Contemporary Japan 2020

SPECIAL ISSUE

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Land of THE Rising Sun

2020

Emperor Naruhito ushers in new era Amazing car made from wood drives the future

54 photos that prove Japan is not like any other country

Opening of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games 10 things to know about kimono Japanese community organizes ‘Operation Turtle’ beach clean-up

K_JapanMAG_23x4cm.indd 1

Japan world heritage tour Everyday Tokyo is packed with entertainment Tokyo Motor Show Concept models open eyes to electric future

1,000 yen meals and budget tips

In cooperation with the Embassy of Japan - Kuwait

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AL-Rai, Al Ghazali St., Opposite Centerpoint, P.O. Box: 42018, Shuwaikh 70651, Kuwait Tel: (965) 24748903 / 5 / 7 Fax: (965) 24748909 E-mail: imcck@imcck.com www.imcck.com

Door Division: Al-Rai, Al-Ghazali Street, Opposite Centrepoint, P.O. Box: 42018 Shuwaikh 70651 Kuwait Tel: (965) 24748903/5/7 Fax: (965) 24748909

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SPECIAL ISSUE

CONTEMPORARY issuu.com/e-gulfmedia Scan this QR code with your smart phone/tablet and enjoying reading. To read it on your computer, simply visit the web link above.

LAND OF THE RISING SUN

2020

Emperor Naruhito ushers in new era Japan world heritage tour

Amazing car made from wood drives carbon

54 Photos that prove Japan is not like any other country

Everyday Tokyo is packed with entertainment Tokyo Motor Show 2019 – Concept models open eyes to electric future

Tokyo 2020 opening of the Olympic Games 10 things to know about kimono

1,000 yen meals and budget tips

Japanese community organizes “Operation Turtle” beach clean-up

In Cooperation with the Em bassy of Japan - Kuwait

Emperor Naruhito ushers in new era

14

Japanese community organizes “Operation Turtle” beach clean-up

20

Opening of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

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Meet the 2020 athletes – Badminton Champ Kento Momota

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Meet the 2020 athletes – Ryo Kiyuna

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Guide to touring a Japanese automotive plant

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Toyota claims two prestigious titles

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Amazing car made from wood drives carbon-free future at Tokyo Motor Show

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Tokyo Motor Show 2019 – Concept models open eyes to electric future

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Everyday Tokyo is packed with entertainment

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1,000 yen meals and budget tips

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Wasabi – playing a small yet famously spicy role in Japanese cuisines

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10 things to know about kimono

82

Who is the greatest Japanese woman ever?

88

Public bath 101 for visitors to Japan

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Fresh and clean – creating a new toilet culture

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Rajio Taiso – Japan’s national exercises

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54 photos that prove Japan is not like any other country

98

10 itinerary suggestions for a one-day trip from Tokyo

104

Japan world heritage tour

108

Aizuwakamatsu

112

Stars in their eyes in rural Shizuoka

120

SPECIAL ISSUE

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CONTEMPORARY

LAND OF THE

RISING SUN

2018 Take stylish and resilient Japanese cars for a spin!

Ambassador hails historic

Kuwait-Japan relations

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Takashi Ashiki, Ambassador of Japan to the State of Kuwait

Enjoy health-focused

The wonderful world of Japanese tea

wellness tourism

The world’s first drone for private security A new diagnostic technology for malaria

in Osaka

O-Zoni: An unpretentious delicacy OKINAWA: Japan’s Forgotten Paradise

24 ways to experience the best that Japan has to offer

In Cooperation with the Embassy of Japan - Kuwait

Issue: 2018

Faisal Motlaq Bdah Bejran Chairman

Stronger Together Dear Readers, Welcome once again to this special issue of Contemporary Japan. We have been a fixture for more than 10 years, and we thank you for your support and encouragement. Ties between Kuwait and Japan have been blossoming for decades, and are at their strongest ever.

Japanese companies have been actively involved in helping Kuwait achieve its development plans, and I hope they contribute further to the New Kuwait 2035 vision. The Japanese community and embassy here are also active socially, and the annual ‘Operation Turtle’ beach cleanup drive is a testimony to this.

I hope you enjoy this issue with its diverse mix of articles encompassing a range of what Japan has to offer – from automobiles to tourism to sporting events. Special thanks to the Japanese Embassy and its companies and citizens in the state. Together we will build a more beautiful and advanced Kuwait!

FOREWORD Mujahid Iqbal managing editor

New era, new possibilities Dear Readers, I hope you will enjoy reading the articles in the forthcoming pages as much as we enjoyed compiling them. Contemporary Japan has been going from strength to strength due to your continued patronage, and we hope this will remain for the years to come.

We have touched on a myriad of topics in this issue, but the onus is on the biggest sporting spectacle to take place in Japan next year – the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games.

The Olympics come hot on the heels of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which was an unrivalled success. This augurs well for the Games, but then Japan always plans events meticulously.

Of course, another momentous occasion this year was the coronation of Crown Prince Naruhito as emperor after the abdication of his father Emperor Akihito. Emperor Naruhito’s reign also ushered in the new Reiwa era, after the glorious Heisei and its preceding Showa eras. We hope the new era will be equally illustrious.

In conclusion, I would like to sincerely thank the Japanese Embassy for its support of the magazine. Special thanks too to the outgoing Japanese Ambassador to Kuwait Takashi Ashiki and Cultural Attache Shinji Bantani who served their country well and were liked and respected by all. All the best on your next posting!

Happy reading and wishing you a prosperous 2020!

Emperor Naruhito

ushers in new era E

mperor Naruhito can claim a number of firsts as a member of the Japanese monarchy. No emperor in the past had the experience of studying abroad, and he is also the first emperor not to be separated from his family and brought up largely by nannies. The 59-year-old earlier signaled his intent to adapt to “the changing times”, while also saying his years with his parents would serve as “major guideposts” for him as he

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performs his nonpolitical duties as the symbol of the state in the years ahead.

“I would like to pursue my duties as the symbol (of the state) by always being beside Japanese citizens, and sharing joy and sorrow with the people,” he said at his last press conference as crown prince in February. Emperor Naruhito was born on Feb 23, 1960, as the elder son of former Emperor Akihito and his wife,

former Empress Michiko, a year after their marriage. His now 84-year-old mother, formerly known as Michiko Shoda, was the first crown princess of commoner origin.

His name Naruhito, given by his grandfather Emperor Hirohito, posthumously known as Emperor Showa, consists of two Chinese characters taken from an ancient Chinese Confucian philosophy book

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Unlike his father, who grew up away from his parents in line with imperial family custom, Emperor Naruhito, his younger brother Crown Prince Fumihito, 53, and younger sister Sayako Kuroda, 50, who left the imperial household upon marriage to a commoner in 2005, were directly cared for by their parents as children.

In 1978, the emperor enrolled in the university’s Faculty of Letters, where he majored in history. Before his graduation in 1982, he wrote a diploma thesis on medieval water transport in the Inland Sea area of western Japan.

After advancing to the graduate school of the private Japanese university in April 1982, he studied for two years from 1983 at the University of Oxford’s Merton College, where he lived in a dormitory for the first time.

The emperor entered the kindergarten of Gakushuin University in 1964 and attended the elementary, junior high and high schools of the university, which was established in the 19th century as a school for aristocrats. “His majesty was gentle and always calm, and he naturally

His research theme in Oxford was the history of transportation on the River Thames. He published a paper titled “The Thames as a Highway” in 1989 and was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws by the university in 1991. This expertise led to him serving as honorary president

and means “a man who acquires heavenly virtues”.

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attracted people,” recalled Akihiko Imai, a friend of the emperor’s since junior high school.

of the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation between 2007 and 2015.

In January 1989, he became crown prince at the age of 28 after Emperor Akihito ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne following Emperor Hirohito’s death. Having set himself the goal of finding a partner before turning 30, he got married to Masako Owada, a career diplomat who spent her childhood in Moscow and New York, at the age of 33 in June 1993.

The couple first met in October 1986 at a party to welcome visiting Spanish Princess Elena. Following the return of Empress Masako, 55, from the University of Oxford, where she studied between 1988 and 1990, the two met again in 1992 and he proposed marriage later that year. “I will protect you with all my might for my entire life,” the then-crown prince said in proposing to her. Their wedding took place the following year, and the couple’s only child, Princess Aiko, 17, was born on Dec 1, 2001.

The emperor is known to have a number of hobbies, including mountain climbing, jogging, playing tennis and skiing. He plays viola and belonged to an orchestra during his time at Gakushuin University. “Just like

us, they have work and family, which give them power to lead their daily lives,” said Imai, the emperor’s friend, of the imperial couple.

The emperor had joined a variety of events and rituals in and outside the Imperial Palace, sometimes on behalf of former Emperor Akihito in recent years.

At a Gakushuin reunion in January 2018, the then-crown prince told friends who were chatting about reaching the retirement age of 60 in the near future, “In my case, I will be getting started,” according to Yuko Matsuoka, who studied with him and was also at the gathering. Matsuoka felt the emperor’s “positive feelings about his enthronement” in the remark, she told Kyodo News.

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Japanese Community organizes ‘OPERATION TURTLE’

beach clean-up T

By Mujahid Iqbal

he Japanese Society organized ‘Operation Turtle’, a clean-up of Shuwaikh Beach on Saturday morning with support from the Japanese Embassy in Kuwait, Environment Public Authority, 20

Kuwait Environment Protection Society, Kuwait Oil Company, Dasman Bilingual School and the Boy Scouts Association.

The beach clean-up, which has been organized every year since 2000,

has seen broad participation by young and old volunteers concerned about the protection of Kuwait’s marine environment.

“The operation is called Operation Turtle because it is trying to clean the beach so that turtles can come back one day. Protection of the marine environment is important both for Kuwait and Japan. Operation Turtle is an attempt by the Japanese society to spread environmental awareness in Kuwait and express our gratitude for the generous hospitality we have received in Kuwait,” Japanese Ambassador to Kuwait Takashi Ashiki said.

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He thanked the organizations and volunteers who participated in the event and underscored the importance

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for everyone living in the region and enjoying the resources of the environment to play their part in safeguarding it for

the benefit of future generations.

Cultural

T

Week

Japanese

he Embassy of Japan organized the Japanese

– a Japan enthusiast - gave tips to prospective travellers to

Cultural Week on February 17, 18 and 21, 2019.

the country. The presentation was in Arabic. Around 100

The first event was a lecture presented by Mr Saad Al-

people attended the lecture.

Hajeri and held at the embassy.

The second event was an origami workshop for adults

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The lecture included ‘Basic Information Before Traveling to

was held at the Yarmouk Cultural Center. The two-hour-

Japan’, held at the Japanese Embassy in Mishref. Hajeri

long workshop was presented by Cultural Attaché Rikuya

Something for everyone at Japanese Cultural Week

Sako and his assistant Dana Zibar and by the embassy’s

after Me” with English subtitles. It presented the danger of

staff and some volunteers. More than 60 people enjoyed

media in certain situations. The film is Ryoichi Kimizuka’s

making interesting shapes with paper. Participants had fun

riveting exploration of the Japanese media’s feeding

folding paper into a variety of shapes.

frenzy, focusing on a 15-year-old girl forced into police protection to escape from journalistic hordes after her

The third and last event was a Japanese movie screening

brother is arrested for murder.

at Yarmouk Cultural Center with the title “No One Looks

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Mujahid Iqbal Saeed Ahmed

National Day

T

he Japanese Ambassador to Kuwait H.E. Takashi Ashiki held a reception to commemorate the birthday of his Majesty’s the Emperor of Japan and the country’s National Day with Kuwaiti Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled AlJarallah as the guest of honour.

Members of the diplomatic corps, guests from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japanese nationals and media personnel attended the function organized at the ambassador’s resi-dence on Monday, 03 December 2018.

The event opened with the singing of the Kuwait’s and Japan’s national anthem respectively. In his opening remarks, the Japanese Ambassador Ashiki welcomed

26

Marks

the gathering and highlighted the strong bilateral ties between Kuwait and Japan.

Japan is ranked as Kuwait’s third biggest trade partner and Kuwait is Japan’s third crude supplier,” stated Ashiki as he welcomed members of the diplomatic corps, media and other distinguished guests to the auspicious occasion.

The ambassador highlighted the trade exchange between both countries as it continues to hit new records year after year. “We hope Japanese companies would continue to play significant role in Kuwait’s infrastructure development,” he stated.

He added that there has been an amazingly increasing interest of Kuwait

youth in the Japanese Pop Culture.

“Japan attaches great importance to other areas of cooperation with Kuwait in addition to business relations. I hereby invite Kuwaiti citizens and expats to visit Japan and get to know more about our culture, especially on the occasions of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and 2025 Expo in Osaka. We look forward to welcoming you in Japan,” he enjoined.

The reception was capped with the ceremonial cutting of the cake led

by Ashiki and Al-Jarallah followed by a dinner buffet featuring a wide array of Japanese cuisine from sushi, sashimi, tempura and whole a lot more.

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Con

Comfest Gamers, cosplayers attend Comfest

T

he Embassy of Japan participated at Comfest Con 2019, one of the biggest conventions in Kuwait. The event was held for 3 days from January 24 to 26, 2019 at Mishref International Fairground. EGCOMFEST 2019 was hosted by Gustavo Santaolalla, an Academy Award-winning Argentinian musician, film composer and producer. He performed live for the first time in the Middle East at the event, and is the first Oscar winner to attend a convention in the history of Kuwait.

More than 10,000 people visited the convention and enjoyed Japanese pop culture, from videogames, anime, cosplay and many others. The booth of the Japanese Embassy was very active as well.

It promoted Japanese culture like calligraphy, Japanese green tea, trying on happi or yukata, and provided information about tourism.

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Japanese Embassy participates in

PL AM O CON 2019

By Mujahid Iqbal

P

LAMO CON, powered by Comic Con Kuwait, Kuwait’s first pop culture, gaming, and cosplay convention since 2012, was held on Sept 26, 27 and 28 at Kuwait International Fairground in Mishref. Sotaro Sasaki, Second Secretary and Cultural AttachÊ at the Japanese Embassy, visited the event, where the embassy had a stall.

Dana Ziber, Assistant of the Cultural

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AttachĂŠ, also participated in the event along with other Japanese volunteers.

This convention offered the opportunity for the audience to meet their favorite celebrity guests including Hollywood stars, TV show actors and voice-over talents from popular video games and cartoons. Visitors enjoyed multiple activities suitable for both children and adults such

as stage performances, dozens of vendors and figures stores, anime and manga shops and artists, cosplay shows and video game tournaments.

Sotaro Sasaki, Second Secretary and Cultural AttachĂŠ, meets Managing Editor of Contemporary Japan magazine Mujahid Iqbal, other guests andcosplayers at PLAMO CON 2019.

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Tokyo

2020

Celebrates One Year to Go to the Opening of the Olympic Games

E

xcit xcitement is building for the Olympic Games as Tokyo 2020 officially d athletes at the Tokyo International Forum.

Here are the highlights of this ground-breaking celebration.

Let’s 55 Go! Go! There’s no better way to get ready for the games than playing like a world-class athlete. At a special “One Year to Go” Let’s 55 event at the Tokyo International Forum plaza, families and kids were able to try out different Olympic sports whilst Japanese athletes showcased their individual disciplines igniting more excitement from the visitors to look forward to the Games.

IOC president Thomas Bach, who arrived in Japan in the morning for attending the ceremony, also jumped at the opportunity and showcased his fencing skill toward 13-year old young fencer in a smart fencing match (using a soft sword instead of the real fencing sword).

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Through the Let’s 55 project, the public can be an athlete for a day and get to experience the 55 sports of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. The program also gives people a chance to meet Olympians and Paralympians who share their passion for the sport.

“We’re on track” Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto delivered a speech in the morning highlighting the progress being made towards a successful and sustainable Games. Half of the new permanent venues are already completed with the Olympic stadium to be finished late this year. The Tokyo 2020 Medal Project has also achieved its medal project’s goals of collecting precious metals to be used for creating sustainable Tokyo 2020 medals. With sustainability as a core

vision of Tokyo 2020, there is also an ongoing project to produce podiums from recycled household plastic waste.

“One Year to Go” Ceremony The opening show of today’s ceremony showcased the very best of Japan with a graceful performance by HonamiTsuboi, Olympic gymnast at Beijing 2008, who was accompanied by the Yoshida Brothers, one of Japan’s best-known duos known for playing the shamisen – a three-stringed traditional Japanese instrument.

After the performance, Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori delivered a special message to welcome attendees of this “One Year to Go” moment. “I believe the Tokyo 2020 Games will become an important part of Olympic history and a talking point for future generations.

This–the second time that Tokyo will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games–will be an occasion where the world is united as one regardless of nationality, race, culture or religion. I fervently hope younger generations will learn to respect, understand and accept each other as a result of these Games and play a central role in realising an inclusive society in the future,” he said.

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “One year from now, Japan will make history,” he said. “It will be a wonderful and unique moment for our gracious Japanese hosts to show the world the best of Japan: your rich history and traditions, your cutting-edge innovation, your culture of hospitality, and of course, your love for sport.”

He continued, “Preparations are making excellent progress, thanks to the amazing work of the Organising Committee and with outstanding cooperation and support from the government and the business community.

There is so much to look forward to. I have never seen an Olympic city as prepared as Tokyo with one year to go before the Olympic Games,” he added.National Olympic Committees hosting future Olympic and Paralympic Games were also present to receive the formal invitation to Tokyo 2020 Games from Bach.

