Q&A with Shinji Shimoura
The Japanese Studies program caught up with Shinji Shimoura, the newest member of our community, to learn more about him. As part of that we asked Professor Shimoura about some of his favorite things in life. Here is what he shared:
Favorite food
I love Japanese food, but if I have to choose one, it has to be あんぱん / Anpan (Japanese bread with red bean paste)! It’s always the first thing I buy in Japan. Especially, I love the one with whipped cream. My family in Japan always tells me that my tummy must be made of just red bean paste. Whenever I go back to Himeji, my hometown, I’ve got to go to デパちか (the floor at the department store full of yummy food) and get 鶏卵饅頭（けいらんまんじゅう）, Himeji’s original sweet bean paste buns. I always keep it in my home, so I can eat it every day!
Favorite season
For the last seven years, I lived in a place where there were only 'hot' seasons and 'not so hot' seasons, so I am looking forward to experiencing four seasons. Among the four seasons, spring is my favorite. I am looking forward to the opportunity to see cherry blossoms, which I have not seen in more than 20 years.
Favorite song/singer
I often listen to Japanese music, and the singers I often listen to are 水曜日のカンパネラ and Def Tech. My favorite song by 水曜日のカンパネラis 桃太郎 because I like how they write songs that parody society. I have some special feelings towards the band Def Tech because one of the singers’ step mother is a Japanese language educator, and his father is a famous applied linguist.
Since I was in the marching band and wind orchestra in middle and high school, I enjoy listening to classical music. I love listening to American marches, especially ones by John Philip Sousa. One interesting fact about John Philip Sousa is that one of his grandsons is a Japanese teacher in Delaware!
Favorite book/author
I am not sure if it’s called a book, but my favorite book is JR時刻表 (JR train timetable). It has all the JR train schedules from Hokkaido to Kyushu. It’s so much fun to look at the timetable to plan imaginary trips.
Favorite thing to do in free time
Random internet search and watching “owarai” on YouTube and TVer. I watch NON STYLE on YouTube and the TV programs by かまいたち or 千鳥 on TVer.
