If you want to tour a hidden side of Tokyo away from the crowds of tourists in Shibuya; take the Chuo line from Shinkuju to Nakano. A short walk from the station takes you to Nakano Broadway, a shopping mall full of wacky shops. For fans of Japanese pop culture and Manga, Broadway is a must. Browse...

I randomly wandered into this building off of Ginza exit  A2. I looked around and saw mainly tables of men having a good chat with their friends over a pint of beer. The atmosphere was lively in the background there was a huge tiled mural of half naked women gathering sheaves of wheat. For a...

by Ian de Stains OBE It was T.S. Eliot who said that, “April is the cruelest month,” but in Japan at any rate, I think it takes a back seat to February. February comes and goes without celebration or regret. February is the runt of the year, a month with too few days in it and...

by Darrell Nelson The ‘naughties’ came and went in such a blur that it’s hard to believe that we have entered into a new decade already. Since Y2K we have seen a lot of changes in the world, and in particular a rise in sustainable business, despite a pesky recession doing its best to halt the...

by Brett Iimura and Iona Macnab Breast-feeding is, of course, natural for mothers and babies, but it is a learned skill, and often help is needed to get things started properly. If breast-feeding can start off well, it usually means the baby will gain weight appropriately, and mother and baby can continue to breast-feed as long...

by Brett Iimura and Iona Macnab Specially marked bags of roasted soybeans can be found in supermarkets, temples, and even at your local convenience store. These are taken home and thrown within and out of the house while shouting, “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” (“Out with demons! In with happiness!”). Kids especially enjoy having...

by Anne Roberts Chocolates by a Master In 2009 the pastry sous chef of the Grand Hyatt was crowned ‘World Chocolate Master’ at the Salon du Chocolat Professionnel exhibition in Paris. His award-winning creations, ‘Button’ and ‘Collection’ (¥2,000 each) are now available to be sampled at the Fiorentina Pastry Boutique inside the hotel. Chef Hirai’s winning cake,...

by J.K. Whelehan Drinking a 1914 and 1925 Spanish Rioja recently reminded me once again of the potential not alone of this region, but also of other emerging areas. While the 1925 was disappointing (a reminder to check regional vintage ratings), the 1914 sung. As an anniversary gift, it’s worth noting, many of these wines have...

by Kelly Wetherille As the holiday of love draws near, Tokyo’s fashion emporiums are vying for the attention of gift-givers with special themed items in a palette of reds and pinks. From limited-edition t-shirts to gem-encrusted handbags, there’s something to suit even the finickiest of Valentines. So whether you’re shopping for yourself or for that special...

by Kelly Wetherille ...

by Stephen Parker One: In 1958 Momofuku Ando, the founder of the Japanese food company Nissin created Cup Noodles, basing his idea on ramen soup noodles. The snack is now also available as instant rice or instant soup, in an array of delicious and bizarre flavors. The king has to be the Big Curry, enough food to...

by Stephen Parker one: Japanese gallery Carre MOJI selects the very best modern works of the traditional Japanese art form of calligraphy. Exhibited recently at Tokyo Big Site’s Interior Lifestyle Living show, the company sells over 2,000 works of art, beautifully captured and interpreted by 12 highly skilled artists. For a closer look and to help...