CURRENT STAFF

YOONSOO KANG

Hello, my dear travelers!

My name is Yoonsoo Kang and I am also a traveler who is staying here in Maniwa City for the last 3 years.

I was born and grew up in Seoul, Korea. I started my journey from the U.K., where I learnt Theatre Performance 7 years ago. Since then I’ve introduced myself as a storyteller. I believe most of interesting stories start from unexpected encounters, like when Luke Skywalker meets R2-D2 and that opens a whole new history of the universe, as you all know.

TABIBITO SHOKUDO is a place where people eat together with people who are would otherwise be impossible to meet in their daily lives. Local people will greet world travellers like you with curiosity and hospitality and you will learn about their culture and experience their real lives. I am always excited to see those encounters as it is a beginning of a new story, the story you never know where it leads your life to!

So, my dear travelers! Come and join us and start your adventure. You might find the force in you while you are with us and that will change the whole universe!

LAURA PINCHER

Hello, hello, hello!

Welcome to TABIBITO-SHOKUDO! My name is Laura, and I’m one of the current staff members here.

Originally from Birmingham in the U.K., I moved to Maniwa, Japan just over two years ago and mainly work at the City Office, but am also working here, at tabibito-shokudo as the head of one of our restaurants, Borsalino, for our evening events.

With a love of languages, travel and (most importantly) food, I’m really excited to have found work that helps me combine all three into one! Bringing international foods through international travellers to local areas around Japan, and being able create a space for international exchange on a local level is something I’m really excited for, and I hope you are too!

みんなさん、こんにちは！
「旅人食堂」へようこそ！私はスタッフの一人、ローラと申します。
私の出身はイギリスのバーミンガムで、2年ちょっと前に真庭市岡山県へ移住して、市役所で働いていて、旅人食堂でも今頑張っています！
言語、旅行と（一番大事）食べ物が大好き私にとって、この3つのことを一緒に仕事にできるのは幸いのことです！外国の旅人と、外国の料理を作って、日本の地方の方と交流できるのは本当に楽しみにしております！またよろしくお願いします！

NEHA

Hello! My name is Neha, from London, England. I am currently working for TABIBITO-SHOKUDO & Terasu International Share-House in Maniwa.

I came to Japan because I’ve been interested in Japanese culture for a long time. I’ve travellered to Tokyo, Hokkaido, Tokushima, Osaka, Nara and Kyoto. I made friends, saw beautiful places and ate delicious food.

The locals here in Maniwa are really kind and friendly. TABIBITO SHOKUDO is such an exciting project, I am very excited and feel very lucky to be part of the team as Staff Coordinator. We look forward to meeting you!

CHARLOTTE

Hajimemashite ! My name is Charlotte and I come from Switzerland. It’s my first time in Japan where I will stay three months for travelling. I always wanted to discover Japan, to learn Japanese and learn about the culture. I grew up watching anime and reading manga so that was one of the things that motivates me. I also love Japanese food very much so it was such a motivation too. Work at Tabibito Shokudo is a great experience for me ! I can train my cooking skills while meeting people and sharing with them. I think it is a beautiful and very interesting project. Futhermore, staying at Terasu sharehouse is a great way to discover this quiet countryside and enjoy the beginning of Spring. I’m glad to work and enjoy free time with Laura, Neha and Yoonsoo, the managers of these projects and with the other volunteers !
Bien à vous <3 <3 <3

NATALIE

Want to see who else has helped us out in the past/what we did together?
Our Previous Staff page gives you an introduction to the type of people who’ve helped us out before, or look at our blog posts to see the kind of events we’ve done together in the past too!