Chef’s Table: Victor Garvey interviews top Japanese actress Yoh Yoshida

Victor Garvey, a Michelin-starred restaurateur, sat down for an interview with Yoh Yoshida, a Japanese actress known for her Shakespearean performances. The two met at MATER1A, one of Garvey's restaurants, where they sampled a variety of small dishes before delving into the conversation. Yoshida had recently traveled to Leicester to pay respects to the real Richard III, the subject of her Shakespearean roles.

The actor explained that her Japanese performances of Shakespearean characters, such as Hamlet and Richard III, were unique as she typically played more honorable roles in Japan. The timing of Shakespeare's lines in Japanese proved challenging due to the language's slower rhythm and descriptive nature. However, Yoshida found a clever workaround with the line "A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!" as the word for horse, "uma," created a distinctive mouth shape that enhanced her delivery.

The interview took a nostalgic turn when Yoshida recalled their first encounter at Jugemu, a Japanese izakaya where Garvey was introduced to her by a manager after a dinner party. A mutual love for Japanese cuisine and culture led to their friendship, with Yoshida expressing a desire to study acting at London's LAMDA. Garvey, impressed by Yoshida's knowledge and respect for Japanese cuisine, assured her that her fusion dishes at MATER1A paid homage to the culture she adored.