We Sat Down With the Wrong Japanese Breakfast and Now We’re Hangry
Before you say, “that’s a pretty common joke,” this isn’t a fucking joke man.
August 23, 2022
By: Neel Bhakta
Before you say, “that’s a pretty common joke,” this isn’t a fucking joke man. My editors sent me all the way to NYC to write about the growing popularity of Japanese breakfast. Now, instead of sipping on a nice cup of green tea, I’m frantically googling and my tummy is a-rumbling.
The Lunar Times: Well, let me start by asking how are you?
Michelle Zauner, aka Japanese Breakfast: I’m fantastic, just had the best tamagoyaki of my life a few hours ago!
Oh man, this is going to be a rough interview. Any chance you brought anything for me?
I didn’t want to be late for this interview so I didn’t grab anything for you.
Totally fine, I’m not completely famished or anything. So, what’s your whole deal?
I play music in a band called Japanese Breakfast.
Did you choose that name just to mislead any future interviewers into believing they would be stuffing their mouths with nattō instead of talking to you?
Of course not, that’d be ridiculous. I actually chose the name because it would sound exotic to Americans but I don’t think anyone is stupid enough misconstrue the band name now.
Yeah, imagine that. Now, on the cover of your third studio album Jubilee, you are photographed amidst several strung persimmons. Did you ever take a nibble of one and discreetly twirl it around so the bite mark wouldn’t end up on the cover?
You know, it’s been so long since that photoshoot. I might’ve had a bite.
Okay, another question. For the promotion of your second album, you released a jrpg-style video game called Japanese BreakQuest in which the playable character consumes rocket fuel to converse with a sentient robot being. Do you think rocket fuel tastes good and do you have any on your person?
No, I don’t think rocket fuel is good for you. It’s all fiction. I mean, there’s no such thing as Space Kimchi either, at least to my knowledge.
Well, there’s always space for kimchi in my belly.
Yeah, that’s great, but can you promise me you won’t drink rocket fuel?
Let’s just move on to the next question. You wrote a memoir titled “Crying in H Mart”. I’d love to hear more about what food means to you.
Sure! I began cooking dishes from my childhood to revitalize my connection to my Korean heritage. Recreating dishes like jatjuk and doenjang jjigae really helped me through tough times.
Oh wow, I was already hungry in Japanese and now you’re making me hungry in Korean.
I don’t think that’s how that works.
What do you know, you’re only a Grammy nominated musician, critically acclaimed essayist and writer on the NYT’s Bestseller’s List for over a year, and one of TIME magazine’s top 100 most influential people of 2022.
I’m sorry, are you upset at me?
Not upset, just very disappointed that you’re not food.
Do you have any questions or thoughts not related to food?
You know, I do have one that I’ve been curious about and no one has ever asked it ever, in the history of music journalism.
I’m all ears.
What’s it like being a woman in music?
Go fuck yourself.
