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Andy Warhol exhibition in Asia: 15 minutes clearly isn’t enough

CNNGo staff — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:45:51 +0000

by CNNGo staff

Five cities in Asia are to be hit by pictures of canned soup, a hamburger and a colorful representation of Chairman Mao, apparently wearing lipstick, over the next two years.

The artworks are traveling as part of the “Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes Eternal” exhibition, the biggest retrospective on Warhol’s work ever to be shown in Asia.

Warhol, who died in 1987, is famous for declaring: “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.”

The show will start at Singapore’s ArtScience Museum at the Marina Bay Sands hotel on March 17, 2012, and will then travel to Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Tokyo before it ends some time in 2014.

Specific date and venue details for the other cities have not yet been released.

10 islands for every type of traveler

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

So many islands in the world (around 2 million at the last count), so little desire to leave the comfort of the computer screen.

Until you realize that out there somewhere there is an island that could have been designed just for you.

So who are you? Millionaire? Nudist? Family guy or celebrity stalker? Figure that out first, then get booking.

1. Millionaires: Musha Cay, Bahamas

Musha Cay is a millionaire’s playground. More specifically, David Copperfield’s playground, after he purchased the island resort from Blockbuster Video co-founder John Melk in 2006 for a reported US$56 million.

Other millionaires such as Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates reportedly vacationed here, and in 2007 Google founder Sergey Brin hosted his wedding on the island.

UFC 144: World’s most violent sport hits Tokyo

Jason Coskrey — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:00:47 +0000

by Jason Coskrey

Later this month, that bastion of bash-‘em-ups, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), makes a long-awaited appearance in Japan, giving fans an opportunity to see some of the best fighters in the world, including the latest incarnation of B.A. Baracus in the flesh.

The Japanese fight scene hasn’t been quite the same since Pride Fighting Championships (PRIDE) shuttered its doors in 2007.

As UFC holding company Zuffa bought the remains of the old company that year, it's no surprise the card UFC has put together is a mixture of new Mixed Martail Arts (MMA) stars and former PRIDE stalwarts.

For the curious, or uninitiated, it’s a chance to get a taste of a rapidly growing sport that has deep roots in Japan. MMA is unarmed combat that brings together fighters with backgrounds in karate, Brazilian jiujitsu, boxing, wrestling and various other disciplines.

If it involves pummeling your opponent in a ring, it’s in.

Gregory Starr: GPS is the traveler's enemy

Gregory Starr — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:55:51 +0000

by Gregory Starr

A study published late last year by a U.S. national newspaper showed a surprisingly large percentage of GPS users suffering from the digital blues to such an extent vacations and even trips to the local store were being dashed against the twin rocks of hope and common sense.

Our intrepid travelers reported being plagued with all kinds of problems: more than a third had experienced difficulties simply finding the right address, a quarter had dealt with convoluted (read “idiotic”) directions and a not miniscule 14 percent claimed they couldn’t even see the screen because of glare.

What wasn’t included in the article was the degree that navigation systems of all shapes and sizes have reduced the collective IQ of the global population, which is a polite way for saying they’ve basically made us more stupid when we hit the road.

Remain in your vehicle, please sir

I was offered a ride the other day, and despite the fact that a mid-afternoon journey by car in Tokyo often ends up taking longer than earning a black belt in any of the martial art disciplines, I accepted.

The best sushi restaurants in Tokyo

Kelly Wetherille — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:55:24 +0000

by Kelly Wetherille

Ask five Tokyoites to name the best sushi restaurants in the city, and you’re likely to get five different answers -- the old "how long is a piece of string?" quandary.

That's because the sushi experience is a very personal one that can include not only raw seafood, but also things like unmatched service, chefs whose skills were honed by years of apprenticeship, an atmosphere that screams “traditional Japan” and, in many cases, a whopping bill.

Because of all this, any one traveler’s favorite sushi experience is going to largely depend on budget, interests and previous experience with the cuisine.

But the great thing about Tokyo is its sheer breadth and depth of choice when it comes to eating out.

Sushi is no exception, and at least one of these five restaurants or chains is sure to please just about any hungry visitor.

Tokyo's stunning palace for the printed word

C. James Dale — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:55:05 +0000

by C. James Dale

The duo that designed Tokyo’s latest architectural wonder is turning an age-old phrase by that quintessential Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci, on its head. “Art is never finished,” said the Italian painter, sculptor, architect and you-name-it-he-did-it. “Only abandoned.”

Sure, if you visit Daikanyama T-Site [Japanese], an upscale retail complex that opened last December 5 in the city’s trendy Daikanyama neighborhood, you might notice that Mark Dytham and Astrid Klein’s creation is not quite done.

On a sunny January morning inside Anjin [Japanese], a chic and comfy café-lounge that sits atop one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, the founders of Klein Dytham architecture (KDa) are told -- with polite words and bows -- they’ll have to sip their cappuccinos at a different table.

The lighting guy’s arrived. Apparently one of the fixtures is hanging too low.

