PJ:
Speaking of food, what are some of your favorite
things to eat?
MS: In Japanese foods?
PJ:
Any kind, you can do both Japanese and American.
MS: I like Natto.
Do you know what Natto is?
PJ:
Aren't those the beans, the really stinky beans?
MS: Yeah, the fermented
beans. I love Natto. I eat Natto every morning
in Japan and my fiancé loves it too. (Lots
of laughter) 
PJ:
That's a good thing seeing that you are getting
married. I don't know, they are very smelly. What
about American food?
MS: I like American food,
but ... what is American food. Steak? Hamburgers?
PJ.
Yes, hamburgers I guess?
MS: I like them but not
everyday, too much grease.
PJ:
In and Out?
MS: In and Out, that's is
my favorite.
PJ:
You like In and Out? (Laughter)
(Fiancé sitting on
the side): "You like Souplantation."
MS: YEAH!!! I love Souplantation!
PJ:
I like that too, it was my favorite when I came
to America. What place do you most look forward
to visiting and why?
MS: Indonesia. I love Indonesia.
I go two times each year. I have been there sixteen
times and I speak Indonesian. And I saw my fiancé
at Bali.
PJ:
That's how you met? That's cool.
MS: Yes. I love Indonesia.
I still want to live there.
PJ:
What was first thing you wanted to do when you
got to California?
MS: I just wanted to go
surfing all around here. I heard Mexico was very
good and I wanted surf there.
PJ: Each year it seems that
many groups of Japanese surfers visit Oceanside.
Is Oceanside a well-known surf destination in
Japan?
MS: I think Trestles is
more famous in Japan, but there are too many surfers
there so people like coming to Oceanside too.
PJ: Are there more longboarders
or shortboarders in Japan? Do you ever ride a
longboard?
MS: I never ride longboards.
(Laughter) I think longboards are now getting
popular in Japan. Many older guys are coming back
to the ocean with longboards. That's a little
dangerous for me. (Laughter)
PJ: We hear that there is
a vibrant contest scene in Japan. Is it possible
for girl surfers to have a career surfing only
on the Japanese tour?
MS: Yes. Actually, the top
8 girls only surf on the Japanese tour. They just
surf and don't have to have another job. And a
couple of girls are trying to go on the world
tour.
PJ: The Japanese girls’
tour...is it all the year around or is it only
during a certain season? Do you go all throughout
Japan?
MS: Only April through November.
After the contests we can go to Indonesia or the
United States.
PS: I remember when I was
in Sri Lanka a few years ago they had a Japanese
Professional Surf Association contest in Hikkaduwa.
Is that part of the tour?
MS: Same tour but that contest
was for longboarders.
PJ: They go to a different
country for a Japanese Tour?
MS: Yes, in Bali. We have
one in Uluwatu in June. Only one contest in Bali.
Last year it was at Keramas in Bali. That is a
good contest.
Marii Sugiura
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