It¡¯s hard to describe Seiko Ito with one handy label. When I ask my friends to do it, they struggle.

¡°He¡¯s a TV comedian on a show for kids,¡± says one. ¡°He¡¯s an award-winning novelist,¡± says another, before adding ¡ª ¡°And he¡¯s one of Japan¡¯s first rappers!¡±

¡°I heard he¡¯s really into plants,¡± one friend tells me. ¡°He visited Disneyland just to research them.¡±