Tokyo 2020 Torch Relay Torchbearer Program 35

To add to the excitement of the “One year to Go celebration”, Tokyo 2020 Torch Relay Official Ambassadors entered the ceremony site with Games mascot Miraitowa holding the Olympic torch. The ambassadors put special focus on the importance of the torch relay for Tokyo 2020 as it brings messages of hope to areas in Japan that are still rebuilding after the earthquake.

They also highlighted the on-going recruitment for torchbearers.

More than 10,000 torchbearers will make their way around Japan carrying the Olympic flame. The torch relay will start its journey from Fukushima, lighting its way across Japan’s 47 prefectures.

Tokyo 2020 Olympic medals The design of the new Olympic 36

medals was finally unveiled during the “One Year to Go” ceremony. Five thousand medals will be created for next year’s Olympic Games and will be manufactured from precious metals extracted from mobile phones and other small electronic devices donated by the public.

The new design symbolises diversity and embodies the energy and commitment of athletes. The winning design is a result of a nationwide competition launched in 2017 open to professional designers and design students.

Ryohei Miyata, chairperson of the Tokyo 2020 medal design selection panel, “I am convinced that Japanese metal moulding techniques and the superb design have combined well, and that we have the best medal in the world - one

that we can be proud of. There is also a beautiful balance between the design of the medals and their ribbons. It makes me want to strive for a medal myself.”

OMEGA Countdown clock The day wrapped up with the unveiling of the OMEGA Countdown clock, the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games, in front of Tokyo station, used by more than one million people every day. OMEGA has closely worked with Tokyo 2020 incorporating the design themes of the Olympic Games. As night fell on the Japanese capital, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building in Shinjuku and the city’s landmark Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree were specially illuminated to mark the milestone.

Meet the 2020 Athletes

Badminton Champ

Kento Momota F

or the latest in our Meet the 2020 Athletes series, we caught up with the world number-one male badminton player Kento Momota. A phenomenon in the sport, he recently won his second successive World Championship title and is the current favorite to take home gold in the men’s singles competition in Tokyo next year.

Banned for a year from competing in 2016 (which meant he had to miss out on the Rio Olympics), Kento Momota’s form since returning in 2017 has been nothing short of scintillating. As well as winning the World Championship titles in 2018 and 2019, he’s also claimed two Asian crowns and eight World Tour titles.

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“I couldn’t play, I couldn’t see any goals and my future career looked extremely dicey” appearing in near-empty halls. By the end of 2017, he was back amongst the elite and finished the year with five international titles including two Grand Prix trophies.

Things got even better in 2018.

At the Asian Championships final in China, Momota defeated Olympic gold-medalist Chen Long, a player he’d failed to take a set off in their previous four encounters. The highlight of the year, however, came at the World Championships, also in China, where he became the first Japanese male player to lift the trophy, dropping just one set in the competition.

“I couldn’t play, I couldn’t see any goals and my future career looked extremely dicey,” Momota says about his year away from the game. “I didn’t watch any of the 2016 Olympics because I felt too regretful. It was a tough time, but thanks to people who supported me I was able to get through it. I really appreciate everyone who was there for me.”

The Kagawa Prefecture native was officially suspended by the Nippon Badminton Association in May 2016 after admitting to betting at illegal underground casinos. It came at a critical time in his career. A few months earlier, the then 21-year-old rising star became the first Japanese player to win a medal (bronze) in the Men’s Singles category at the BWF World Championships. He followed that up by taking the top prize at the Super Series Finals in Dubai and the India Open, helping to propel him to number two in the world rankings. The stage seemed set for him to challenge

for gold at the Rio Games, however even without the suspension he doesn’t think he would have been ready.

“I was playing quite well at that point but don’t think I could have won the competition in Brazil,” opines Momota.

“In fact, I would say at that point in my career it was probably impossible to take home the gold.”

Barring an injury or dramatic loss of form, the same certainly couldn’t be said for the 2020 Olympics. Momota is the dominant force in the men’s game right now. There have been times over the past 12 months when he’s looked almost unplayable, destroying fierce opponents seemingly without breaking a sweat.

After the suspension, there were doubts as to whether Momota could recapture the form that made him one of badminton’s top prospects. Ranked outside the top 250, he had to first earn the right to play the big boys again by competing at lower level competitions,

Continuing to make history, Momota triumphed at the All England Championship in March, again the first Japanese man to do so. He won a thrilling final against Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen to take home the oldest and one of the most prestigious trophies in badminton. A few months later he retained the World Championship, winning every match in straight sets including the final, a convincing 21-9 21-3 victory over another Dane, Anders Andersen.

Seen as the heir apparent to legendary Chinese player Lin Dan, Momota is a master at controlling the pace of the game and exploiting his opponents’ weaknesses. Quick-footed with a great recovery, he’s currently the most consistent player on the circuit but as his early exits at this year’s Malaysian Masters and Indonesian Open showed, he is not infallible.

“My biggest strength,” he says, “is my 39

“My weakness is that I sometimes play too carefully”

hairpin shot [a drop-shot from below the net]. My weakness is that I sometimes play too carefully. Recently, opponents have analyzed my game and figured out how to play against me. I feel more effort is needed to combat this.”

Working out the best way to beat Momota is one thing; putting it into practice is another. The Japanese athlete has a fine record against the world’s best, particularly over the past couple of years. As a youngster, he was touted as a future great, though skeptics felt his laid-back attitude could hold him back. Now more focused than ever, he appears destined to fulfill that early promise.

“I started playing badminton when I was in the first grade at elementary school,” recalls Momota. “My sister played it and before realizing I was doing the same. In the sixth grade, I participated in the All Japan Elementary School Championships. If I hadn’t won that I would have switched to baseball, but I did win so decided to carry on. At junior high school, I began

to think that I could have a talent for badminton.”

While at high school, Momota competed at the 2011 World Junior Championships in Taiwan where he won a bronze medal. Twelve months later, at the same tournament held in Japan, he managed to take home the gold. “I was delighted to win my firstever world title,” he says. “The fact that I still felt regret from losing in the semifinals a year earlier made the victory that much sweeter.”

Since then, Momota has achieved much in the sport yet is still remembered for the 2016 scandal that meant he had to miss out on the Rio Olympics. Fortunately, he has an opportunity to put things right on home soil next year.

It won’t be easy. Chinese pair Shi Yuqi and Chen Long are both strong as are Danish duo Viktor Axelsen and Anders Antonsen. From Indonesia, Jonatan Christie, Anthony Ginting and Tommy Sugiarto could all challenge.

Other names to look out for include Taiwan’s Chou Tien-Chen, Korea’s Son Wan-ho, India’s Srikanth Kidambi and Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto.

So who does the 25-year-old world number-one consider his biggest rival?

“Myself,” he says matter-of-factly. “I can only become stronger by overcoming my own weaknesses. I need to work harder so I can give back to those people who’ve supported me. I hope to qualify for the Olympics and play well for them.

It’s my way of showing appreciation.”

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MEET THE 2020 ATHLETES

Words by Matthew Hernon

KIYUNA T

his month we kick off our Meet the 2020 Athletes series, which we’ll be running over the next year in the build-up to the Summer Olympics and Paralympics, set to be held between July and September 2020. First up is karate sensation Ryo Kiyuna.

A three-time world cham- pion and 2017 World Games winner, Ryo Kiyuna has been almost unbeatable for the past six years yet remains a relative unknown in Japan. With karate making its Olympic debut at next year’s Games, it’s a great opportunity for the 29-year-old Okinawan to showcase his amazing array of skills to a much wider audience. Kiyuna competes in the kata division – the demonstrative side of karate, featuring one athlete alone on the mat performing a series of pre-meditated movements.

“I started doing karate when I was around five because my friend did it and I thought it looked cool,” recalls Kiyuna. “I took part in a lot of competitions during my kindergarten and elementary school days, winning some of them. I didn’t think I was particularly good at it or anything, it was just for fun. I played baseball as well for the same reason. When I was in high school I started to think more seriously about the sport. To continue, I knew I would have to aim to be the best in the world. Anything below that wouldn’t be enough.”

Before taking on the world, Kiyuna had to first establish himself domestically. He competed against the

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I don’t Feel NERVOUS . . .

I can’t wait to compete, and I believe I can win

country’s elite karateka while studying English literature at university. After graduating, the then 22-year-old represented Japan for the first time at the 2012 Karate World Championships in Paris, winning a bronze medal. It was a respectable showing, but he wasn’t satis ed. Two years later, appearing in the same competition in Bremen, Kiyuna took home the gold, defeating crowd favorite Ilja Smorguner in the final.

“It’s always an honor to represent my country,” Kiyuna tells TW. “Everyone knows Japan has a strong reputation for karate. Competing domestically to make it on to the international stage is intense so it’s important not to fail when you get there. Winning my first world champion ships was a big moment for me. It felt like all those years of sweat and sacrifice had been worth it. The fact that it had been 12 years since the last Japanese winner in the individual kata division made it extra special.”

For Kiyuna that was just the beginning. He defended the world title two years later in Austria then won it for the third time in Spain last year.

The Okinawan also triumphed in three consecutive Asian Senior Karate Cham-

pionships and took home gold medals at the 2017 World Games and the 2018 Asian Games. Proving that he is human, Kiyuna did lose a match 18 months ago to Spanish rival Damian Quintero in the Karate 1 Premier League. It was his first defeat in the competition since 2012.

At the time of writing, he has won 16 out of the 18 Premier League titles in which he’s appeared. So, how is he able to maintain such a remarkable level of consistency?

“I just work hard and fortunately have a very good environment to practice in,” says Kiyuna. “You need good people around you and that’s what I’ve got. My senior at the dojo is a former world champion and so is my mentor and trainer, Tsuguo Sakumoto. I often work with him from late in the morning until mid-afternoon and then again in the evening after doing some physical training. I was around 13 the first time I met Sakumoto-Sensei. His enthusiasm and passion for the sport was amazing to see. It’s exactly the same today. He was my hero then and still is now. I’m always learning from him.”

Like Kiyuna, Sakumoto also won three consecutive Karate World

Winning my first world champion ships was a big moment for me Championships as well as two World Games in a row and two World Cups, earning himself a place in the Guinness World Records. A legendary figure in the sport, he helped to globalize the Okinawan style of karate known as Ryuei-ryu, which was originally only taught to members of the Nakaima family. The first “outsider” to master the discipline, Sakumoto has passed on his skills and knowledge to many students including nine world champions, two of whom came from outside Japan. The hope now is that Kiyuna will become Sakumoto’s rst-ever student to win an Olympic gold medal.

The campaign to bring karate to the Olympics began with Jacques Delcourt in the 1970s yet didn’t feature in the IOC’s agenda until 2009 when it failed

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to receive the two-thirds majority vote required to be included.

Seven years later came the news that all fans of the sport were waiting for when it was announced that karate along with surfing, climbing, skate boarding, baseball and softball would be added for the 2020 Games in Tokyo.

“A lot of people put a great deal of effort and time into getting us a place at the table, and for that I’m really appreciative,” says Kiyuna. “When I took part in competitions as a youngster, I never imagined that one day there would be a chance to possibly appear at the Olympics. It’s great for the sport and will hopefully lead to an increase in the number of people wanting to give karate a try. For me personally, the aim is to qualify and then go for gold in Tokyo. I don’t feel nervous about it or anything. I can’t wait to compete, and I believe I can win it.”

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There will be eight karate gold medals up for grabs next summer: six in the kumite (fight) competition (with three categories for each sex) and two in the kata event. In the female division of the latter, Japan’s Kiyou Shimizu is the current favorite. Like Kiyuna, she has been the dominant force in the discipline for the past few years, winning four Asian titles, the 2017 World Games, and two consecutive Karate World Championships, though she lost the crown last year to Sandra Sanchez of Spain. As for Kumite, Japan has a number of names to look out for such as Miho Miyahara (-55kg), Ayumi Uekusa and Kayo Someya (both +61kg), Ken Nishimura (-75kg), and Ryutaro Araga (+75kg).

In early September, Japan’s nest will compete against the top karateka on the planet at the penultimate K1 Premier League event of the season which takes

I started doing karate when I was around five years place at the Nippon Budokan in central Tokyo. It will be the final event to be hosted at the historic venue before renovations begin in time for next year’s Games. “The best athletes in the world will be in attendance because everyone will want to see what it’s like performing in the stadium prior to the Olympics and this is the last opportunity,” says Kiyuna.

“I’ve competed there many times so my preparations will be the same as always.

That said, with the Games less than a year away, there will be extra excitement for this event. It’s important that we put on a good show.”

The Karate 1 Premier League event will be held at Nippon Budokan from September 6-8, 2019. More info at premierjapan.tokyo.jp

J Guide to Touring a

JAPANESE AUTOMOBILE PLANT

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apanese-made automobiles are a familiar sight in just about every region of the world. Multiple manufacturers give visitors an insider’s look into how these automobiles are produced. Touring the operation floor where leading-edge technology unfolds is an experience guaranteed to thrill and amaze!

Automobiles embodying creative craftsmanship – such as innovations for drivability and fuel-efficiency – are produced all across the country in Japan.

Introduced here, as one example of the many options available to witness the magic first hand, is Toyota’s plant tour.

Toyota accepts plant tour applications online, from three months to three days in advance. (If you submit a tour request via the online request form, then you will receive a reply email detailing required information.) The facility offering tours is a plant in Toyota

City, Aichi Prefecture, near the company’s corporate headquarters. Transport to the plant is provided by a dedicated bus. A 150 minute tour is offered every weekday (from Monday to Friday), starting at 10:30 am and ending at 1:00 pm.

The first 30 minutes of the tour kicks off at the Toyota Kaikan Museum, where visitors will be introduced to an indepth view of Toyota’s latest technology, pertaining to environment and safety. Exhibited presentations cover Toyota’s automobile craftsmanship, distinguished by its pursuit of high quality under the Toyota Production System, and include displays such as the newest Toyota Lexus model.

Photographs are permitted as long as it is inside the Toyota Kaikan Museum, so bring your camera and capture the special moments. This is an enjoyable destination not only for automobile fans, but for families as well.

From 11:00 am, the tour will head to the plant nearby. Here, visitors are able to witness the actual assembly of an automobile. A must-see aspect

of a Toyota automobile plant is the Toyota Production System (TPS).

This production system, adopted by factories all over the world and studied in research institutions and schools, is renowned as a system that eliminates Muda (Japanese word for “waste”) and generates the highest level of efficiency.

Along the production line, utilized machinery and assembly parts are positioned ready-for-use in each task, and visitors are able to observe firsthand how all the pieces come together

and are transformed into an automobile through the assembly process.

Visitors can observe the assembly process from an array of parts forming a vehicle’s body to the mounting of the engine and tires onto the newly painted automobile. In addition to Toyota’s plant tours, most other Japanese automakers also offer attractive exhibitions and tours in their visitor centers and factories.

So be sure to visit to your favorite automaker’s manufacturing plant for a fascinating tour.

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LEXUS ES 300H

Crowned ‘Best Midsize Luxury Sedan’ at Middle East Car of the Year awards 2019 Pioneering hybrid electric vehicle recognized as finest in its class at prestigious annual award ceremony by panel of 19 independent automotive editors

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exus’ enduring commitment to excellence in engineering, innovation, and driving dynamics has once again been highlighted with a prestigious industry recognition. The brand’s tireless pursuit of emotional design, exceptional comfort and class-leading performance was endorsed recently when the Lexus ES 300h was honored in the ‘Best Midsize Luxury Sedan’ category at the 2019 Middle East Car of the Year (MECOTY) awards, one of the premier annual award ceremonies for the region’s automotive industry, which took 50

interior); emotional appeal and driver satisfaction; handling and drivability; value for money (new purchase and resale); safety and durability; comfort and practicality; performance and capability; environmental friendliness; technological innovation; and regional appeal.

Yugo Miyamoto, Chief Representative of Middle East & Central Asia Representative Office, Toyota Motor Corporation, said: “We are delighted that the Lexus ES 300h has been recognized as ‘Best Midsize Luxury Sedan’ at the sixth annual MECOTY awards. This coveted accolade is testament to the model’s winning combination of brave design and exhilarating performance, which is complemented not only by its luxurious interior, but also its outstanding efficiency and green credentials – highlighting Lexus’ deep-rooted care for and consideration of the future needs of people and society. We extend our gratitude to our customers in the region for their loyal support, which remains an endless source of inspiration in our quest to develop vehicles that create amazing experiences and exceed the expectations of drivers and passengers.”

The 2019 ES 300h is an electrified hybrid model that can be driven entirely by electrical power with zero-fuel consumption and carbon emissions, or through a combination of a petrol engine and two electric motors, depending on the vehicle’s speed and driver behavior. In addition, batteries in the hybrid electric drivetrain are automatically charged by either the petrol engine or when braking and decelerating, eliminating the need to plug in a power cord. The class-leading model enables customers to contribute to a sustainable future with a fuel consumption value of 22.4 km/L, while enjoying the increased driving satisfaction and engagement provided by the ES 300h’s advanced technologies.

The all-new Lexus ES continues the expression of the brand’s design direction and commitment towards crafting vehicles with heightened excitement, emotion, and passion.

The vehicle’s distinct personality is completed by its exquisite interior, which offers an array of advanced features that create a refined cabin experience. These include a 12.3inch enhanced in-vehicle multimedia display, 10.2-inch colored and adjustable head-up display (HUD),

place in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Combining class-leading handling with unparalleled luxury, the Lexus ES 300h was selected for the award by a judging panel made up of 19 independent senior editors from the Middle East and North Africa’s leading automotive publications.

