from Europe—are familiar with Kagoshima, so it’s up to me to entice visitors to visit. I work with a team of extremely creative and forward-thinking people to spread the beauty and historical value of Sengan-en Gardens.

Why should people visit Kagoshima?
To me, Kagoshima is very different from other parts of Japan. It’s almost like a completely different country – they even have their own dialect! The food and drink culture here is amazing and the place itself is not too touristy. You can easily mix with locals at popular food haunts and enjoy local delights.

Where is your favourite part of Sengan-en Gardens?
It changes with the season. In Autumn, I love standing by the river to admire the scenery and in Spring, the proliferation of cherry blossoms is just breathtaking.

web_s18_549 Takashi Okamoto
CEO, OKS Pte Ltd
What started as a transport and distribution company 35 years ago has since transformed into a dehydrated fruit and vegetables business, with products available all over Japan as well as Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, England, and France.

Why dehydrated snacks and products?
In the past, our business involved delivering household appliances to the countryside but I observed what a waste it was that the trucks were returning empty. I then hit on an idea to use the trucks to distribute fresh fruit and vegetables to Tokyo and other metropolitan areas. About 10 years ago, we decided to dehydrate these fruit and vegetables as they have a longer shelf life, while maintaining their nutritional value.

What is so special about the fruit and vegetables from Kagoshima?
Thanks to our climate, we are able to have a year-round harvest. Plus, we are blessed with an abundance of fertile black soil because of the nearby volcano.

Tell us about some of your popular items.
Some of our best–sellers include the burdock root tea and the green vegetable powder. Our vegetable chips are also very well-received – it’s fried in vegetable oil with no sugar or salt so you can enjoy its original flavour. In fact, it’s served as a snack in First Class cabins onboard Japan Airlines flights.

What would you recommend for people living in stressful societies like Singapore?
Personally, I drink burdock root tea daily and it has helped to lower my high blood pressure and improve my bowel movement. I also recommend the green vegetable powder as it’s a simple way to get your recommended daily intake of veggies.