But while Dytham and Klein might be playing musical chairs (or in this case, musical designer couches), they aren’t planning on abandoning their chef d'oeuvre. They like it too much. Plus, it’s just down the street from their office.

Japan quake drives tourist numbers to rock bottom

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:19:47 +0000

Given the knock-on effects of the March 11 earthquake, it’s hardly unexpected, but the news that the number of tourists visiting Japan in 2011 was down by almost 30 percent still came as something of a blow to the country’s travel industry.

The figures, compiled by the Japan National Tourist Organization, show the biggest annual fall in visitors since it began keeping records.

Just 6.2 million foreign travelers visited Japan [Japanese, scroll down for English] in the whole of 2011 -- down 27.8 percent on 2010.

While the impact of the earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima nuclear accident are all implicated, JNTO also says the historically strong Japanese yen has caused many potential visitors to stay away.

Still, the travel industry isn't panicking yet. We spoke to Aya Kihara of Kanazawa-based agency The Real Japan.

A brand-new village in the heart of Tokyo

Robert Michael Poole — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:55:17 +0000

by Robert Michael Poole

Yoyogi is rarely (well, never) highlighted on tourist maps of Tokyo, but one man is on a mission to bring new life to an area that until 1889 was actually known as Yoyogi Village.

Music producer Takeshi Kobayashi is opening up his own, all-new Yoyogi Village and in the spirit of the literal translation of Yoyogi -- "generations of trees" -- it is an eco-park filled with shops, eateries and event spaces around a central landscaped garden.

Despite being a stone’s throw from the station, Yoyogi Village is actually tricky to find, with no signage to its side-street main entrance.

But once stumbled upon, it can't be mistaken, as the entrance itself has the feeling of entering a theme park -- or at least a green oasis within an otherwise standard Tokyo shopping district.

A hull-shaped wooden walkways offer an initial choice inside the mostly open-air complex -- either explore the upper decking and terrace, or walk through a street of cafés to the greenery in the center.

12 reasons to visit Japan in 2012

Kelly Wetherille — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:55:34 +0000

by Kelly Wetherille

1. January: Lashings of good luck

Hey little fella -- you get both eyes only if I have a great year, ok?

Bright red daruma dolls are a symbol of good luck in Japan, due to their unique shape that allows them to right themselves when knocked over. Apparently, that’s a good thing.

The tradition of the daruma can be traced back centuries to Takasaki’s Shorizan Daruma Temple in Gunma Prefecture, which allegedly asked farmers suffering from famine to make the papier-mâché dolls to sell at the temple for extra income.

Today, the city of Takasaki remains Japan’s largest producer of daruma dolls, accounting for roughly 80 percent of total production. It also hosts the yearly Daruma Ichi (market) on January 6 and 7, although the little red critters can be found right through the early months of the year.

Visitors flock to the town to select their daruma from mounds of the things -- from thimble-sized tiny ones up to dolls you’d need a truck to get home.

Luxury lands in Okinawa at last

C. James Dale — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:28:21 +0000

by C. James Dale

At first glance, Okinawa appears to have all the makings of a remarkable, subtropical travel experience -- crystal-clear waters, top-notch scuba diving, endless stretches of beach, a generous helping of UNESCO World Heritage sites and delicious local cuisine to boot.

But while more than 5.5 million travelers, the vast majority Japanese, jet to this southern getaway annually, the wealthiest among them are hard-pressed to find what they’re looking for (if they go at all), starting with a suitable place to lay their heads.

“Top level accommodation has been sorely lacking,” said Duff Trimble, whose Toronto-based agency Wabi-Sabi Japan customizes vacations for the bespoke set. “Tourism on the main island is more geared toward the domestic traveler on a package tour.”

According to Trimble, none of Okinawa’s resorts could be considered five-star and can’t measure up to what’s available in Bali, Thailand or Vietnam.

He said the same problem exists on the smaller of the archipelago’s 160 islands, such as Ishigaki, Taketomi and Iriomote in the Yaeyama chain.

Food map: Eat your way around Japan

Kelly Wetherille — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:55:32 +0000

by Kelly Wetherille

Much has been written about the relationship between the French and their cuisine, but one could also argue that the people of Japan take their love for food a step -- or several galloping strides -- further. Where else is it common to embark on weekend trips, the sole purpose of which is to sample several varieties of a single dish?

Modern Japanese kyodo ryori, or regional cuisine, is a tourist attraction all of its own, with a signature dish for nearly every major city.

Outside influences

And while some of these foods are undeniably Japanese (sushi springs to mind), many are actually adaptations of dishes that originated in other countries, demonstrating the uncanny ability of the Japanese to take something new and make it their own.

Mouseover the hotspots or click the place names on the map above for a quick spin round Japan’s most notable regional dishes -- from Hokkaido in the frozen north to Okinawa in the deep south, there’s good eatin’ across the board.

Just a few of the regional specialties you'll find on the interactive map above.