Each nominee was assessed according to a rigorous set of ten criteria including design and quality (exterior and 51

The ES 300h is an electrified hybrid model that can be driven entirely by electrical power with zero-fuel consumption

7-inch color multi-information display (MID) in the gauge cluster, wireless charging system for smartphones, LED ambient illumination, the Lexus Climate Concierge with a 3-zone independent temperature control system, a 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, multi-adjustable power and ventilated front seats, power reclining rear seats, a rear armrest with multioperation panel, and a hands-free power trunk lid.

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The Lexus ES ensures complete peace of mind with Lexus Safety System+, an advanced safety technology package that includes Pre-Collision System (PCS) with pedestrian detection during daylight and certain low-light conditions, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with a new feature called Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), and a two-stage adaptive high beam system (AHS).

In addition, the car offers unparalleled protection for its occupants through a comprehensive array of safety features such as 10 SRS airbags, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Panoramic View Monitor (PVM), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Parking Support Alert (PKSA), Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA), Active Cornering Assist (ACA), and Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), among many others.

Toyota claims two prestigious titles at Middle East Car of the Year awards 2019

Toyota Yaris scooped ‘Best Sub-compact Sedan’ award

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Toyota Camry crowned ‘Best Midsize Sedan’

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nderlining the exceptional quality of its vehicles and their enduring appeal among the region’s drivers, Toyota has once again achieved success at the 2019 Middle East Car of the Year (MECOTY) awards. The Toyota Yaris claimed the title of ‘Best Sub-compact Sedan,’ while the Toyota Camry was crowned ‘Best Midsize Sedan’ at the regional automotive sector’s biggest and most prestigious awards ceremony, which took place in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Now in its sixth edition, the annual MECOTY awards are renowned as the Middle East’s most authoritative industry honors program. The judging panel, which comprised 19 highly respected independent senior editors from leading automotive publications in the region, selected the two vehicles based on a rigorous set of ten criteria including design and quality (exterior and interior); emotional appeal and driver satisfaction; handling and drivability; value for money (new purchase and resale); safety and durability; comfort and practicality; performance and capability; environmental friendliness; technological innovation; and regional appeal.

Yugo Miyamoto, Chief Representative of Middle East & Central Asia Representative Office, Toyota Motor Corporation, said: “We are proud to be recognized again at one of the region’s biggest and most prestigious awards program for the automotive sector. These coveted titles are a true testimonial for the outstanding design and craftsmanship of our Toyota Yaris and Toyota Camry models. The new Yaris delivers great fuel economy, optimal performance, and fun driving experience and also sets fresh benchmarks for compact sedans, while the all-new Camry’s emotional design, refined interior and cutting-edge technology place it at the forefront of the midsize sedan market.”

Miyamoto added: “These awards represent a ringing endorsement of our approach to building class-leading vehicles that exceed the expectations of our customers, whose loyal support remains at the heart of Toyota’s ongoing success story. We would like to thank them for continually inspiring us on every step of our journey to develop ever-better cars.”

The Toyota Yaris was launched in the region in February last year with a choice of 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter engines and is available with a Multidrive 7S transmission to offer a smooth driving experience and outstanding fuel efficiency. Designed to appeal to those who seek out the latest trends and innovations, the Yaris’ stylish exterior and spacious cabin couple superior comfort with uncompromising levels of quality and durability.

Meanwhile, the Toyota Camry sets new standards for the midsize sedan segment in design, performance, and comfort. The all-new Camry was launched in January 2018 and has created a whole new value proposition while ensuring seamless fun and excitement for drivers and passengers alike. The vehicle delivers superior handling and comes with three powertrain options; a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, a 3.5-liter V6 mated to an eightspeed automatic transmission; and a new electrified hybrid system that

The new Yaris delivers great fuel economy, optimal performance

combines a petrol engine with two electric motors and exemplifies Toyota’s continuous commitment to providing environmentally friendly vehicles.

The Camry’s refined interior features a distinctive design that provides comfort and convenience with an additional layer of luxury. In addition, the vehicle incorporates several cutting-edge technologies that offer an interesting and interactive driving experience and provide customers with the opportunity to explore new levels of power and entertainment through the latest technologies in its cars.

As with all Toyota models, safety remains a top priority for the Yaris and the Camry. Both vehicles come with a comprehensive array of advanced safety features to provide unparalleled protection for drivers and their passengers, including SRS airbags, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), and enhanced body and platform structures, among many others.

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AMAZING CAR MADE FROM WOOD DRIVES CARBON-FREE FUTURE AT

TOKYO MOTOR SHOW 2019

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isitors to the Tokyo Motor Show 2019 are getting a glitzy look at a future of mobility driven by an eco-conscious, and while many of the major manufacturers are going electric one project is taking a different approach to greener motoring with a car made out of wood.

At the booth of the Ministry of the Environment visitors to the 46th Tokyo Motor Show can see the spectacular and sporty Nano Cellulose Vehicle (NCV), the fruit of a project headed up by a team at Kyoto University that aims to reduce

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the weight of cars in order to achieve a reduction of CO2 emissions.

The project bills the NCV as the “ultimate zero CO2 material vehicle� for which a number of body and interior parts are made from cellulose nanofibers (CNF) -- a next-generation material onefifth the weight of steel and five times stronger, according to the project team.

Derived from plants and trees cellulose nanofibers are typically made by first pulping wood and then fibrillating this to nano levels to make nanofibers which are mixed into a resin

to give it increased strength.

A total of 13 parts of the vehicle on display at TMS 2019 are made using the next-generation material, including the bonnet, which is made from CNF only.

The NCV Project was launched in October 2016 with 22 organizations, including universities in Japan, research institutes and automotive manufacturers, working under the leadership of a team at Kyoto University to reduce CO2 emissions from vehicles by making the vehicles lighter at the same time as maintaining their strength.

The project aims to achieve by 2020 a 10-percent reduction in weight which is calculated to result in a reduction of CO2 emissions by a total of 2,000 kg (equivalent to the annual household CO2 emissions of one person in Japan) throughout a vehicle’s lifecycle -- from production of parts to their disposal.

The project was giving an early public airing at environment and energy exhibit EcoPro 2016 held at Tokyo Big Sight in December that year.

“Around 20% of the greenhouse gases, or GHGs, currently being emitted domestically in Japan comes from the transport sector. To realize a carbonfree society after The Paris Agreement there is a need to massively reduce the emission of GHGs. But this requires bold technological innovation,” says Hirofumi Aizawa, the director of the Climate Change Projects Office at the government’s environment ministry,

during a video promotion for the project.

The people behind the project would appear to be looking in the right direction for solutions.

With 70 percent of Japan being forested, two thirds of this planted including with Japanese cedar and Japanese cypress trees, some 15 million tons of CNF can be derived from Japan’s trees, according to NCV Project Sub Leader, Hiroyuki Yano of Kyoto University.

No shortage of the materials needed to build this particular future of mobility, then. However, while those in Japan who suffer from kafunsho hay fever might be happy to see Japan’s cedar and cypress trees manifest as a carbon-neutral sports car rather than irritable eyes and a runny nose, costs and supply chain remain issues facing the NCV, according to the project team.

For the time being then the NCV

Project car can be viewed at the Tokyo Motor Show 2019 at the Ministry of the Environment booth in the show’s Aomi Exhibition Hall.

As well the NCV Project the ministry is using its booth at TMS 2019 to showcase “Cool Choice,” the ministry’s initiative to encourage the general public to make smarter choices related to products, services and lifestyle that can contribute to countermeasures against global warming.

The initiative was launched on the back of the government’s Plan for Global Warming Countermeasures decided on by the Cabinet in May, 2016. Based on the terms of the 2015 Paris Agreement the Japanese government has set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent in 2030, compared to those in fiscal 2013.

Tokyo Motor Show 2019 runs until November 4 at Tokyo Big Sight in the capital’s Koto ward.

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Concept models open eyes to electric future

Tokyo Motor Show 2019

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e would be tempted to revert to headline cliche and say that Tokyo Motor Show 2019 roared into the Japanese capital on Wednesday at the Tokyo Big Sight venue, but perhaps quiet hum would be a more accurate description.

When Daimler Mercedes-Benz R&D Advanced Design Senior Manager, Holger Hutzenlaub introduced the Vision EQS concept to a braying press on the 46th Tokyo Motor Show’s opening morning the sleek bit of kit was barely audible as it sneaked out from stage left.

“This is our vision of sustainable, modern luxury. A full electric luxury saloon for the 21st century,” said Hutzenlaub as the Vision EQS sat quietly in the shadows.

“We believe modern luxury does not mean opulence, but reduction to the essentials.”

(Daimler Mercedes-Benz R&D Advanced Design Senior Manager, Holger Hutzenlaub introduces the Vision EQS concept at Tokyo Motor Show 2019) Including a reduction of sound then, although for the purposes of Tokyo Motor Show 2019 the guttural engine roar appears to have been replaced by drum roles, thumping dance beats, and movie-style scores as the event’s marquee car manufacturers lay on the pomp and finery to draw camera lenses toward the future of motoring lest it quietly sneak by without anyone noticing.

While TMS has always been about the future, event organizers the Japan Automobile

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Manufacturers Association, Inc. (JAMA) have this year expanded the theme of the show beyond the future of mobility to that which will allow visitors to bask in the “exciting future of society as a whole,” according to a pre-show statement.

“Wherever you go, you’ll see visions of the future inspired by the possibilities of mobility,” say the organizers of this year’s show theme, “Open Future.”

Perhaps the theme at the 46th Tokyo Motor Show then reflects the efforts of, and the emission of appeals from, an industry under pressure to get inline with expectations regarding more (meaning less) harmful emissions - to fit in with society rather than pollute it with noise and carbon all the for the sake of testosterone-fueled motoring muscle.

And the car makers are laying on the appeals.

Toyota for one is aiming to have electric vehicles account for over half of its global sales by around 2025.

At a press briefing on Wednesday, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. President and CEO Takahiro Hachigo told reporters of the manufacturer’s plans to “further accelerate its initiative to electrify twothirds of its global automobile sales by 2030.”

(Honda Motor Co., Ltd. President and CEO Takahiro Hachigo addresses the media at Tokyo Motor Show 2019) There’s even a car on display at Tokyo Motor Show 2019 sporting a sleek, go-faster body made from wood.

Perhaps the most environmentallyfriendly motors at Tokyo Motor Show though are the concept models 60

boasting of the latest in green motoring tech and harbouring of the blunt truth that they’re yet to hit the open road, if they ever will.

The mobility bit is something for the future then. For the here and now the concept models sit stationary on center stage at Tokyo Motor Show.

These are the A-listers though -- what we’ve all come to see and what the manufacturers have come to flaunt. In a sea of pot-bellied, middle-aged blokes from Germany pouring over family hatchbacks and booth staff that look like a special effect prop from Blade Runner, the concept models bring the sex, the flirtatious lines and exotic shapes, the stuff that dreams are made of. These are the concept models that caught our eye at Tokyo Motor Show 2019

Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS

Still, the German giants help us to get over the lack with what is perhaps the most heart-stopping of the concepts on show at TMS, and not least of all because it looks like something real at the same time as being uber cool.

Four-wheeled-drive and a 350 kW output give the EQS the performance of a supercar, capable of 0 - 100 kmph in 4.5 s. It has a range of 700 km and it takes only around 20 mins to charge to 80 percent.

The integration of light seems to be a key design feature of the Vision EQS with a 360 degree external light belt, digital LED matrix grill, and holographic lens modules in the headlamps allowing interaction between vehicle and its surroundings. Oh, and those same headlamps give off a cool 3D effect.

The interior features crystal white upholstery and a roof fabric made, in part, from plastic ocean waste.

“Design must set new standards,” Hutzenlaub told press. “That’s why we are also breaking new ground with the Vision EQS.”

LEXUS LF-30 Electrified Concept

Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz is the only major luxury car manufacturer at Tokyo Motor Show 2019 with the likes of BMW AG and Audi AG giving the biennial event a miss this time around.

The LEXUS Senses Theater booth at the Tokyo Motor Show looks a little beige

to be making promises of a sensory experience but there can be little doubt that on press day the briefing from the luxury vehicle division of Toyota was among the most crowded.

And the scene that unfolded around the world premiere of the LEXUS LF-30 Electrified Concept even more so, with staff struggling to control the feverish pack of photographers.

During the press briefing Lexus International President Yoshihiro Sawa recalled a shocking incident for the manufacturer.

“It was in 2011 at Pebble Beach when we first showcased the all-new GS. One journalist commented “Lexus is boring brand.” The comment shocked

each model in their line-up.

Toyota’s semi-autonomous concept.

TOYOTA e-RACER

Mitsubishi Motors SUV MITECH CONCEPT

Toyota President Akio Toyoda told members of the press on Wednesday that what he wanted to talk about is not cars, but people.

He appeared to be referring to the fact that the booth from the Japanese car manufacturing giant didn’t really feature any, well, cars. At least not in the sense of, ‘here’s a model that you can drive from sometime in the next few weeks.’

Instead Toyota’s booth at the Tokyo Motor Show focuses on a bits of kit that provide both mobility and service. The e-Palette, for example.

Still, after the presentation it was a case of people talking about and drooling over Toyota’s e-RACER.

Tokyo Motor Show 2019 brings with it the world premiere of Mitsubishi Motors’ electrified SUV MI-TECH CONCEPT -- a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that features a fourmotor electric 4WD system packed into the “small-size” SUV. Visitors to the Mitsubishi Motors booth at TMS 2019 can sample the world of MI-TECH courtesy of a VR experience.

Honda e

Akio Toyoda (president of Toyota Motor Corporation) so much that he swore “we will never let anyone say Lexus is boring again.”

The LF-30 looks anything but boring.

It looks like the future, the one that the The Honda e, an urban commuter,

creatives behind Tron were getting at.

gets a first unveiling in Japan at the

Well, it might be here in the form of this battery electric vehicle (BEV) which makes use of a new technology that the people at Lexus are calling “Lexus Advanced Posture Control,” integrating the

“pinnacle

of

electrification

technologies and movement control technologies that Lexus has been developing,” according to Sawa.

Lexus plans to begin sales of EV models in 2020. By 2025 the maker expects to offer an electrified variant of

While the connection made during the Toyota presentation between the e-RACER and a “beloved horse” appeared a little tenuous perhaps what Toyoda was trying to say is that where machines like the e-Palette might be all about the service and function, the future will still save room for a kind of mid-life-crisispanic-buy such as the e-RACER -- the beloved horse as opposed to a reliable mule.

Right now though, it remains

Tokyo Motor Show 2019 ahead of planned sales in the country in 2020.

“Honda e is a dedicated EV model developed based on our vision of what cars should look like 10 years from now,” said Honda Motor Co., Ltd. President and CEO Takahiro Hachigo at the press briefing.

The future looks simple, clean and with no-frills then, apart from the AI and voice-recognition functions.

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Suzuki PHEV WAKU Sports & Self-Driving Mobile Room HANARE

Perhaps what Suzuki is doing with their “waku waku” theme is trying to take something of the gobby thuggery of a Jeremy Clarkson out of the motor industry.

“Waku waku” is a Japanese term for “excitement” which comes with it a certain amount of kids-TV-character cute. In short, it’s a term that is unlikely to roll easily from the tongue of middleaged, leather-driving-glove-wearing petrol heads.

Good then, because there’s little in the way of roaring engine, but plenty of cute, with Suzuki’s Personal Compact PHEV WAKU Sports. The main feature here is a “waku waku switch” which at the push of a button sees the WAKU Sports transform from a coupe into a wagon.

We’re not really sure what Suzuki’s Self-Driving Mobile Room HANARE is so we’ll just have to go with the introduction given to it by the Tokyo Motor Show organizers -- “an autonomous mobile room without steering that will run in the completely autonomous world of ‘level-five’ self-driving vehicles.”

Watching the door open is cool though, and it looks every bit its 2040 62

forecasted future.

Daihatsu WaiWai & WakuWaku

The WaiWai is one of four concept cars from Daihatsu given a world premiere at the Tokyo Motor Show 2019.

In Japanese “wai wai” serves as a kind of cute exclamation of joy. An effete “Yay!” if you will.

And we’re going “Yay!” at the sight of this compact minivan which comes with six seats in three rows, and a folding open roof.

In another generator of “excitement” at Tokyo Motor Show, the Daihatsu WakuWaku looks like the perfect fit for the weekend outdoor enthusiast with a cool and spacious interior and enough doors to cram all the extreme sports gear through. Comes with under-theroof storage.

Nissan IMk

There’s a trend at Tokyo Motor Show 2019 toward city, short-distance, commuter

cars and one of the most eye-pleasing of these is Nisssan’s IMk which was revealed at this the 46th edition of TMS. Boxy (as the Japanese seem to like these things) but pretty slick and stylish, this five-door motor keeps things compact being of the kei-car grade. And really, why would you need anything more than a “k” to navigate your way through Japan’s tight, busy urban streets?

The IMk comes with drivingassist tech that isn’t limited to use on expressways.

UD Trucks Quon Concept 202X

A large swathe of Tokyo Motor Show’s Aomi Exhibition Hall A is given over to booth showcasing trucks.

The booth from Japan-based UD Trucks features a world premiere of the Quon Concept 202X -- weighing in at 25,000 kg this is the “heavy-duty truck of the future,” according to the manufacturer.

