FUKUSHIMA, Japan—Here, in the course of three weeks at the height of winter, I visited the area where the earthquake struck, the coast where the tsunami hit, the nuclear plant where the “accident” occurred, all in a prefecture that still grapples with the memory of a disaster that happened 15 years ago. For those of...
Tag: Japan
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Making memories in the heart of Shibuya
TOKYO—The Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu right above the Shibuya Mark City Mall that is connected to the Shibuya Station is near two of the district’s most iconic landmarks—the Hachiko Statue and the Shibuya Crossing. It was perfect for our three-day vacation in central Shibuya. My younger sister Kristine, who loves traveling to Japan which she calls...
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Argerich, Arendt, Akiko-san: Reflections on Hiroshima and Gaza
HIROSHIMA, Japan — It was a great joy to finally witness a performance by the legendary pianist Martha Argerich. My brother and I grew up listening to her renditions of the masters — Beethoven, Mozart, and Chopin most especially — and I tried, but failed, to watch her in Berlin back in 2023, when she...
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Wonder and wistfulness in Japan, including a glimpse of Mount Fuji
“In a few minutes, we will be starting our descent…The weather in Narita is clear, with a temperature of 15°C.” As first-timers in Japan, my husband and I were more than thrilled to hear that announcement on the plane. We were so looking forward to experience what other travelers have been raving about: Japan is...
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Living his dream and not working a day in his life
Sandy Daza hosts three food shows on TV and writes a column, making him one of the most recognizable chefs in the Philippines. He co-owns kiosks bearing his name that sell empanada and siopao in malls across Metro Manila. And he wears another hat: as a guide of culinary tours in Japan that he considers...
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Food, friendship and more on a tour with a chef
FUKUOKA, HIROSHIMA, OSAKA—We came here to savor food that popular Filipino chef Sandy Daza has taste-tested and pronounced “exceptional” (for him, “good” is simply “not enough”). But the “Daza Japan Food Tour” of the three cities and their namesake prefectures on Oct. 20-25 offered participants more than just food. It also included visits to fish...