I Spent a Week with Japan's BIGGEST Movie Star | Ken Watanabe

@Abroad in Japan

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Spend a week with Japan's biggest movie star, Ken Watanabe, as he returns to Kesennuma, the town he helped rebuild after the 2011 tsunami, and see his K-Port cafe and community involvement firsthand.

3 places · 2 experiences

Experience · 2 places
Dinner with Ken's local friends
I was lucky to be invited to a dinner celebrating Ken's return among his closest local friends. We enjoyed a delicious meal of freshly grilled seafood and sake, experiencing the warm hospitality Kesennuma locals are known for. Remember, at a Japanese dinner party, continuously fill up your fellow guests' glasses – trying not to spill sake on Ken Watanabe was a nerve-wracking highlight!
1
Kesennuma Fish Market
Seafood market · Kesennuma
3.7 (2,542)Open · until 5 PM
Creator's voice
Owned by Ken's neighbor, Yuji-san, this fish market is a key part of the local community and provides fresh seafood for meals in Kesennuma.
Kesennuma Fish Market, ２Ｆ 2-13 Minatomachi, Kesennuma, Miyagi 988-0021, Japan
2
Kesennuma Sake Brewery
Sake brewery · Kesennuma
4.5Closed
Otokoyamahonten, 3-8 Irisawa, Kesennuma, Miyagi 988-0083, Japan
Experience · 1 place
Performing at Kesennuma's festival
With Kesennuma's festival underway, Ken performed on stage with his band in front of thousands of excited people. It's not something you see every day – watching Ken perform in front of the cheering crowd felt like the culmination of an incredible week, discovering his active involvement in rebuilding the community.
3
K-Port Cafe
Cafe · Kesennuma
4.1 (515)Open · until 4 PM
Cafe K-port, 1-3 Minatomachi, Kesennuma, Miyagi 988-0021, Japan
Delicious cake — A delicious cake that Ken, as the owner, personally tastes and gives feedback on, showing his involvement in the cafe's menu.
Autograph signing — Ken Watanabe signs autographs for lucky customers who catch him at the restaurant, a common occurrence when he's present.
Serving customers — On less hectic days, Ken Watanabe gets stuck in and serves unsuspecting diners, bringing over pasta or other dishes.