The 46th Tokyo Motor Show 2019 is open to the general public from Friday October 25 through Monday November 4.

Venues: Tokyo Big Sight (Aomi Hall, West and South Exhibition Halls, MEGA WEB, Symbol Promenade Park, and Drive (adjacent to Tokyo Fashion Town (TFT) Building) **The bulk of the exhibitions at Tokyo Motor Show 2019 center on Tokyo Big Sight in the capital’s Koto ward.

While the Aomi Exhibition Hall is part of Tokyo Big Sight, it’s a good 1.5 km walk from the main convention center.

Tickets (general public days) Adults 2,000 yen on the door / 1,800 in advance

are

we are Japanese luxury

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t Mazda, we know that state-of-the-art technologies alone do not make drivers “Celebrate Driving” unless those technologies are designed for the driver, with a deep understanding of the driver’s physical characteristics and behavior. That’s why Mazda is aggressively investing all of its technological and engineering expertise in a place that connects the

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driver with their car. For us, “Celebrate Driving” starts from a driving position engineered by our human-centric approach to car development.

SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY Mazda believes there is scope for cars to evolve further, in a way that takes the joy of driving to a new level and combines it with outstanding environmental and safety performance. Our mission

is to achieve the best possible level of fundamental performance and further the evolution of the car. That will be Mazda’s contribution to making the world a better place.

MAZDA CONNECT The next-generation human-machine interface Mazda Connect makes driving a more enjoyable experience by equipping the car with the functions of a communication tool, while also ensuring a safe driving environment.

KODO: SOUL OF MOTION Breathing life into the car, that’s Mazda’s design philosophy. A car isn’t simply a mass of metal. Mazda believes it’s more like a living creature. Creating an emotional bond between a driver and their car is comparable with the relationship between horse and rider.

That’s the ultimate goal of Mazda’s Kodo “Soul of motion” design.

MAZDA’S ‘SOUL OF MOTION’ DESIGN EMBODIES THE DYNAMIC BEAUTY OF LIFE The power and elegance of a wild animal in the instant when it pounces on its prey. That’s the essence of the ultimate Motion Form envisioned

by Mazda. We want a car to be more than metal; something that exudes the vitality of a living being. Cars which evoke the tension that presages movement, imbued with the warmth of a creature with a beating heart and blood in its veins. That’s the inspiration behind the “Soul of Motion” design.

‘JINBA-ITTAI’: A SENSE OF ONENESS WITH THE CAR COMES FROM ENGINEERS’ HANDS Engine and transmission are the most important automotive parts.

Engines that power Mazda vehicles are assembled by hand at the Ujina

Plant. Why? Because we believe that outstanding quality can only be achieved by combining “human sensibilities” and “technological excellence”. Mazda’s another key production facility, the Hofu Plant, is where transmissions are produced.

Every transmission is cast by a group of expert engineers. Melting aluminum at 700+ degrees Celsius and filling molds at the world’s fastest speed, the engineers battle high heat and compete against speed. The finished transmission is given the Mazda emblem which is a sign of in-house production. Mazda even makes its own molds, because we know that getting details exactly right in the production process results in a car that is responsive, truly fun-to-drive and delivers “Jinba-Ittai” driving feel – a sense of oneness with the car.

We are engineers…

We are designers…

We are drivers…

We are Mazda 65

Everyday

Tokyo Is Packed With Entertainment

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raditions, food, art, and fashion — all of these diverse aspects of culture issue forth from Tokyo. In particular, the area around Toshima City’s Ikebukuro Station, one of Tokyo’s commercial districts, is known as Drama Town thanks to the liberal sprinkling of theaters. Toshima City has been chosen as the Cultural City of East Asia for 2019, and, in its role as a city that strives for development driven by the arts and culture in Japan, China, and Korea, has a wide range of cultural and arts events planned.

All of Toshima City is special, but one place we particularly recommend is the area around the Sugamo and Otsuka Stations. In this unusual town, traditional lifestyles linger to rub shoulders with modern culture. As you wander the streets, you are sure to discover a myriad of charms.

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Wander a shopping street that retains the atmosphere of Tokyo’s traditional neighborhoods

each month are fair days. On these days, food stalls and variety goods stalls line the grounds of Kogan-ji Temple and the shopping center, and visitors are sure to find themselves enjoying the traditional Japanese festival atmosphere.

A five-minute walk from Sugamo Station, lies the Sugamojizo-dori Shopping Center where the hospitable spirit of the local residents shines through. You’re bound to get a sense of that traditional residential and commercial area’s atmosphere in amongst the rows of highly-original owner-operated stores not found anywhere else in Tokyo. One of Sugamo’s local specialties is shio daifuku.

The shopping center is home to a number of long-established Japanesestyle confectionary stores, including Iseya, Mizuno, and Sugamoen, each proud of the shio daifuku they sell.

“What makes our shio daifuku unique is the firm texture of the mochi pounded by mallet each morning, and the adzuki bean paste salted to perfection with a hint of sweetness. The flavor of the shio daifuku differs from store to store, so please find a flavor that suits you,” says Iseya’s proprietress.

As you approach the middle of the shopping center, take a moment to visit the Togenuki Jizo at Kogan-ji Temple. It is said that sometimes the head priest will even give visitors a guided tour, explaining the rich history of the temple in fluent English. Perhaps try making inquiries at the temple office.

When you are tired of wandering, pause to catch your breath at Kakigori Atelier Sekka. This store sells featherlight, melt-in-your mouth kakigori, shaved from blocks of ice from groundwater reserves under Mt Fuji.

All of their syrups are made to original recipes, and include delicious flavors that can be enjoyed year-round, such as “Strawberry Milk,” which condenses the umami of Japanese-grown strawberries, and “Matcha” with the rich flavor of tea grown in the green tea mecca of Shizuoka Prefecture.

At Sugamojizo-dori Shopping Center, the 4th, 14th, and 24th day of

Riding the tram through the town is all part of the fun The shopping center is about 800 m long. Once you leave the Sugamojizodori Shopping Center, Koshinzuka Station (Toden Arakawa Line) comes into view. Climb aboard the single-car train and make your way to Otsuka Station. The views from the windows as the train passes through the residential area will give you a sense of day-to-day life in Japan.

Enjoy communicating with the local residents in Otsuka When you alight at Otsuka Station, head to Hoshino Resorts OMO5 Tokyo Otsuka. This hotel is run by Hoshino 67

Resorts, a company with a range of ryokan (traditional Japanese-style inns) and hotels in Japan and overseas. One aspect in particular is worth mentioning — the unique services they offer to guests as part of their “enjoy your neighborhood” concept. One of these services is the “Guided Neighborhood Tour Led by OMO Rangers”, a group made

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up of the hotel staff. These OMO rangers will take you to restaurants frequented by locals, show you recommended walking courses, and otherwise be your attentive and friendly guides to the town of Otsuka.

At night, try hitting Tokyo Otsuka Norengai, a group of 11 restaurants housed in several renovated kominka

(old Japanese-style houses). Sushi, kushiyaki, pot stickers, izakaya pub cuisine — the food covers a lot of genres and every restaurant is delicious. Since you’ve come all this way, we hope you’ll try the crawl that makes its way around a number of the restaurants.

When visiting the Sugamo and Otsuka areas, be sure to check Toshima City’s official website, Plus 1Day in IKEBUKURO. In addition to Sugamo and Otsuka introduced here, this site offers detailed information on sightseeing spots and events around the Ikebukuro area. It’s sure to make you want to spend your extra day in Tokyo in Toshima City.

At Azumami, we reinvent the Japanese experience with a modern take on the traditional cuisine. 我々は再 発 明します 日本の経 験 www.azumami.com @azumami_sushi Dar Al-Awadhi, Ahmad Aljaber St. Sharq. Level B1 Online orders through www.talabat.com

Spicy Salmon Sushi

Some of our Favorites

Signature Fusion Dishes

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California Roll カリフォルニア

Salmon Feta Sushi 鮭

Green Tea Tiramisu ティラミス

Cassawa マキ

Quinoa Chirashi キノア

Mushroom Rice 米

Online orders through www.talabat.com

Azu Chirashi ちらし

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Hamachi Carpaccio ハマチ

Shaikh Hamoud Special 特別

Food Expenses for Travel in Japan

Meals and Budget Tips The Average Cost of Meals in Japan

W

hen traveling to another country, most people will want to know just how much regular meals cost at their destination. If there’s a dish you want to try out, but it’s too expensive for your planned budget, what a shame that would be! Food expenses depend on where you eat, so it is a good idea to be aware of prices before you start travels. Continue reading to learn food prices and what types of meals are suitable when traveling on a budget.

Meal Options and Average Prices in Japan

Convenience Store Meal Prices Learn about the prices of food in Japan for convenience store food, and dishes like sushi, ramen, and fast food. This article introduces how much an average meal costs while traveling, 1,000 yen-meals, and how to save more money on dining.

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There are many restaurants in Japan, but even more closely connected to the daily lives of the Japanese people are the convenience stores, or “conbini”. The most common chains are Seven Eleven, Family Mart, and Lawson. Most are open 24 hours, so you can stop in and grab something whenever you are feeling hungry. Many food products will also have English on them, and most employees will have some foreign language ability (especially in Tokyo, Osaka, and large cities).

Convenience stores sell a plethora of meals, snacks, and beverages. You will find onigiri (rice balls), sandwiches, baked goods, bento (boxed lunches), Japanese pasta, udon, salad, and a variety of snack and sweets options. Convenience stores also have hot meals such as karaage (Japanese fried chicken), steamed buns, and oden (stewed fish and vegetables).

Japanese Wagyu Beef and Teppanyaki

You can expect to pay around 400 to 600 yen in total for a convenience store meal. Even if you purchase several items or have a travel partner, the total will be about 1,000 yen. With a wide variety of options, convenience stores are handy for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, so be sure to stop by for an inexpensive meal.

Ramen Prices There are thousands of ramen restaurants and shops in Japan, from nationwide chains like Ichiran to higherend ramen restaurants, to tiny, ownerrun shops where diners eat standing up.

Ramen is a casual meal in Japan and is priced usually around 600-1,200 yen per bowl. If you add extra toppings, a side dish, and a drink, like beer, you will still likely pay no more than 2,000 yen.

The price of ramen differs by type and, as mentioned above, adding toppings like barbecue meat, eggs, or green onions, will increase the bill.

Specialty ramen, like vegetarian and vegan options or gluten-free dishes, tend to cost around 1,000 yen without

modifications. A bowl of ramen will satisfy most diners, but if you are especially hungry, it is typical to order a side of gyoza or rice to accompany the ramen. Many restaurants also offer a replacement serving of noodles for 100 or 200 yen.

Sushi Prices - Casual and High-end Options If you’re traveling to Japan, eating sushi is a must. The availability of delicious, high-quality sushi is incomparable to the sushi offered abroad. Diners can choose from traditional sushi bars with course meals to a casual conveyor belt restaurant where you can order from an electronic tablet. A sushi meal will cost anywhere from 2,000 yen to 10,000 yen per person, but it depends on the restaurant you go to and when you eat.

For example, lunch at a sushi restaurant will usually be around 2,000 to 3,000 yen for a set consisting of different sashimi and rolled sushi. If you dine in the evening, dinner will be approximately 5,000 to 10,000 yen. The lowest-cost option is going to conveyorbelt sushi, or kaiten zushi, which will cost anywhere from 1,000 to 2,500 yen per person for lunch or dinner. Typical beverages enjoyed with sushi will be priced between 400 to 1,000 yen.

Head to a yakiniku or teppanyaki restaurant for Japanese beef (wagyu), grilled food like okonomiyaki, or a hearty meal with drinks. At most yakiniku restaurants, you first decide the meat of your choice and cook it on the grill before you. The price you pay depends on the type of meat and volume you choose, but it will likely be around 2,000 to 4,000 yen per meal per person. Prices for dinner are a little bit more expensive, ranging from 6,000 to 10,000 yen.

Teppanyaki is food cooked on an iron griddle (“teppan” in Japanese).

Teppanyaki restaurants will sometimes have meat to grill. Most have dishes like okonomiyaki (savory pancake from the Kansai region), monjayaki (a savory pancake-like dish common in Tokyo), and yakisoba on the menu. You will also find seafood at times. When ordering a la carte, you can expect to pay between 600 and 1,000 yen per item. Some restaurants will cook the food for you, but at most restaurants, you will do the cooking for yourself.

Izakaya Izakaya are Japanese pubs which offer side dishes. Frequented by office workers on weekday nights and friend groups on weekends, izakaya are very popular evening spots. When at an izakaya, it’s typical to order several side dishes, or otsumami. Otsumami dishes are usually 300 to 600 yen. Yakitori (grilled chicken on skewers), fried food, sashimi, and vegetable side dishes like edamame are on a typical izakaya menu.

Expect to pay 2,000 yen or over for food and drinks at an izakaya.

Nationwide chains, like Torikizoku offers most of its items for 298 yen each and is a very reasonable option for those who want to save yen. Wamin is another common izakaya and offers fair prices on drinks and fare.

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red bean paste pies. Keep an eye out for these regional foods to enjoy the experience more.

Family Restaurants

Japanese and Western Fast Food Prices Fast food is another option for dining out in Japan. Diners can choose from chains like Matsuya offering rice bowls, Japanese-meets-Western burgers at Mos Burger, and international restaurants like McDonald’s and Burger King. These restaurants are casual, have international customer-friendly menus, and cost less than 1,000 yen per meal.

Japanese Fast Food Gyudon and Teishoku Gyudon (beef bowl) is considered fast food in Japan. You can try it at Yoshinoya, Matsuya, and Sukiya restaurants located throughout the country. Gyudon is a rice bowl dish topped with salty and sweet beef slices, flavored with soy sauce and sugar. Prices range by restaurant and location, but a typical bowl costs around 400 yen. You can change the portion size too - a small size is usually 300 yen, and a large will be around 500 yen. If you add miso soup or a side dish, it will be around 100 yen extra.

These chains are often open in the early morning and operate until past midnight, so they 74

are very convenient for breakfast or a late-night meal after a night out. Another casual option are set meals known as teishoku. Teishoku are set meals served with a main dish (usually meat or fish) with rice, miso soup, and other side dishes like a salad. A set meal costs around 800 to 1,000 yen, so it is a slightly more expensive choice than the rice bowls mentioned above. Recommended restaurants include Yayoi and Ootoya with locations throughout Japan. There are also many individually-owned teishoku shops where you can try food with a home-cooked flavor.

Western-style Fast Food As mentioned above, Japan is home to hundreds of fast food establishments with western-style options. The most common are McDonald’s, Burger King, Lotteria, and Mos Burger for hamburgers.

Another popular restaurant is KFC. Prices vary by restaurant, but McDonald’s is generally the cheapest option.

Another thing to note is that the menus of Japanese-located restaurants vary significantly from other countries. For example, McDonald’s regularly comes out with seasonal items with a Japanese twist, like teriyaki burgers and

In Japan, there are various relatively low-priced restaurants known as “family restaurants”. This term is used as these restaurants provide an environment that is easy for families with children to frequent. Well-known family restaurants in Japan include Saizeriya, Gusto, Denny’s and Joyfull. A meal at one of these restaurants will cost around 1,000 yen in total per person.

Saizeriya offers mostly Italianstyle dishes, like pasta and Japanese pizza. Gusto, Denny’s and other family restaurants in Japan serve western dishes like Salisbury steak, fried shrimp, salad, and soup. You can also find desserts, like parfaits and cakes. Most a la carte dishes cost between 600 and 800 yen. If you add rice, bread, or a bowl of soup to it, your total should be about 1,000 yen. Diners wanting to spend a while at the restaurant also often add a “drink bar” option, which includes unlimited tea, coffee, and soft drinks for around 300 to 400 yen.

Average Food Expense for a Day in Japan You can enjoy much of Japan’s rich food culture for around 1,000 yen per meal. If you have at least 3,000 yen per day to spend on food, you will have enough to eat in terms of volume and taste. Food costs depend on the restaurants you visit - plan to decide when to splurge on a highend sushi or yakiniku restaurant, and where you can save with going to the convenience store.

WASABI Playing a small yet famously spicy role in Japanese cuisine

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t would be hard to imagine sashimi or nigiri-zushi without wasabi. Wasabi dissolves in soy sauce to make a zesty dip for sashimi slices of raw fish, and gives a nice bite when spread thin between the sushi rice and the nigirizushi fish.

Its sharp edge kindles up the nasal passages, takes away the fishy smell, and brings out the flavor.

Wasabi comes from a plant native to Japan. A perennial in the mustard family, in science it goes by the name Wasabia japonica. It is mentioned in Japanese

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literature as far back as the 10th century.

The underground stem is finely grated to make a paste that has a distinctively zesty bite. One of the ingredients, allyl mustard oil, has antibacterial properties which keep food freshness. In addition to the stem, the leaf stalks and leaves can also be eaten, generally in pickled form.

Whether growing in the wild beside mountain streams or cultivated in narrow valleys, the wasabi plant needs sparklingly pure, running water.

Certain locations in Fuji’s foothills are known for growing it, like a wasabi farm

Wasabi comes from a plant native to Japan. A perennial in the mustard family, in science it goes by the name Wasabia japonica. in Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture, where underground water wells up in numerous springs, creating a naturally hydroponic environment. The nearby Shiba River, fed by springs on Mount Fuji, is swollen and flows so fast that its spray fogs the air. The mountain itself has no rivers, ponds or lakes, but rainwater and melted snow get filtered for a long time underground, finally bubbling up at lower elevations. That water ends up in rivers and lakes.

