Exploring Shizuoka with International Students Part 5
Enjoying Tuna-Bowl at Atami Ginza

Fishing is a traditional and popular industry in Shizuoka, thanks to Suruga Bay and Enshu-nada Bay. It’s the perfect place to enjoy fresh seafood cuisine.
We visited Atami Ginza Osakana Shokudo, a restaurant in the Atami Ginza Shopping District, with Widya Medianto from Shizuoka Eiwa Gakuin University. This restaurant offers a variety of fish dishes made from seafood freshly caught in the Atami and Izu areas, including sashimi, stir-fried dishes, and steamed fish.

Widdy enjoyed a dish called "Toro Torotoro Don (Triple Fatty Tuna Bowl)" on this day. This popular menu item features a variety of tuna, including medium fatty tuna (chūtoro), albacore (bintoro), minced fatty tuna with green onion (negi-toro), marinated tuna (zuke maguro), and lean tuna (akami).
The dish allows diners to first savor it as a tuna bowl and then enjoy it as ochazuke by pouring rich seafood broth (nōkō gyokai dashi, a soup extracted from fish) over the rice.
“It’s been a while since I’ve had a tuna bowl. So delicious!” said Widdy with great delight.

While having a tasty tuna bowl, we asked Widdy about her life in Shizuoka.

Widdy:"It's been five years since I moved to Japan. I felt that Japanese people would suit my personality, Japanese cities were safe, and the country was economically prosperous. That’s what sparked my curiosity about Japan. I dreamed of working in Japan someday, and my Indonesian friend suggested that it would be better to start studying in Japan if I wanted to plan for my future. That’s how I decided to pursue my studies here.
Currently, I’m studying Tourism at Shizuoka Eiwa Gakuin University. As someone who loves travel and sightseeing, I truly enjoy exploring Japan, where I can experience beautiful landscapes.

My graduation thesis focuses on ‘Halal and Tourism.’ Many Muslim travelers feel uneasy during their trips to Japan, wondering things like ‘Is this meal halal?’ or ‘Are there places where I can pray?’ To address these concerns, I’ve been researching the current state of halal facilities in Japan. I hope my research can assist those facing such challenges.

I started learning Japanese after coming to Japan, beginning at a language school. Chinese characters are especially challenging for me, but I work part-time at a convenience store to improve my Japanese skills. I’ve made many international friends there, and I truly enjoy the experience.

The people in Shizuoka are incredibly welcoming to international students. There are many events tailored for us, opportunities for international exchanges, and excellent job-hunting support. I’m really grateful for these resources. Compared to busy cities like Tokyo, Shizuoka’s trains are much less crowded, which makes life here very comfortable for me.

After graduating from university, I plan to continue my studies in Graduate School to study tourism in greater depth. My dream is to find a job here in Shizuoka. I aspire to become an interpreter, helping tourists and technical intern trainees who come to Shizuoka."

Currently, Widdy plays an important role as an Indonesia-Shizuoka Goodwill Ambassador. With her dedication and dreams for the future, she is living a fulfilling life in Shizuoka.
Thank you, Widdy, for sharing your story with us today!