One of the poorest prefectures in Japan, Miyazaki has been undergoing quite a makeover in both its economy and image, largely due to the public relations skills of its energetic governor, a flamboyant ex-comedian. An old honeymoon spot for Japanese back in the 1950s and sixties, Miyazaki had degenerated into a decidedly un-cool place by…

Still boyishly handsome at 62, there is no doubt that Kitahara is the boy with the most toys – in the world. Internationally, he is a renowned toy collector, having published seven books in Germany and five books in the U.S. about collectible toys. His collection at Epcot Center, featuring mainly tin toys made in…

Although the famed Kusatsu Onsen is perfectly suitable to visit any time of the year, the resort is probably best experienced during Japan’s winter months. The juxtaposition of Gunma Prefecture’s biting mountain air and pristine snow banks matched with Kusatsu’s mysteriously healing hot spring waters is the perfect combination. Located 1200 meters above sea level…

With sumo Yokozuna (Grand Champion) Asashoryu getting ready for his third tournament since serving his two-tournament suspension, all eyes are on him to see if he can return to top form following his failure to win the Hatsu basho (tournament) in January. While his record in the Haru basho was much improved/disappointing/more of the same,…

“What I was in fact approaching was a town of a kind I’d dreamed of finding when I’d first arrived in Japan almost twenty years before, a town so extraordinary that, when I went out to stroll around it that evening, I almost forgot to limp.” “Looking for the Lost,” Alan Booth Perhaps it is…

All of his spaces are sublime exercises into the possibilities of light, shadow, and form, all executed with a quiet simplicity and sophistication. While his designs are elegant, using traditional Japanese sensibilities, there is also a subdued tension in his spaces–a feeling that we are experiencing something cutting-edge and vanguard as opposed to staid and…

The Amanojaku Taiko school is set to visit Brazil to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the migration of the Japanese to Brazil, a part of history that has resulted in a rich cross cultural set of Japanese-Brazilian traditions. But this historic trip wasn’t cooked up suddenly, the Amanojaku school has fostered the art of Japanese…

Baseball season is here again and getting into the swing of things is easy as this year promises to be an exciting one on both sides of the Pacific especially with the Nippon Pro Baseball league in Japan set to go. In Japan, defending Japan Series Champions, the Chunichi Dragons of Nagoya are looking to…

“He was obliged to move to Uji where fortunately he still possessed a small estate… after a time he began once more to take an interest in flowers and autumn woods, and would even spend hour after hour simply watching the river flow.” ­ ‑The Tale of the Genji,  Murasaki Shikibu For members of the…

With his endless charm and impeccable fashion sense, Girolamo Panzetta has long been an ambassador of sorts, introducing the best of Italian culture to Japan. Jim Hand-Cukierman catches up with the maestro of moda and gets his views on style, life and love. Interview conducted, transcribed and translated by Kayo Yamawaki. It’s hard to decide…