Water from Mount Fuji is rich in minerals, “and that’s ideal for wasabi plants,” says Kinezuka Mami of the farm.

Their plants are bedded in sandy soil with a mix of gravel from the mountain.

The temperature of the water coming from underground remains constant, between 10 and 11°C throughout the year. The plants require around 18 to 24 months before their white flowers bloom, showing that the underground

stems are big enough to harvest. This farm uses staggered planting so the stems can be harvested year-round.

The important thing is to keep the water at a constant temperature and at a steady flow. Anything that impedes the flow, like litter or waterweeds, has to be removed without fail. The rivers become muddy after a heavy rain and this could cause discoloration, so the workers have to manage the situation and of course limit inflow. “Our water and gravel— they both come from Mount Fuji,” says Kinezuka. “Thanks to Fuji, we produce really tasty wasabi.”

Wasabi commands a high price, so substitutes based on horseradish are often used today. But they cannot achieve the refreshing bite that is special to wasabi. Taking advantage of Japan’s water-rich topography and climate, wasabi plays an impressive supporting role in Japanese cuisine.

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Toyosu Market and Tsukiji

Outside Market, Hubs of Japan’s Food Culture

Safely watch impassioned trades take place right before your eyes 78

I

he Toyosu Market is the distribution hub for fresh food to and from every part of Japan. This function was served by the Tsukiji Market for 83 years before ageing facilities and other factors caused it to be moved here and

reopened in this new public facility in 2018. The new location is also designed to give regular tourists the opportunity to experience the trading up close.

The Toyosu Market is made up of four separate buildings.

One is the Fisheries Wholesale Market Building, a popular spot to watch the tuna auctions; one is the Fisheries Intermediate Wholesale Market Building, where local fish retailers and sushi shops get their seafood; one is the Fruit and Vegetables Building for trading produce, and one is the Management Facilities Building. Visitors can travel freely between them via a series of walkways, and observation corridors are set up on the second floor of each one. From there, you can watch the trading take place below.

The crowning jewel of the market is getting to see the tuna auctions. Seeing the traders evaluate the rows and rows of fish with stern looks on their faces and then launch into action as soon as the bell sounds in a quick, dynamic, no-nonsense battle for the best price is truly a memorable experience. The electricity in the air is palpable. You are free to watch the tuna auctions from the second-floor corridor, but you can also enter the lottery ahead of time for reservations for the first-floor deck of the Fisheries Wholesale Market Building for an even closer vantage point. Tickets are

Toyosu Market is also set up with shops and sales aimed at

available for ten-minute timeslots between 5:45 am and 6:15

everyday visitors. The Uogashi Yokocho area on the fourth

am, and can be applied for online.

floor of the Fisheries Intermediate Wholesale Market Building

Both the Fruit and Vegetables Building and the Fisheries

has nearly seventy specialty shops where food professionals

Intermediate Wholesale Market Building have second-floor

who frequent the market shop. You’ll find everything from

observation corridors where you can watch the trading as

food stores specializing in seasonings, dried fish flakes,

well. Because these are professional specialty arenas not

pickles, and Japanese omelets to knife and cooking utensil

designed for tourists, visitors are not allowed to enter the

stores, pharmacies, and more. Seeing this extensive lineup of

first-floor transaction areas.

everything professionals might want makes for a fascinating experience for visitors as well.

Don’t miss Toyosu’s fascinating professional wholesaler tool shops and market cuisine

delicious cuisine made with only the freshest market

In addition to facilities for industry professionals, the

floor of the Fisheries Intermediate Wholesale Market Building,

There are also countless eateries where you can enjoy ingredients. In addition to the 22 restaurants on the third

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there are an additional twelve in the Management Facilities

bustling shopping district.

Building and three in the Fruit and Vegetables Building. Get

Once the inside market was moved to Toyosu, a

your fill of sushi, eel, Chinese food, Western cuisine, and

new hotspot was born: Tsukiji Uogashi. It consists of two

much more. The traders also frequent these restaurants

structures, the Odawara-bashi Building and the Kaiko-bashi

when they’re finished working, so it can get extremely

Building. Each has about sixty shops on their respective first

crowded around lunchtime.

floors that serve as intermediate wholesalers. They sell to

Hours vary at each establishment, but many are open

commercial professionals between 5 am and 9 am in the

early in the morning - making it the perfect place to grab

morning, and to the general public after that - so you can

breakfast or an early lunch. Note that the market is closed

head in and enjoy some shopping yourself.

on Sundays and public holidays, so plan your visit around it.

You’re not allowed to walk around while you’re eating on

There are other market closure days occasionally as well, so be

the first floor at Tsukiji Uogashi for safety reasons, but there’s

sure to visit the website and take note of them before you go.

an event space and rest area set up on the third floor where you can relax and enjoy your food and drinks. There’s also a

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The “outside” scene at Tsukiji is still going strong

food court offering filling favorites for the professionals who

The move to Toyosu signaled the end of 83 years of

meals, fresh sashimi, fried foods, and more. It’s the perfect

history for the Tsukiji Market. But Tsukiji was originally

place to enjoy the delicious flavors that made Tsukiji a

divided up into “inside” and “outside” market areas, and it’s

favorite destination for generations.

frequent Tsukiji - including hearty seafood rice bowls, set

actually only the inside area that has relocated. Some five

Visit Toyosu’s hot new market space, and head to

hundred shops continue to operate in the outside market

Tsukiji for a taste of Japan’s constantly-evolving traditions.

- from specialty grocers offering seafood, meat, seaweed,

Both are central hubs of Tokyo’s food culture, offering a

dried foods, and more to shops selling knives and other

plethora of ingredients and memorable encounters with the

cooking utensils. The heyday of Tsukiji Market lives on in this

professionals who buy and sell them every day.

E

legant. Alluring. Timeless. Kimono have origins that can be traced back over a millennium, and until the last century they were the everyday wear for the majority of Japanese. Now, kimono are more commonly associated with major life events and certain classical arts such as the tea ceremony. However, this ancient garment is experiencing a rebirth in the hands of kimono aficionados around the world. We break down a 10-step guide to its history, design and evolving future

Words by Sarah B. Hodge

1

Things to know about

Kimono

Early kimono were strongly influenced by Chinese gowns.

First introduced during the Nara period (710-794), by the Heian period (794-1185) they were heavily layered (the junihitoe could have up to 15 to 20 layers and weigh up to 20kg) and worn with hakama and a trailing apron called mo.

Later, in the Kamakura period (1185-1333), the kimono had become everyday wear.

2

A single kimono can take months to complete due to the labor-intensive dyeing process. Advanced dyeing and weaving techniques developed during the Edo period (16031868). Noted for its use of vibrant colors, gold embroidery and decoration, Kyoto’s Kyo-yuzen dyeing is most commonly seen on furisode and wedding kimono, while Kanazawa’s Kagayuzen dyeing is prized for its realistic shading using only five colors (kaga-gosai).

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3

The basic design of kimono has remained unchanged for hundreds of years. Cut into eight pieces from a single length of cloth called a tanmono, which measures roughly 0.38 to 0.42 meters wide by 12.5 meters long, the pieces are then folded and sewn together to form the kimono. Kimono can be lined or unlined and the fabric can be silk, wool, hemp, cotton or polyester (also marketed as “washable”). They are worn with an obi, a decorative woven sash that comes in several styles.

4

Kyoto’s Nishijin district is the major producer of Nishijinori, the most expensive and ornate woven fabrics. By the late 1800s, Nishijin textile workshops had introduced European jacquard loom technology. One notable workshop is that of the Kawase family (kawaseman.co.jp), registered traditional kimono designers who have created beautiful kimono and coordinates for almost 200 years. In addition to classical Japanese motifs, the

Kawases designed an award-winning kimono collection featuring artwork by art nouveau pioneer Alphonse Mucha.

5

There are different styles of women’s kimono depending on age and marital status. Like Western fashion, there are numerous criteria for what type of kimono and accessories to wear for a given occasion, known as “TPO for Wafuku” (TPO stands for Time, Place, Occasion). Though they appear simple, wearing a kimono properly requires practice and training, so some women choose to enroll in kimono dressing classes. Furisode are long-sleeved kimono worn by unmarried women, most frequently seen at Coming of Age Day ceremonies in January. During the Meiji era, female university professors and students began to wear hakama, and it is still traditional graduation attire for young women today. The komon (small pattern) was the common everyday kimono worn until the last century. Houmoungi are semi-formal kimono appropriate for dinners, concerts and similar events, while versatile solidcolored iromuji are often worn for the tea ceremony (they can be made more formal by including the family crest). Tomesode is the most formal women’s kimono; black tomesode are worn at weddings by the mother and married female relatives of the bride and groom. Bridal kimono coats (uchikake) can be either solid white or brightly colored, are heavily brocaded, feature a trailing padded hem, and are worn as an outer garment.

The black silk haori features five family crests (mon). While men’s kimono and haori may appear plain, many have elaborately decorated linings. During the Edo period, when men removed their haori or kimono (at public baths,

6

Much simpler in style and accessories, men’s kimono have muted solid colors and a narrow obi, and are frequently worn with a haori jacket.

Unlike women’s kimono, men’s kimono are not adjustable for height. The most formal men’s kimono is the itsutsu montsuki haori hakama, which is worn at Shinto weddings, by performers and artists, and less frequently at Coming of Age Day and graduation ceremonies.

for example) they were able to display their wealth based on how intricate the inner lining was. Modern designers have created men’s kimono and coordinates that are stylish, evolving and innovative, thus updating this ancient attire for the modern era.

A good example of this new trend is Fujikiya in Tokyo: (www.fujikiya-kimono.com).

7

Recently, several companies in Japan have addressed the needs of wheelchair users by offering kimono, yukata and hakama modified for easy wear and comfort. The styles include elasticized zori sandals, twopiece kimono and hakama with Velcro closures, and obi sashes that do not require standing to tie, making kimono accessible for everyone. Two examples of shops offering these are Hanayome 83

Kobo (hagoromostyle.net) and Esprit Robe (espritrobe.com).

8

Kimono are being embraced, embellished and enhanced by kimono aficionados around the world.

The international organization Kimono de Jack (www.kimonojack.com) unites kimono enthusiasts at various meetups and events (local branches can be found online), while Polish designer and illustrator Katarzyna Suchowiak’s Three Magpies Studio (www.3magpiesstudio.com) creates stunning original obi and kimono accessories drawn from Japanese lore and nature (she also accepts custom commissions).

9

In 2018, Globus Washitsu showcased “Modern Samurai,� an exhibition of modern men’s kimono designers, in New York City. Curated by international kimono expert Spree Kingyo, it was the first show of its kind outside of Japan. The Globus Family also supports the Kimono Visionaries Project (nycwashitsu.com/ kimono.html) and regularly sponsors

‍اďť&#x;ﺨﺎء ﺎ‏ Karim Tailor

notable Japanese performers and artists in the United States.

10

To get started on your own kimono journey, inexpensive garments and accessories can be sourced from shrine flea markets and secondhand shops in Tokyo. There are numerous online resources and videos

Kuwait - Textile Market Commercial Area No. 9 Block 2 VW )ORRU 2IĂ€FH 1R 7HO www.karimtailor.com

to learn how to wear and accessorize kimono; try mixing colors, patterns, retro and modern, Western and Japanese elements, and even men’s and women’s coordinates to create a unique kimono style all your own.

ĆĆĈąÄ?ĆĆĈ ¤ ĂŽP Âą ĂƒR ĆĆĈĉċąÄ?ÄŠ ¤ U šC P Âą ĂƒR ĆĆĈċċČĆċ ¤ E/: MÂą ĂƒR

Do s

Just seeing a simple figure with a head and a body doesn’t seem like much, but the Kokeshi doll has a deeper meaning to it than you may know.

K

okeshi dolls have become a hit throughout the world, and for example, in Paris, children’s books are written about Kokeshi dolls.

Born in the forests of the Tohoku region, Kokeshi dolls have been preserved through the tough times the area has gone through, and are a special and extraordinary folk toy.

When Kokeshi dolls were first made is not exactly known, but it is estimated that they dates back to the beginning of the 19th century, during the Edo period.

Back then, in farming villages, farmers would go to nearby hot springs during the winter. People who lived near the hot spring spots would use the

86

wood from the trees to make toys such as Kokeshi dolls and others to sell them to the visitors as souvenirs. There are many stories as to how the first Kokeshi dolls came to be, but this is the most plausible explanation.

In the middle of the Meiji period, hot springs became even more popular, and so more people bought and became familiar with Kokeshi dolls.

The carpenters who made these dolls used to make bowls and other utensils.

As they went on to make more and more Kokeshi dolls, they became more elaborate and became true passions for some, who would go as far as to win awards for them.

In Miyagi, craftsmen’s’ techniques for

making Kokeshi dolls were recognized for their artistry in 1981.

Kokeshi dolls are divided into 11 systems, and they are given names depending on the location of where they are made. In Miyagi prefecture, there are “naruko kokeshi”, “toogatsuta kokeshi”, “yajiro kokeshi”, “sakunami kokeshi”, and “hijiori kokeshi”. Miyagi is known as the

kingdom of Kokeshi. If you hit the face of a naruko kokeshi, a sound comes out, which is interesting and entertains children and adults alike. What makes traditional kokeshi dolls so attractive is that they are so simplified, yet have a hint of beauty to them. Their uniqueness and history have survived many eras, and they should continue to spread throughout the world going forwards.

There are many fans of Kokeshi, with some who collect hundreds, even thousands of these dolls; each doll is different and special because they are all handmade. Even if the designs are the same, because they are drawn by hand, each one is slightly different, which is enjoyable for the fans. Hopefully, you can meet your one of a kind Kokeshi doll someday.

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Words by Matthew Hernon.

Illustrations by Rose Vittayaset 88

WHO IS THE GREATEST

JAPANESE WOMAN, EVER

?

We asked 500 Tokyoites to nominate the deserving title winner. Here, we count down the top 25

25

EMPRESS MASAKO

Harvard graduate Masako Owada met Naruhito, the then Crown Prince of Japan at a banquet in 1986. Smitten, he pursued her for six years. Not wanting to give up her promising career as a diplomat, Owada twice turned down his marriage proposals

before eventually saying yes in 1992. For years she avoided public appearances due to a stressinduced “adjustment disorder.” In May, she became the Empress.

24

RAICHO HIRATSUKA

Political activist Raicho Hiratsuka was one of the founders of Seito (Bluestocking), Japan’s

Film Festival. Since playing the title character in Yumechiyo’s Diary, a 1984 TV drama (and later movie) about a geisha exposed to atomic radiation while in her mother’s womb, Yoshinaga has worked for the antinuclear movement.

20

fi rst all-women literary magazine. “In the beginning, woman was the sun,” she wrote.

“An authentic person. Now she’s the moon, a wan and sickly moon, dependent on another, refl ecting another’s brilliance.” Hiratsuka established the New Women’s Association with Fusae Ichikawa, which led to the repeal of Article 5, a law banning women from participating in politics.

23

SAORI YOSHIDA

“I strongly feel I’ve done everything I could do,” said Saori Yoshida at a press conference this year to announce her retirement from wrestling. Competing in the 53kg and 55kg divisions, she won 13 consecutive world titles, four Asian Games, and three Olympic gold medals. She is Japan’s second most decorated female Olympian behind wrestler Kaori Icho who has four golds.

22

MASAKO HOJO

Wife of Minamoto no Yoritomo, the fi rst shogun of the Kamakura period, Masako Hojo has been described as the “most important woman in Japanese military history.” She rode alongside her husband on most of his campaigns and was only absent when giving birth to their children. Following his death, she shaved her head and became a Buddhist nun, though still continued her career as a politician.

21

SAYURI YOSHINAGA

Winner of a record four Japan Academy Best Actress awards, Sayuri Yoshinaga’s breakthrough role was in Kirio Urayama’s 1962 fi lm, Foundry Town, which was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes

TSUDA UMEKO

In 1871, six-year-old Tsuda Umeko was the youngest of fi ve women selected for the Iwakura Mission, a diplomatic voyage with the aim of surveying Western civilization.

In 1900 she founded Joshi Eigaku Juku (now Tsuda University), one of the oldest and most prestigious higher educational institutions for women in Japan. From 2024, she will be the face of the ¥5,000 bill.

19

FUSAE ICHIKAWA

A central fi gure in the struggle for women’s rights in Japan, Fusae Ichikawa co-founded the New Women’s Association with Raicho Hiratsuka and established Japan’s fi rst women’s suffrage movement alongside Shigeri Yamataka. They lobbied for the inclusion of females in the 1925 General Election Law and as a result women got the vote at the end of WWII.

18

LADY KASUGA

Hailing from a prominent samurai family of the Azuchi-Momoyama and Edo periods, Lady Kasuga (Kasuga no Tsubone) was the wet nurse of the third Tokugawa shogun Iemitsu and exerted great infl uence within his court. When the Ooku (women’s quarter of the castle) was established in 1607 she achieved the rank of otoshiyori (senior ladyship). The Kasuga neighborhood of Bunkyo in Tokyo was named in her honor.

17

HIKARU UTADA

Born and raised in New York, Hikaru Utada released her maiden Japanese-language LP, First Love, in 1999. It remains the country’s best-selling album of all time. Her two follow-up albums, Distance and Deep River, are also in the top 10. Utada’s parents, music producer Teruzane Utada and enka singer Keiko Fuji, married and divorced each other seven times. Fuji tragically took her own life in 2013.

