entertainment

Tom Hanks blends in with diners at restaurant in Tokyo

24 Comments
By Oona McGee, RocketNews24

Tom Hanks was in Japan recently to promote his latest film “Sully” in Tokyo, and during a busy day of press in the city on Sept 16, the actor went out to a restaurant for some traditional Japanese food, surprising local diners who couldn’t believe there was a Hollywood movie star in their midst. The affable actor must’ve enjoyed the experience, as he tweeted a photo of himself with his “crew” out to his 12.1 million followers.

The adorable selfie, which perfectly captures the atmosphere of a relaxed traditional restaurant, received attention from Japanese Twitter users, who were quick to comment on the photo.

“Wow – it’s so great to see him out and enjoying a regular Japanese meal!” “The drunk men at the table next to him will now be seen by millions of people around the world!” “The actor blends in so well with the other diners that all I can see is a middle-aged man!” “I had to look at this for a second to find out which one was the movie star!” “I wish I could enjoy a drink and some soba with Tom Hanks!”

While few of us ever experience a celebrity asking us for a selfie, the lucky "oyaji," or middle-aged men, seated at the table next to the actor now have their mugs on the famous actor’s Twitter account for millions to see. While it might be a while before the actor makes a return to the restaurant, if you’d like to taste the soba that Hanks ate, this Instagram user, who was also at the restaurant and snapped a photo of the star, has revealed the location details.

According to the diner, the group was enjoying a meal at a soba restaurant in Tokyo called Kanda Matsuya. Sandwiched in between two modern buildings, Kanda Matsuya retains an air of old-style traditional charm. It’s a popular spot with locals, who often line up to get a taste of the restaurant’s handmade soba noodles. Delicious meals of soba here go for less than 1,000 yen.

Whether you’re a fan of soba or Tom Hanks, this is a beautiful place to visit for a taste of traditional Japan. And now that the word’s out on the actor’s restaurant of choice in Tokyo, you never know who you might meet when you pop by for a bowl of noodles!

Restaurant Information Kanda Matsuya/神田まつや Address: Tokyo-to, Chiyoda-ku, Kanda Sudacho 1-13 東京都 千代田区 神田須田町 1-13 Hours: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Mon- Fri; 11a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturdays and public holidays; closed Sundays. Website

Source: Togetter

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Saga Prefecture’s hidden gem of a soba restaurant offers scrumptious, full course soba meals -- Japanese photographer captures gorgeous photos of timeless building facades in Tokyo -- We try Japanese liquid nitrogen Kit Kats at the new Below Freezing Chocolatory in Tokyo

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24 Comments
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Sorry Toshiko, I disagree. I love natto and that quite amuses my Japanese friends. Back to Hanks, yea good on him to try and know the locals and have a nice time generally, instead of just keeping put up indoors.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If you want to pretend you know Japanese way to hold chopsticks, copy the man holding chopsticks on above photo Btw,,,natto is throw away food. I woullldn't ask if someone like NATO, children love to have Nitto throwing contest.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

If he'd actually blended in, no one would have noticed that he was there, and the article wouldn't have appeared...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

How to eat sushi? We just eat with two fingers.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Is there something wrong with asking these questions?

On JapanToday, there is something wrong with literally everything. You could have someone talk about how they saved a grandma from being eaten by a bear, by calling the bear away and then escaping themselves, and people would complain about escalating fees for taking care of the elderly.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I wonder if they asked, "Can you eat sushi?" and "How long till you go back?" and I also wonder if they said, "Wow you use chopsticks so well.

Is there something wrong with asking these questions?

Why take offense when none is intended, unless one is so self-centered that they believe it should be obvious to all Japanese how accomplished and capable they are...

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I saw Sully in California a couple of weeks ago. Not a huge Hanks fan, but he has been in some great movies. Sully was pretty darn good too. I might see it again when it hits Japan theaters.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Tom Hank should say after finish eating and say "kimochi". The selfie would have been more relax

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I've been told several times over the years that I look like Tom Hanks. I consider that a great compliment, now if I only had his paycheck...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

My J-Wife and I are HUGE FANS of Tom Hanks!

He's such a classy, casual and cool guy and we can't wait to see "Sully".

I've seen the documentary on Captain Sully and this story is Amazing and I am sure Tom Hanks did a Great Job!

I hope those Oyaji's didn't get him too Yopparai - LOL!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Kyushu bill doesn't seem to know the difference between country yahoos and city slickers. Simple minded folk do of course migrate to Tokyo...

1 ( +3 / -2 )

shop seen here

https://www.google.com/maps/place/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E3%81%9D%E3%81%B0+%E7%A5%9E%E7%94%B0+%E3%81%BE%E3%81%A4%E3%82%84/@35.6960481,139.7688089,3a,60y,336.85h,98.72t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1seRPermni-3fYRDk-Iexmiw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x60188c034b8b099b:0x4174ea7521f708b1!8m2!3d35.6960998!4d139.7687781!6m1!1e1

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

You kidding.... without all the "Hollywood" accoutrements, the average Joe or Taro might not even recognize him.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I wonder if they said "Get lost, Hanks, or whoever you are, we're trying to eat in peace."

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Haha awesome photo!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Did he find his way there by himself?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

He is also making a Shochu commercial.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

@kyushubill

Why do you always make negative comments about Japanese people? You're so quick to assume things. That group of Japanese men might not have acted like that.

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

This would've been surreal. In any other country, just as surreal of course, but in Japan, even more so, given that they react like this and go "ARA....YOU ARE TOM HANKS?" etc to other random, barely-similar foreigners. This time though it'd be "holy shit....it actually IS tom hanks!". I would've loved to see this happen first hand.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Do you like natto?

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Hanks seems like a very nice down to earth man. I remember him pulling a stunt like this before, where he made a photo with a passed out college kid.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Aren't they simple questions just to break the ice?!

-8 ( +7 / -15 )

I wonder if they asked, "Can you eat sushi?" and "How long till you go back?" and I also wonder if they said, "Wow you use chopsticks so well."

21 ( +25 / -4 )

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