16

JAKUCHO SETOUCHI

After an affair with her husband’s student,

Jakucho Setouchi lost custody of her daughter and then started writing novels.

Literary prizes followed; however, she was labeled a pornographer by the predominantly male Japanese literati. A Buddhist nun since 1973, she distributed medicine in Iraq during the Gulf War and staged a hunger strike to protest the reopening of Japan’s nuclear facilities. Her vernacular translation of The Tale of Genji was a bestseller.

15

HOMARE SAWA

A footballing legend, Homare Sawa made her top-fl ight debut aged 12. At 15, she played her fi rst game for Japan, scoring four goals.

Her crowning moment came in the 2011 World Cup fi nal against America when she volleyed home to make it 2-2 in extra time.

Japan won on penalties and Sawa was named FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year.

14

YAYOI KUSAMA

The world’s top-selling living female artist, Yayoi Kusama has spent four decades living voluntarily in a psychiatric hospital. During a traumatic childhood, her abusive mother sent her to spy on her father’s extramarital affairs. The polka-dot queen dealt with hallucinations by drawing repetitive patterns. She accused her friend Andy Warhol of plagiarism and once wrote an open letter to President Nixon offering to have sex with him if he would stop the Vietnam War.

13

CHIAKI MUKAI

In 1983, the same year she was named Chief Resident in Cardiovascular Surgery at Keio University Hospital, Chiaki Mukai read a newspaper article seeking Japanese scientists to conduct space experiments aboard the 1988 U.S. Space Shuttle. She applied and was selected as a back-up member. In 1994, she joined the crew of the Columbia, becoming the fi rst Japanese woman to fl y into space. Her second voyage came four years later.

12

TETSUKO KUROYANAGI

The voice of Lady Penelope in the Japanese dubbing of Thunderbirds, Tetsuko Kuroyanagi launched Japan’s fi rst-ever talk show, Tetsuko’s Room, in 1975 and it remains popular today. Her memoir, Totto- Chan: The Little Girl at the Window, became the best-selling book in Japanese history upon release. Known for her charity work, she 89

was the first A Asian sian si an n tto o be n named am amed med daG Goodwill ood oo dwililll dwil dw Ambassador A Amb mbass bas ador d ffor o UN or UNICEF. N

11

KIKI KIRIN

A maverick actress whose career spanned more than six decades, Kiki Kirin won critical acclaim for movies such as Sweet Bean and Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad. She appeared in several Hirokazu Koreeda movies including Shoplifters, winner of the 2018 Palme d’Or. She could often be seen driving around Shibuya in her old Citroen.

10

NAOMI OSAKA

The youngest name on our list, Naomi Osaka has already won two grand slams despite only being 21. The current US Open and Australian Open champion, she was born in Osaka in 1997 to a Japanese mother and a Haitian father who taught her and her sister to play tennis after watching the Williams sisters compete at the French Open. Osaka moved to America when she was three.

9

YOKO ONO

Born into a semi-aristocratic family (her great-grandfather established Yasuda Bank), Yoko Ono was a former classmate of Prince Akihito. Her third husband, John Lennon, once described her as “the world’s most famous unknown artist.” Widely blamed for the breakup of The Beatles, public perception of Ono has changed over time.

8

AKIKO YOSANO

A poet and social reformer, Akiko Yosano 90

rele re leas ased ed h er fi rrst st aand dm famo mou u vvolume volum um me released her mostt fa famous of tanka (short poems) in 1901. Titled Midaregami off d ((Tangled l d Hair),) the h collection ll 400 works was panned by literary critics at the time as it was considered too provocative.

Well ahead of her time, she depicted women as strong and independent beings, not afraid to act on their sexual desires.

7

ICHIYO HIGUCHI

The face of the current ¥5,000 bill, Ichiyo Higuchi (pseudonym of Natsu Higuchi) was a signifi cant author of the Meiji era whose beautifully written stories focused on female characters. Her most famous book was Takekurabe (Child’s Play), a coming-of-age novella about a group of adolescents living near a licensed red-light district in Tokyo.

Higuchi passed away due to tuberculosis aged just 24.

6

NAMIE AMURO

5

QUEEN HIMIKO

The only Japanese artist to reach the millionselling mark in her teens, 20s, 30s and 40s, Namie Amuro amassed 14 numberone singles and sold more than 36 million records. She overcame a huge personal tragedy - in 1999, her mother was murdered

by Amuro’s uncle - to become the country’s biggest solo pop star of the past two decades before retiring in 2018.

While Japanese law currently forbids women from ascending to the throne, the country does have a long tradition of female rulers

with shamanesswitth wit h the the e mostt fa famous famo mouss being bei ein n the sha shaman ne n essssqueen qu Himiko. According to ear early Chinese Chi ese dynastic histories, she d h h ruled l d the h Yamatai Kingdom in Wa (Japan) from the end of the second century until her death around 248 AD. “She occupied herself with magic and sorcery, bewitching the people... After she became the ruler, there were few who saw her. She had one thousand women as attendants, but only one man.” The omission of her name in Japan’s oldest history texts, Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters) and Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan), has fuelled endless debate amongst historians. An even more contentious issue is the location of the region she reportedly governed. The socalled “Yamatai Controversy” centers around two destinations: Northern Kyushu and the Kinki region of Northern Honshu.

4

MURASAKI SHIKIBU

“The Tale of Genji is the highest pinnacle of Japanese literature,” said novelist Yasunari Kawabata during his Nobel Prize acceptance speech in 1968. “Even now, there’s not a piece of fiction to compare with it.” Murasaki Shikibu’s masterpiece is 1,100 pages long and is believed to have taken a decade to complete. Written in the early years of the 11th century, it’s often referred to as the first-ever novel, though that’s long been debated. A lady-in-waiting at the Imperial Court, Murasaki also wrote The Diary of Lady Murasaki, featuring the oldest known reference to Genji, and Poetic Memoirs, a collection of 128 poems. For her most

famous work, she used an archaic court language that was unreadable a century later. Poet Akiko Yosano, the first author to make a modern vernacular translation of Genji, believed Murasaki’s daughter, Daini no Sanmi, wrote the final chapters of the novel.

3

EMPRESS MICHIKO

Like Sadako Ogata, Michiko Shoda’s alma mater was the University of the Sacred Heart.

In August 1957 she met the then Crown Prince Akihito on a tennis court in Nagano.

They married eight months later – 500,000 spectators attended the parade while 15 million watched on TV. The media presented the encounter as a real-life fairy tale. As Shoda was a commoner from a Catholic family, some traditionalists opposed the marriage including Akihito’s mother, Empress Kojun.

She allegedly drove her daughter-in-law to depression by persistently accusing her of not being a suitable wife. The vast majority of the public, however, were supportive of the new princess and a so-called “Mitchi boom” spread nationwide. She and her husband were seen as symbols of Japan’s modernization and democratization. They broke tradition by raising their three children instead of leaving their care to palace staff.

As emperor and empress, they were held in high regard for prioritizing disaster victims, championing the cause of marginalized people and attempting to reconcile with countries affected by Japan’s colonialism and wartime aggression. Partly educated by Irish nuns, Empress Michiko is a Hibernophile who can play the harp and speak passable Gaelic.

2

SADAKO OGATA

Known as the “diminutive giant” after her defence of displaced Kurdish people in Northern Iraq, Sadako Ogata was appointed the first female UN High Commissioner for Refugees in 1990. Following the collapse of the Soviet Bloc, she had to deal with the worst global refugee crisis since WWII. Appearing on the front line, often in a bulletproof vest, she regularly visited the Balkans and the African Great Lakes region.

In 1993, she controversially decided to suspend UNHCR activities in Bosnia after the Bosnian government and Serbian nationalists obstructed deliveries of food and blankets to war victims. Though heavily criticized, she stuck to her guns and five

days later the Bosnian government ended its boycott. Ogata studied English literature at the University of the Sacred Heart before graduating with a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley.

Her thesis, “Defiance in Manchuria,” analyzed the reasons behind Japan’s invasion of China. When she was four, her greatgrandfather, Prime Minister Tsuyoshi Inukai, was assassinated by junior navy officers in an attempted coup d’etat (they’d also planned to kill the visiting Charlie Chaplin, however he had fortunately changed his plans at the last minute).

1

HIBARI MISORA

The undisputed Queen of Enka, Hibari Misora was a cultural icon and national treasure who helped to lift the spirits of the public after the miseries of WWII. The Shirley Temple of Japan, she appeared in over 160 films and recorded 1,200 songs, selling a reported 68 million records prior to her death in 1989. By 2001 that figure was said to have exceeded 80 million.

The daughter of a fishmonger and homemaker, Misora was born Kazue Kato on May 29, 1937 in Yokohama. She sang to her father at a war send-off party in 1943 and made her concert hall debut two years later. Changing her name to Hibari Misora (meaning lark in the beautiful sky), she recorded her first single in 1949, the same year she started appearing in movies.

Her reputation grew following performances in Mournful Whistle and Tokyo Kid, two films in which she played an orphan dressed as a boy.

A symbol of the first post-war generation, Misora became the country’s most successful actress of the 1950s while also turning out hit after hit. In the 1960s, her popularity soared even further thanks to beloved anthems such as the judo-themed track, Yawara, which won the 1964 Japan Record of the Year award, and Kanashii Sake, a heartwrenching song about someone trying but failing to drink their sorrows away.

By the 1970s Misora had firmly established herself as the country’s biggest female performer, though this status didn’t stop her from getting into scrapes with NHK and other media outlets. Her brother, Tetsuya Kato, had been arrested for a gang-related crime in 1973 and while Japan’s sole public broadcaster didn’t acknowledge any connection, she was excluded from Kohaku

Uta Gassen (the widely watched singing contest on New Year’s Eve) for the first time in 18 years. In protest, she refused to appear on the show for a long period afterward.

In 1988, Misora became one of the first performers to sing at the newly built Tokyo Dome. It was to be her last-ever concert. She passed away from pneumonia on June 24, 1989, less than half a year after the death of Emperor Hirohito. For many Japanese people, it was a date that marked the true end of the Showa Era. Her influence was that big.

The following month, Misora became the first woman to receive the People’s Honour Award which was conferred posthumously for giving Japanese people hope and encouragement in the aftermath of such a dark period in the country’s history. Her final single, Kawa no Nagare Yo ni (Like the Flow of the River), released shortly before her death, was voted the greatest Japanese song of all time in an NHK poll taken in 1997.

A year earlier, The Three Tenors delighted fans when they performed the track at their concert in Tokyo.

91

Spreading throughout Japan from the early Edo Period (16031867), Japanese people have public baths. As the popularity of hot springs grows, these baths have also caught the attention of many international sentoStephanie Crohin gives tips about Japanese bathing manners for travelers.

KATSUMI YASUKURA

PUBLIC BATH101 FOR VISITORS TO JAPAN

S The walls of Hotta-Yu, in Tokyo’s Adachi Ward, are decorated with a beautiful tile image of cherry blossoms and Mount Fuji © Stephanie Melanie 92

TEPHANIE Crohin first discover the charms of Japanese public baths in 2008 while she was an exchange student at Rikkyo University in Tokyo. “A friend who was writing an essay about public baths invited me,” she recalls. “In France, it isn’t customary to bathe with others, and since my spoken Japanese wasn’t great at the time I was nervous at first. But the regulars and the owner were very kind to me. After that, I understood that sento are places

that provide warmth and relaxation to people, and began to visit more often.”

In 2012, Crohin returned to Japan and began visiting more public baths.

She began going to sentothroughout Japan and posting information on her website and Instagram. In the end, she became an independent “sento journalist” and reports the wonders of public baths to non-Japanese speakers on English websites and via social media. She has published books

?

How to enjoy

SENTO

1

3

2

Remove your shoes and pay.

R Re

Take a stool and bath basin to wash your body.

on the subject, appeared in various media, and has also given lectures and planned public bath tours for people studying abroad in Japan. As an aficionado, Crohin is the perfect person to ask about proper sento bathing manners.

“First, you remove your shoes,” she says. “Then you pay at the counter and go to the changing room. Remove your clothes and go to the bath area, but make sure to bring a small towel with you. Also, be sure to say konnichiwa (hello) when entering.

By entering with a greeting, you can get close with the other people in the bath,” The next step, she relates, is to take a stool and basin and find sport by the showers to wash yourself before you enter the bath. “In Japan it iscustomary to get clean before entering, since other

4

Enter the bath and enjoy E your soak, but keep your y towel out of the water. to

people bathe in the same bathtub,” Crohin advises. “While you bathe, it is bad manners to put your towel into the bathwater. Lastly, when exiting the bathing space, make sure to dry yourself quickly so you don’t drip water all over the changing room floor.”

The common factor among all the rules is to not disturb others. “A public bath is a place where people share space and time, so it is necessary to consider their comfort as well. While tattoos are often a concern for visitors from abroad, as long as it is a fashionable tattoo (and not a gang symbol), it usually isn’t an issue at most sento.”

Crohin hopes more people will enjoy Japan’s public baths while minding their manners. “Popular hot springs resorts are nice, but sento have their own individual charms that should

Remove your clothes in the changing room.

Be sure to bring along a small towel when you enter the bathing area and say konnichiwa (hello).

5

After getting out of the bath, dry yourself before returning to the changing room.

not be missed,” she notes. “You can get close to the locals, who may share some secret spots to visit or foodie tips that aren’t posted on the Internet. The artistic murals of Mount Fuji, castles or traditional dances painted on the walls of the baths are also a must-see. The exteriors of some public baths showcase traditional Japanese architectural skills used in Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines and are worth a look. If you visit a public bath that doesn’t suit you, just try a different one. Every bath has unique traits, and there will surely be one that you like.”

Despite having so many charms, the price of visiting a sento is extremely reasonable: in Tokyo as of the end of 2018, for example, it was just 460 yen.

Crohin emphasizes that you get more than you pay for, so why not take a bath during your trip to Japan?

93

BIFUE USHIJIMA

F R E S H AND CLEAN First launched in Japan in 1980 and marketed in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Oceania since the late 1980s, the TOTO Washlet® electronic bidet continues to gain loyal customers who want to stay functions.

Creating a new Toilet Culture

R

ising off after using the toilet is now a custom so prevalent that many Japanese people feel they cannot live without it.

In 2015, thirty-five years after the device launched, cumulative global shipments of TOTO’s Washlet reached forty million units, thanks to the developer’s many ingenious adjustments.

TOTO LTD. (then called THE TOYO TOKI CO., LTD.) actually imported and sold an American product called the “Wash Air Seat” over a decade before the Washlet was released in 1980. The Wash Air Seat was a device developed for individuals who had difficulty wiping themselves using toilet paper due to hand injuries or excretion-related diseases. Medical professionals such as urologists were their main sales target.

Foreseeing an expansion in market demand, TOTO started developing a different, more user-friendly product in 1978, with the ambition of creating a “new toilet culture.”

During product development, the developers uncompromisingly pursued comfort and usability. They learned from the feedback of many Wash Air Seat users, who noted issues such as inconsistent water temperature and discomfort due to unstable shower direction. Since there was no actual data about sitting on toilet seats, they set up a laboratory within the company and studied the positioning of the buttocks to gather data. With the help of more than three hundred company employees they also searched for the best water temperature for washing, testing different temperatures at 0.1ºC intervals.

94

This research revealed that a seat temperature of 36 degrees Celsius, water temperature of 38 degrees, 36 degrees Celsius, water temperature of 38 degrees, and a shower angle of 43 degrees created the optimal experience. These figures remain nearly unchanged nearly forty years after the initial product release.

To stabilize the temperature of water and hot air which

was the most difficult problem, they introduced integrated circuit (IC) microcomputer controls. According to Yoshinori Kuwahara of the company’s public relations department, there is a famous anecdote about introducing ICs. “Initially we consulted with consumer electronics manufacturers about it, and they stubbornly insisted that ICs were too delicate to use in places they might get wet. However, a member of the development team had an epiphany when he was walking outside. Coming across a traffic light, he realized it was an electronic device that worked despite getting wet in the rain. So we consulted with a traffic light manufacturer instead, and were thus able to bring the idea of a microcomputer-controlled toilet to reality.”

After the device debuted in 1980, the number of Washlets sold gradually increased. With sales in overseas markets still growing steadily, TOTO plans to start operating their fifth Washlet production plant in Thailand in 2020, which will be their third overseas plant after one each in Malaysia and China. They plan to push their overseas expansion forward.

For models destined for use

overseas, the design and look of the Washlet is given even more weight than in Japan. “Unlike Japan, where toilets are put in separate rooms, in Western and other Asian countries it is common for the sink, bath and toilet to be located in the same room,” Kuawahara explains.

“In this type of bathroom the toilet can be seen from all sides, so it is important for it to blend in and not disturb the aesthetics of the room.”

The key to product promotion is the rising number of international visitors to Japan. Though many of them are deeply impressed with the cleanliness of public toilets in Japan, once they experience the comfort of a Washlet, they want to use one daily. “We want to gain more TOTO fans all over the world, with the intent to make Japan an international showcase,” Kuwahara says about the company’s vision.

95

Rajio Taiso R

J a p a n’s N a t i o n a l E xe rc i s e s

ajio-taiso gymnastic exercises have long played a role in health promotion in Japan, which is said to enjoy the world’s longest life expectancy. The short exercises have been practiced for more than ninety years by young and old in groups large and small.

Radio-taiso gymnastic exercises are carried out in schools, workplaces and other community gathering spaces.

For Japanese people, these exercises are deeply familiar. Participants carry out thirteen types of exercises in about three minutes to recorded light piano music.

Radio-taiso gymnastic exercises are said to have been initiated in the 1920s, when an employee of what is now Japan Post Insurance Co., Ltd. proposed a Japanese version of health exercises that were broadcast by radio in the United States, says Toshihiko Aoyama, president of the NPO ZenkokuRajiotaisou-Renmei (Japan Radio-Taiso Federation).

In 1927, the then postal life insurance bureau in the Ministry of 96

Posts and Telecommunications, in cooperation with Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) and what is now the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, created national health exercises to promote the health of Japanese people on the radio.

The exercises started to be broadcast in the following year.

The exercises were officially called kokumin hoken taiso (national health exercises) at the time, and the term rajio taiso (radio-taiso gymnastic exercises) was just a nickname. It was the early period of radio broadcasting and radio itself was uncommon, so when the music for the radio-taiso gymnastic exercises came out of the speaker, it attracted a lot of people, says Aoyama.

To disseminate the radio-taiso gymnastic exercises, post office workers across the country provided a pamphlet with illustrations of the choreography of the exercises and held a training session in each area. With the widespread adoption of radio, the exercises gradually became familiar. By 1938, ten years after the start of the radio

broadcast of the exercises, as many as 157 million people participated in the radio-taiso gymnastic exercises in Japan each year.

When World War II ended in 1945, however, the General Headquarters of the Allied Forces (GHQ), which was implementing the occupation policy for Japan, prohibited the exercises for some time. They considered the exercises, which were practiced in groups to music broadcast nationally, to be totalitarian.

Radio-taiso gymnastic exercises with slower tunes and free moves were subsequently created, but they failed to become established and their broadcast was suspended. However, since many Japanese people told the government and NHK that they hoped that the radio-taiso gymnastic exercises would start again, new exercises that could be practiced regardless of age or gender were created, and their broadcast commenced in 1951.

The new radio-taiso gymnastic exercises were disseminated nationwide in no time. One of the reasons for this was that practices were conducted

on school grounds or in parks during elementary school summer holidays.

Free attendance cards were provided to students through the schools, and the cards were stamped when a student participated in the radio-taiso gymnastic exercises in the early morning.

Aoyama says that students received a pencil or a notebook at the end of the summer holidays, depending on the number of times they participated, and those with perfect attendance received a commemorative item. As a result, the students competed against one another in terms of participation. At one time, as many as 30 million copies of the attendance cards were printed, which had a substantial impact on the spread of the exercises.

According to a recent survey, it is estimated that about 27 million people still practice radio-taiso gymnastic exercises twice or more a week in Japan.

The results of a survey show that those who continue to carry out the exercises have a higher metabolic rate than those who do not, and among elderly people, their body’s internal age is about twenty years younger than their actual age.

In the 1920s, when the radio-taiso gymnastic exercises were initiated, the average lifetime of Japanese people was some forty years, but it now exceeds eighty years both for men and women. From the standpoint of health promotion, there are many requests from overseas to learn the exercises, and Zenkoku - Rajiotaisou - Renmei sends

employees to carry out training sessions.

Aoyama says that few attendance cards are delivered to schools these days, and that radio-taiso gymnastic exercises are taught less frequently in physical education classes than they were in the past. Instead the management of radio-taiso gymnastic exercises is typically conducted by neighborhood associations, local retailer associations or local companies, and a wider range of age groups now participate. Radio - taiso gymnastic exercises continue to be loved by people in Japan, not only for their health benefits, but also as an activity that brings people together.

97

photos

That Prove Japan Is Not Like Any Other Country

1- Bus Drivers In Japan Were On Strike But Continued Driving Their Routes While Refusing To Take Fares From Passengers

4- At Narita International Airport (Tokyo) They Give You Free Origami Instead Of Candy

7- Koi Fishes Even Live In Drainage Channels In Japan

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2- Drink Cans Have Names Written In Braille On The Top

5- I Recently Gave Birth In Japan.

Here Is Some Of The Hospital Food I Ate

8- This Toilet In Japan Has A System Of Occupied/Vacant Toilets Information

3- Japanese Fans Stayed Behind After The FIFA World Cup 2014 Match To Help Clean Up

6- Photo I Took Of Tokyo Commuters Waiting For Their Train

9- Children’s Seat On The Fujikyu Railway Line In Japan

10- This is how smooth the bullet train is in Japan

11- I Dropped my Shopping bag on the streets of Osaka and when I went back to look for it later that day, someone had placed it next to a tree untouched

12- Commuters in Tokyo pushed a train car to save a woman who fell and got stuck between the car and the platform

13- This Smartphone Wiper Dispenser In Japan

14- Japanese toilets often have a button that plays white noise/water sounds so you can poop without other people hearing your business

15- Another Reason Why I Love Japan

16- In Trains You Can Rotate The Seats In Any Direction

17- Another Great Japanese Invention: Umbrella Lockers. So You Don’t Have To Carry Them Around Inside A Building And Nobody Takes Yours ‘Accidentally’

18- Japanese Airport Staff Sorted Luggages On The Belt By Their Colour

19- Expectations Meet Reality In Japan

20- This Japanese Gum I Have Came With Little Pieces Of Paper Inside For You To Spit Your Gum In To When You’re Finished With It

21- This Shopping Center In Japan Has Free Refrigerated Lockers For Your Perishables So You Can Keep Shopping After You Get Your Groceries

99

100

22- There Are Baby Seats Attached To The Wall In Most Bathrooms

23- The Note In Japanese Says, “I Accidentally Knocked Over Your Bike And Broke The Bell. I Am Very Sorry”

24- Japanese Being Japanese

25- Toreiyu Tsubasa Train In Japan Is Equipped With Footbaths So You Can Enjoy A Relaxing Trip

26- In Japan, Even The Deer Are Polite

27- Everybody Lines Up Their Carts Nicely At The Food Court In Costco In Japan

28- Restaurants In Japan Display Fake Food That Looks Just Like The Real One From The Menu

29- This Bedside Lamp At My Hotel In Japan Can Be Half Lit

30- Ordered This From Japan And It Came With A Little Note And Origami Crane

31 -This Japanese Taxi Has A Button To Request Slower Speeds

32- This Hospital In Japan Offers Glasses With Different Prescriptions For Filling Out Forms

33- In Japan They Sell Square Watermelons To Fit Better In The Refrigerator

34- The Elevators In My Office Building Have An Umbrella Sign That Lights Up If It’s Raining Outside (Osaka, Japan)

35- Japanese Hotel Apologies For One Minute Internet Stoppage At 4am

36- This Lift In Japan Has A Seat That Can Be Used As A Toilet In An Emergency

37- At Some Tourist Spots In Japan There Are Stands To Hold Your Smartphone So You Can Take Good Selfies

38- Japanese ATM’s Have Cane Holders Due To The Aging Population

39- There Are Over 300 Scramble Intersections In Japan Where You Can Cross A Street Diagonally

40- Japan’s Manhole Covers Are Beautiful

41- Tokyo Train Company Tsukuba Express Apologized For 20-Second-Early Departure

42- Almost Everyone In Japan Reverse Parks

43- Most Japanese Schools Don’t have Custodians. Instead, the students do the cleaning themselves as a part of showing gratitude to the school and learning how to become more productive members of society

44- Japanese often line up for buses, trains, restaurants or shops and can wait in lines for long periods of time. Kids learn how to line up as early as kindergarten as it teaches selfdiscipline, cooperation and respect

45- In Japan, You Not Only Have To Take Your Shoes Off And Change Them To Slippers At The Entrance, But Also Use Different Slippers When You Go To The Bathroom

101

46- In Japan, The Ground Crew Bows And Waves Goodbye To The Departing Aircraft

102

47-You Can Often Find This Kind Of Toilet In Japan. Wash Your Hands And Reuse The Water For Your Next Flush

48- These Fitting Room Instructions In Japan. Cover Your Face To Prevent Makeup From Getting On The Garment

49- A Vending Machine Selling Farm Fresh Eggs In Japan

50- Toothpick At A Mall In Japan Had A Mint Coated Tip

51- This Urinal In Japan Is A Video Game You Play With Your Pee

52 -Only In Japan Would Someone Leave These Out While They Sleep

53- Designated Smoking Rooms On Trains In Japan

54- This Japanese Handrail Bends With The Steps

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Itinerary Suggestions for a One-Day trip from TOKYO

his article features 10 destinations for a day trip toward places just a few hours away from Tokyo, such as Nikko, Hakone, Kamakura or Kawagoe. When visiting Tokyo,

don forget to check out some of these places too. donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t As you know, Tokyo has an efficient transportation system, allowing one to visit the

nea nearby areas easily. There are many places just a few hours away from Tokyo where you can enj nature, delicious food and history. We will introduce here some places you can visit on enjoy o day trip from Tokyo. These places all have something special, which cannot be felt in a one hea of the metropolis. heart

1.

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Nikko

2.

Mount Fuji

Nikko Tosho-gu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,

Mount Fuji was registered on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in

is a famous place to visit in Nikko city, Tochigi

2013, becoming an even more popular place to visit. It takes 2 hours

prefecture. From Asakusa station, you will reach

and 40 minutes by train and bus from Shinjuku station, an area where

Nikko in less than 2 hours.

many accommodation facilities are located.

3.

Hakone

You can get to relax and heal your body and soul if you go to Hakone, one of the best hot spring spots in Japan, located in Kanagawa prefecture. There are direct trains from Shinjuku station to Hakone Yumoto station where the onsen resort is.

4.

Yokohama

Yokohama is one of the famous sites in Japan.

You can easily spend a whole day here since there are a lot of attractions for visitors, such as the Chinese Town, parks and shopping centers.

5.

Kamakura

Kamakura is the place where you can find Japanese culture elements with a long history. It is one of the places that are easily accessible from Tokyo.

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6.

Kaw K Kawagoe

Kawagoe Kaw wagoe is cal called Koedo (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Little Edoâ&#x20AC;?, Edo o bein ng the old name of present being dayy Tokyo) Tokyo o) as tthere are many old and hist torical buildings buildi historical left. This is a popular plac ce to visit in Saitama prefecture place sinc ce it has h been be since designated national historical hist torical site.

7.

Tokyo Disney Land and Tokyo Disney Sea Tokyo Disney Land and Tokyo Disney Sea is a dream world where all generations can have fun. There are various seasonal events going on all year around. It is located in Chiba prefecture. If you leave from Tokyo station, it takes only 15 minutes to get there.

8.

Hatsushima

Hatsushima is the closest remote island in the Tokyo area. Here one can get to feel a tropical atmosphere and at the same time have a sense of old Japan.

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9.

Chichibu

Chichibu is the best place for nature lovers as the city is surrounded by nature. The Chichibu Night Festival held in summer is a gorgeous festival which ranks equally with the famous Gion Festival in Kyoto.

10.

Mount Takao

Mount Takao is a famous hiking spot located in the Tokyo area. It is about 600 m high and the mountain trails are well maintained. From children to adults, anyone will be able to climb it.

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WORLD HERITAGE TOUR

World Heritage 6

ITSUKUSHIMA Shrine World Heritage 8

World Heritage 7

HIMEJI Castle

HIROSHIMA Peace Memorial

The present form of Himeji Castle was constructed in 1609, and it has retained its original beauty for more than 400 years. The graceful white building is compared to a white heron in flight, and it is also called “the White Heron Castle”.

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At 8:15am on 6th August 1945, the first atomic bomb in human history was dropped on Hiroshima. Although, the Atomic Bomb Dome was located almost directly underneath the explosion, it somehow avoided complete destruction and the remains of the building still stand today.

Itsukushima Shrine - a World Heritage Site with a gigantic vermilion Torii gate that stands over the sea and graceful vermilion-lacquered shrine pavilions that float on the water.

Miyajima, located behind the shrine, has served as an object of faith since ancient times as “the island where God resides” and it has many other sights, including a primeval forest.

World Heritage 5

NARA Nara served as the capital of Japan between 710 to 784, with the emperor residing at Heijokyo Imperial Palace. The most famous monument in Nara is the Great Buddha at Todaiji Temple which is the largest wooden structure in the world.

World Heritage 4

KYOTO A journey to Kyoto, Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ancient capital is to take a step back in time and to experience the essence of Japanese culture. Kyoto is known throughout the world for its stunning beauty. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the best place to experience traditional temples, shrines, gardens, geishas, shops, restaurants, and festivals.

World Heritage 3

SHIRAKAWAGO Shirakawa-go is famous for their traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old. Their traditional houses standing with the nature of each season - fresh green leaves in spring and summer, tinted leaves in autumn, and pure white winter snow-is the stuff of fairytales.

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U.S. Commercial Service American Embassy, Kuwait

Find everything’s under one roof at the World of Concrete

T World Heritage 2

Mount FUJI Mount Fuji is with 3776 meters Japan’s highest mountain. Its beautiful form has captivated people since ancient times and is revered and loved as a symbol of Japan.

Lake Kawaguchi, provides many excellent viewpoints for gazing at the mountain.

World Heritage 1

NIKKO Nikko is a town at the entrance to Nikko National Park, most famous for Toshogu, Japan’s most lavishly decorated shrine and the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Nikko had been a center of Shinto and Buddhist mountain worship for many centuries before Toshogu was built in the 1600s.

he US Commercial Service of the American Embassy in Kuwait will send an official trade delega on from Kuwait to the World of Concrete Exhibi on 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada (WOC 2020) from February 4-7, 2020. The World of Concrete (www.worldofconcrete.com) will feature more than 1,500 exhibitors, 55,000 industry professionals, and 170 educa onal workshops showcasing 140 speakers from around the world. The WOC 2020 will not be limited to the concrete industry, but will include building material, masonry, construc on technology, and heavy equipment.

It is the largest conference and exhibi on in the concrete and heavy equipment industry. Par cipa on in the delega on provides a unique opportunity to meet with American companies interested in expor ng, licensing, and forming joint ventures to meet the growing demands for construc on products and services in Kuwait. Addi onally, the World of Concrete will highlight the cu ng-edge technologies and innova ve workshops on leading trends that will play a key role in construc ng a New Kuwait.

The fee to par cipate in the official delega on is $100. Join the official delega on by sending an email to Xavier Muthu before January 10, 2020, which allows to complete travel and visa arrangements in a mely manner.

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Tsuruga Castle, the seat of the Aizu clanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feudal lord. Spring cherry blossoms in full bloom.

A

L

izuwakamatsu

ocated in western Fukushima Prefecture, Aizuwakamatsu City is home to impressive historical buildings dating back to when it was a samurai warrior castle town. It also boasts stunning mountain surroundings that make it one of Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top tourist destinations. Any time of year,

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visitors are sure to encounter the natural beauty of the season and a plethora of colorful arts and crafts.

The iconic symbol of Aizuwakamatsu, Tsuruga Castle, was built in the late 14th century (1384) and served as the seat of the feudal lord of the

A prosperous samurai warriors castle town at one time, Aizuwakamatsu is still home to buildings that evoke the Edo period

Beautifully glossy Aizu lacquerware boasts a 400 year history

cherry blossoms blooming in the spring, the vivid greens of new leaves in summer, red and gold leaves in autumn, and snowscapes in winter.

Aizu clan during the Edo period (17– 19th century). The original castle was demolished in 1874, but its beauty and majesty was revived when it was rebuilt in 1965. The lookout on the castle’s uppermost floor offers an exquisite view of all of Aizuwakamatsu City with its colorful hues unfolding year round:

Mt. Bandai to the northeast ranks among the “100 Famous Japanese Mountains.” With an elevation of 1,819 meters, it is a popular destination for mountain climbing in the summer and skiing in the winter. The mountain is also home to a lush array of alpine plants like Japanese azalea and to rare insects like the Bandai stag beetle.

Lake Inawashiro lies in the southern foothills of Mt. Bandai. Approximately 49 kilometers in circumference, this is the fourth-largest lake in Japan and

Soak up the heat in outdoor hot spring baths surrounded by snowscapes, a special winter experience at Higashiyama Onsen

offers great swimming, fishing, and boating. On the western bank of the lake, Sakkahama beach enjoys stunning views of Mt. Bandai looking back across the lake. Swimmers flock to the area in the summer, and they are replaced by flocks of swans from Siberia in the winter.

Mt. Seaburi, located between Aizuwakamatsu and Lake Inawashiro, is known for its gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. From the mountaintop, majestic views unfold—Lake Inawashiro gleaming far below in the morning sun, or the sun setting in exquisite hues behind another mountain in the distance.

Higashiyama Onsen, a popular hot spring area dating as far back as the 8th 113

century, is about a 10-minute ride from the city by car. Long extolled by eminent persons and literati, dozens of hot spring inns and hotels along the Yugawa River offer visitors the opportunity to soak in the ambience of a traditional old hot spring town.

In Aizuwakamatsu, people still love the traditional local dishes that originated centuries ago-the wonderful flavors of kozuyu soup topped with plenty of vegetables, and wappameshi,

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a steamed rice dish packed with local vegetables and soup stock. Area farmers have also recently begun reintroducing the traditional vegetables that were commonly grown here as far back as the Edo period.

Aizuwakamatsu offers beautiful mountains, luxurious hot springs, lush nature, as well as food and crafts born of the samurai culture. The colorfully majestic scenes that unfold here are truly unforgettable.

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A Castle Town in the Tsugaru Region with a History of Some 400 Years Strolling

Japan

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Hirosaki Cooperation: Hirosaki City Office, Tsugaruhan Neputa Village Photographs: Hirosaki Tourism and Convention Bureau, Kanai Gen, Sakuragaoka Nursery School, Otsuka Tomonori, Higashida Yuji / Aflo and amanaimages

Osaka

Sea of Japan

Hirosaki Tokyo

Pacific Ocean

Hirosaki is a town located in the western part of Aomori Prefecture. It is the northernmost castle town in the Tsugaru region on the main island of Japan which has prospered as the nucleus of politics, economics and culture.

Hirosaki City is famous throughout Japan for the Hirosaki Neputa Festival, which, in August each year, attracts large numbers of domestic and foreign tourists. The Hirosaki Neputa is a festival with a long history that was designated in 1980 as an important intangible folk culture asset of Japan. It is a real spectacle with fan-shaped lantern floats, decorated with different pictures on the front and back, being paraded to an accompaniment of spirited shouting through the town, creating a blaze of light. The Kodomo Neputa also adds excitement to the festival. Children hold Kingyo Neputa (goldfish-shaped lanterns) in their hands and walk with small lantern floats. It looks very cute and brings smiles to onlookers’ faces.

Another feature of Hirosaki is that it is the production area for Tsugaru-nuri. Tsugaru-nuri displays unique patterns achieved through repeated application and polishing of urushi. Among the many different types of Japanese shikki, it is famed for the amount of hard work entailed in its production – one item sometimes taking around six months to complete. Kara-nuri, a representative type of Tsugaru-nuri, shows beautiful fault lines of colored urushi and presents a sense of depth created by the multiple layers of urushi coating. The city has facilities that are worth a visit, such as the Hirosaki Sightseeing Information Center where you can see Tsugaru-nuri, and Tsugaruhan Neputa Village for hands-on experiences.

Set of Tsugaru-nuri stacked boxes.

Tsugaru-nuri is characterized by unique patterns, including the kara-nuri shown in the photograph.

A tea chest containing a full set for making green tea, with the Nanako-nuri technique applied. One of the techniques used in Tsugaru-nuri is Nanako-nuri in which shikki are sprinkled with rapeseed, coated in colored urushi and then polished.

Nishiki-nuri tray - a variation of Nanako-nuri in which a pattern is added to the base.

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Hirosaki Castle's keep, the only surviving keep (watchtower built in the center of a castle) in the Tohoku region, located in northeast of Japan’s main island.

Mention of Hirosaki normally brings to mind a snowy, northern district, but there are many things to see at any time of year. In particular, Hirosaki Castle conveys the special beauty of each of the seasons.

Hirosaki Castle, built in the Edo period (17th century), is currently open to the public as Hirosaki Park. Some enduring castle structures, including the keep and the turret, have been designated as important national cultural assets of Japan, while the ruins have been designated as a national historic site. Bustling crowds can be seen here every year for the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival, which features 2,600 cherry trees in full bloom, leading to it being selected as a famous place for cherry blossoms. In the autumn, the area is colored with red and yellow leaves

and, in winter, you can see Hirosaki Castle illuminated and decked in snow.

Hirosaki promotes itself as a “town symbolized by a castle, cherry blossoms and apples." In some places, you can see scenery typical of an apple-growing locality. A cool drive through the orchards along the Apple Road opens up a vista that you are sure to enjoy, including the sight of Mount Iwaki in the distance. The mountain, with a road comprising as many as 69 bends, and the apple trees really work together to present a wonderful view that you will not see anywhere else. If you want to taste apples, visit the Iwakisan-kanko-ringo Orchards where you can pick and eat the fruit fresh from the tree.

©TAKASHI NISHIKAWA/a.collectionRF/amanaimages

Hirosaki Park with Hirosaki Castle changes appearance beautifully with each season for example, the red and yellow leaves in autumn.

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Apple orchards spread out at the foot of Mt. Iwaki which can be seen from Hirosaki Castle.

Top: The former Hirosaki City Library. Until around 1931 it was used as the municipal library. Currently, it is used to display old folk documents, etc.

Right: Western-style Villa in Fujita Memorial Garden owned by Fujita Kenichi, a Hirosaki businessman. Here, in the Western Villa, surrounded by an Edo-style Japanese garden, you can sample and compare the various types of apple pie.

Besides Hirosaki Castle, the city also boasts a number of Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, and old streets that tell of its traditional past, as well as western style architecture from the Meiji period through the Taisho period (late 17th century-early 20th century). It really is a treasure trove of cultural properties and buildings. Among them are places like the Western-style Villa in the Fujita Memorial Garden where you can enjoy a meal. The café in the building offers several kinds of apple pie, a specialty of Hirosaki, and a beautiful view of the garden.

After a light tea, you might wish to experience some local cuisine from the Tsugaru region. Specialties include ke-no-shiru (soup made with kelp stock and vegetables) and kayaki-miso (shellfish and fermented soy beans cooked on a shell). Each local specialty is imbued with the wisdom of northern regions – do not waste food collected in a short period of time to survive the long winter. The dishes taste mellow and warm up the body from its core.

Igamenchi is a dish in which squid is flattened and minced, then rolled into patties with vegetables and fried. Once you start eating it, your appetite will be aroused.

Why not rediscover the beauty of Japan's four seasons in Hirosaki - a city where you can enjoy food and culture amid streets full of atmosphere.

1. Ke-no-shiru - a soup made with lots of vegetables, such as finely chopped carrots and white radishes, and flavored with miso or soy sauce.

2. Kayaki-miso (shellfish and fermented soy beans cooked on a shell) is a local dish that, along with ke–no-shiru, is a time-honored favorite. The dish is made by placing the ingredients in a scallop shell, simmering in miso and finally, pouring over beaten egg.

3. Igamenchi is a fried dish made with left-overs that puts the Japanese precept of mottainai (respecting everything and abhorring waste) to good use.

Map of Hirosaki Area ● Access Approx. 75 minutes from Haneda Airport to Aomori Airport. From Aomori Airport to Hirosaki Station bus terminal takes about 55 minutes by bus. ● Contact information Hirosaki City Tourist Information Office Phone: +81-172-26-3600 Hirosaki Sightseeing Information Center Phone: +81-172-37-5501 Tsugaruhan Neputa Village Phone: +81-172-39-1511

Tsugaruhan Neputa Village ●Mt.

●

Iwaki

Hirosaki City Hirosaki Castle ●

Hirosaki Castle ●

←Apple

Road

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Western-style Villa in Fujita Memorial Garden

●Hirosaki

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City Tourist Center ●Aomori Bank Memorial Hall

Former Hirosaki City Library Chuo Hirosaki Station on the Konan Railway

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Stars Shizuoka

iin their eyes in rural

I

n the fall of 2018 team City-Cost packed themselves into the back of a rental, along with an office-supply of laptops, portable Wi-Fi routers, camera gear â&#x20AC;Ś and a drone, and escaped from Tokyo, heading southwest to Shizuoka Prefecture and the rural town of Enshu Morimachi.

The goal was to report from the front lines of the rural life in Japan and talk to people who had made the transition from city to country be it for work, retirement, pleasure, or just the better life.

The calmer life. We listened intently to their stories, their (Amateur astronomer Minoru struggles, and their hopes.

Owada outside his observatory in the mountains outside of It was inspiring stuff and this jittery city-slicker for one Morimachi, Shizuoka Prefecture) was envious of the quiet sense of calm that the people we 120

met in Morimachi seemed to harness, like they knew something I didn’t.

As we crammed the reportage kit and accoutrements, scuffed and frayed with countryside-life scars, back into the rental on our final morning in town we did so with the heavy heart that comes with having to leave something special behind. Something better.

On the Tomei Expressway back into Tokyo, in the face of the brutal skyscrapers of the Japanese capital and the awful prospect of the office, this reporter told themselves that they were damn well going to make some changes.

Nearly a year later and I’m typing these words from that same office.

Nothing has changed.

Still, I do go back to Morimachi from time to time, particularly on those days when I’m over-caffeinated, over-tasked and ready to scream. I stare beyond the screen of my monitor, rise above the nervous prospect of having to answer the office phone in Japanese, and typically go to one place …

We were well into the back half of a day that had been spent chasing around the mountains and through the valleys that spread north of downtown Morimachi, such as that is.

With one interview left to go on this particular day, we ditched the tiring half of team City-Cost and left them at a campsite to get to work on dinner.

There are two prominent valleys that cut through the mountains immediately north of town. We were in the wrong one so it meant going back towards town to pick up Route 58 at the point where it forks left into the other valley, the right one this time, and through the district of Mori, winding ever further from the civility of shops and services.

Dusk was beginning to set in by the time we reached the district of Mikura about 10 km north of town where we

struggled with tired minds, useless GPS and diminishing cell-phone reception in our attempts to reach destination’s end somewhere up on the mountain slopes a little further north.

I could sense the driving member of team City-Cost getting exasperated as we seemed to be running out of light, and road. On my part, I flushed with a sense of guilt -- it had been my idea to come all this way and now I felt this winding mountain road was snaking us into some Conradian heart of darkness -- city boys losing their marbles in the thickening, darkening mountains.

Minoru Owada put me immediately at ease. The retired teacher and amateur astronomer was waiting for us a few feet down the road from his observatorycum-second home that sat on a lofty 340-m perch looking over a patchwork of tea fields and beyond them to the forested mountains in the south.

We had come to Morimachi to discover a sense of the rural life, but I had spotted Owada’s stargazing observatory in the information for an open-house event that the town had held prior to our visit and I had immediately wanted to visit -- the night lights of Tokyo tend towards lurid nightlife neons and the gridded monotony of overtime at the office. Rare is the opportunity to look

(Views from Minoru Owada’s observatory in rural Shizuoka Prefecture, special even without the stars)

up at the glittering splendor of nature’s own nighttime display.

We talked with Owada, standing inside his small observatory (the roof open) eyes moving between the impressive mountain view and the, almost, equally impressive telescope.

Owada, who comes from Hamamatsu, west of Morimachi, told us he had been visiting his observatory and second home since 2004, usually on weekends or on those occasions when the opportunity to view astronomical phenomena presented itself.

The observatory, the telescope were perhaps the fruits then of a pursuit that began for Owada when he was in junior high school, in the days when it was dark enough in town to see the Milky Way, he told us.

We asked if we could see the telescope in action. Owada duly obliged, typing into a computer the coordinates of longitude and latitude that set the impressive bit of kit into motion that would have it search out Saturn. Alas, it was too cloudy.

Still, the observatory and telescope might seem similarly distant from the more manual stargazing days of his youth.

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(Minoru Owada talks us through the tech behind his observatory)

“When I was a kid I would search for stars using a star chart in my hand and compare it to the sky,” Owada explained.

“But now you can find them easily using a smartphone in which a GPS system shows you the star’s name when you raise your phone to the sky.”

While such advances in accessible, affordable technology, along with readily available information regarding the timing of solar and lunar eclipses and the presence of meteor showers, might have brought the stars closer they may also serve to highlight just how special this remote outpost on the edge of Morimachi really is.

“Last summer Mars was close, so some facilities probably opened that kind event for the public,” said Owada when we asked him if Japan provided other opportunities to gaze up at the night sky.

“Dozens of participants share a telescope though, so it could only be for a minute for each person,” he explained.

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In fact, even light research would appear to reveal the popularity for astronomy in Japan with the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan employing a lottery system for advance reservations to its monthly “Stargazing Parties” held at its Mitaka Campus in Tokyo.

Owada, though, had been generous enough to share the wealth of his precious stargazing-resource.

As a teacher he would sometimes bring his students on field trips to his observatory and in the spring of 2018 he took part in an open-house event through which resident’s of Morimachi showcased to visitors the appeals of their rural lifestyles and projects.

Dozens of people came to visit the observatory during the open-house event, according to Owada, who told us that even during the day, with the use of his telescope, first-magnitude stars and some planets can been seen.

“The local people have been so

kind to me. This was a way to show my appreciation,” he explained of his decision to open the observatory for the event.

Owada, though, isn’t the only stargazer who hails from these parts.

Rather, he’s in the esteemed company of another amateur astronomer -- Kaoru Ikeya, who comes from near Hamanako (Lake Hamana - west of central Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture) and has his name attached to a number of comets which he helped to discover.

It’s a high bar to have set, and one that this would-be stargazer couldn’t get their head around. And probably never will.

It doesn’t matter though. The view from Owada’s observatory, even without the telescope, and even with the clouds at dusk, was dazzling enough for the eyes of this city dweller. And even sat here in this office chair it’s a view that I return to from time to time such was the impact of the place.

HEGURU

Right Brain Creativity

H

enmi Educational General Laboratory (HEGL), in short called “Heguru” is an educational network of classes for young children, based in Tachikawa, Tokyo, developed over the past 35 years by Mr. Hirotada Henmi Sensei and Mrs. Ruiko Henmi Sensei. Heguru operates schools in Tokyo (Tachikawa and Hachioji), Nagoya and Niigata. It also operates Heguru classes outside Japan in many countries – China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Australia, Kuwait, UAE and India.

Heguru classes start from the prenatal stage, when the baby is still in the mother’s womb. The important thing at this earliest stage is to keep the mother’s body healthy and in balance, and to keep her in a positive state of mind. The infant and toddler stage right after birth is crucial period and in these early years it is important to build the “foundational strength” by nurturing the “mind and heart”. Children learn to control their own minds and interact with others in a considerate and kind-hearted way. Furthermore,

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as they develop their capacities for concentration and imagination, they build a brain circuitry that can process all kinds of information through imaging and visualization. By possessing both the regular circuitry of the Left Brain, which processes information through language, and the imaging circuitry, which processes information through imaging and visualization, children’s overall brain processing speeds become faster, and this allows for the possibility of simultaneous processing, which is a feature of the Right Brain. To possess these two circuitries, children’s Right Brain needs to be tapped into from an early age, and this gives them an overwhelming advantage when it comes to examinations for primary and secondary schools, as well as university levels.

The Heguru Method’s 3 Achievements : 1- Developing the groundwork for a range of talents and abilities= “Foundational Strength”.

2- Cultivating the “mind and heart” for sound, insightful judgement.

Allowing children to be invaluable “human assets”, highly sought-after in the modern world.

3- Strengthening the capacity for “independent studying”, useful for school entrance exams. Helping children develop the “habit of proactive studying”; learning of their own free will, so that they don’t have any difficulties dealing with exam situations.

Heguru’s Infant Classes from Age 0 bring out the innate and remarkable talents of children in a fun and undemanding way. Heguru aims to give its pupils the “foundational strength” to excel in any fields or subjects they may choose.

There are four levels in Heguru classes.

The first level is the Prenatal Class

that provides a whole range of critical and useful information for expecting mothers. The classes help to strengthen the bond between mother and child by communicating with their unborn baby which makes a compassionate and loving child. Children born with Heguru Prenatal Education feel secure, loved, and experience no loneliness or neglect.

The second level is the Infant and Toddler classes (Ages 0~4yrs). This is the Golden Age for laying the foundations for Right Brain Development. The four major strengths of this level are: 1- The world’s fastest high-speed learning classes made possible by Heguru’s 2-teacher system.

2- In just one lesson; we input a month’s worth of information provided by ordinary infant classes.

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3- Equip your child with the imaging skills to visualize vividly.

4- Parent and child; Nurturing and supporting the root-bond between them.

The third level is the Preschool classes (Ages 4-6yrs) where Heguru classes use teaching methods that allow children to absorb information in a playful and organic way. Preschool is also the time when they start to become conscious of their own improvements and development and cultivate the “habit of independent studying”. The three major strengths of this level are: 1- Full and comprehensive lessons that last 70~90mins.

2- A program that strikes the perfect balance between Right and Left Brain.

3- Encouraging independence by conducting classes without parents present.

The fourth level is the Primary classes (Ages 7-14yrs) where Heguru enables students to apply the 6 abilities they nurtured in preschool; “Memory”, “Comprehension”, “Adaptability”, “Imagination”, “Speed-reading”, and “High-speed processing skills”. The four major strengths of this level are: 126

Heguru produces many students who perform in the top tiers of the most competitive schools and colleges.

1- Attaining “a sense for mathematics” and “high-speed processing skills.”

2- Communication skills will improve exponentially!

3- Growing as people, through humanistic “character-building”!

4- Furthermore, a remarkable ability that comes with Right Brain Development is Hado Reading.

Absorbing the entire contents of a book instantly by just flipping through its pages is a skill and technique unique to the Right Brain. In the past, the classes at Heguru Japan have received a great amount of media and TV coverage with particular regard to this Hado Reading method and Heguru remains the only educational network in the world that has the proven ability and knowhow to teach and develop this particular skill. Hado Reading improves not just academic performance,

but also contributes to markedly greater success in sports as well as arts such as music and painting.

Heguru teachers undergo rigorous training and pass exams at headquarters in Japan, and they must be kind and teach children to have good thoughts.

Heguru is one of the best Early childhood education programs which is the greatest gift you can give to your child.

The Inspiration for bringing Heguru system of Right Brain Education to Kuwait had come to Mr. S. Ramadoss during one of his business visits to Malaysia and Singapore when he had accidentally visited Heguru Centres in those countries. He was so impressed by the brilliance of the children being educated in those Centres that he on the spot decided to bring Heguru to Kuwait. Thus, Heguru Kuwait was set up in the year 2016. It is located at Building No. 40, Block 10, Amman Street, Salmiya (Tel: 25625500 / 50988765).