Tokyo's best no-smoking bars

Matt Alt — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:55:34 +0000

by Matt Alt

Tokyo is known for its thriving bar scene -- its eclectic, stimulating, incredibly smoky bar scene.

After all, a country where the government owns a 50 percent stake in the largest cigarette supplier (Japan Tobacco) will always be thus.

But, there’s a small and growing number of establishments that let you get your drink on without taking a chaser of carcinogen-loaded smoke. Better yet, many specialize in quality brews that wouldn’t disgrace a German bierkeller.

To cater for all tastes, we’ve included standard pub-style boozers, Western wine bars and smoke-free Japanese izakaya. Time to focus those alcohol-digesting enzymes on this list of Tokyo's best no-smoking bars, in no particular order.

1. The Aldgate

Tokyo’s craft beer scene has kicked into high gear over the last few years, which is good news for brew lovers. Apparently taking a cue from American brewpubs, the majority of them ban smoking, which is good news for non-smokers.

Jack Sparrow takes the helm of a Tokyo cake store

Jessica Ocheltree — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:55:27 +0000

by Jessica Ocheltree

One of the best things about living in Japan is that there’s always some completely surreal surprise waiting around the corner.

This week, it’s Captain Jack Sparrow, decked out in full swashbuckling garb, behind the counter of a cake shop in Nakano. Really.

The sight of the grizzled sea dog schlepping tarts around a decidedly pink and princessy shop is enough to stop most passersby in their tracks.

Of course, it's not the real Jack Sparrow, though they look so similar you might be hard pressed to tell the difference.

This pirate proprietor calls himself Koenji Jack Sparrow, after the nearby hipster neighborhood, and he specializes in pastries, not plunder.

2k540: There's more to Akihabara than nerds and maids

Tim Hornyak — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:55:35 +0000

by Tim Hornyak

After about an hour in Akihabara, it always hits me. My senses get saturated with the saucer-eyed anime girls, maid café touts and plastic figurines, and it’s time to split. Tokyo’s electronics shopping district is always fascinating but the AKB48 overload can pull you down like a Vegas hangover.

It was a welcome surprise, then, to find a retail experience that’s worlds away from Akiba, yet just off its northern fringe.

After dropping in at my favorite robot shop Technologia, past the UDX Building, I stumbled upon a gem of a mall tucked under the JR train tracks.

Urban renewal

Akihabara, but not as we know it, at the entrance to 2k540.

Opened about a year ago, 2k540 Aki-Oka Artisan is positively futuristic compared to the dowdy surrounds of Ueno 5-chome. I entered a long tunnel of thick white columns sprouting from fresh asphalt, with small white shops stretching into the distance.

Exhibition: The bewitching art of Fuyuko Matsui

C.B.Liddell — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:55:17 +0000

by C.B.Liddell

There’s something bewitching about Fuyuko Matsui. I mean that in both senses of the word.

Yes, she’s rather too beautiful and her art is strangely mesmerizing, but, more than this, she actually seems to have some occult power to interfere with electronic equipment. Arriving at her Tokyo gallery to interview her about her latest exhibition at the Yokohama Museum of Art, my main camera goes on the blink, only to completely recover after I return home.

You may well be thinking, “Idiot! He forgot to charge the battery,” but there’s no way I’d forget that with the prospect of shooting someone as appealing as Ms. Matsui. Indeed, I even brought a back up camera, which luckily was unaffected by whatever dark spell it is that she emits.

Visual appeal

Compared to the last time I met her, five years ago, when my camera also experienced gremlins, the 37-year-old Matsui, who is now married to a boring science professor, looks happier and more radiant.

As she did then, she now declares she has no interest in having children, leading to the thought that her art is her children -- a very disturbing idea when you consider the nature of her work.

Mission accomplished for Japan’s Travel Volunteers?

Hiroko Denno — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:41:43 +0000

by Hiroko Denno

As we reported back in November, the Travel Volunteer Project, which reached the finish line just over two weeks ago at the end of 2011, was one of the more ambitious and far-ranging PR-driven travel schemes we’ve yet come across.

The brainchild of a travel agency in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, the Project recruited two Britons who had never before set foot in Japan to travel the country’s 47 prefectures in 100 days, posting daily blogs from the road.

Its goal? To tell the world that Japan is as safe and fascinating as it ever was, regardless of the awful events of March 11 last year.

Of the 1,897 applicants from 85 different countries, photographer Katy Morrison and writer Jamie Lafferty were chosen to undertake the mission.

The couple embarked on their journey on September 15 from Kanazawa Station, returning there to complete the circuit on December 23, just two days before Christmas.

Taiko Workshop

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:40:25 +0000

Ever feel like you just want to bang on a really massive drum (or is that just us)? Either way, you won’t want to miss the Taiko Workshop on January 14.

This event offers a rare opportunity to learn the art of traditional Japanese drumming in a hands-on setting. Participants can try out several types of drums, including the enormous odaiko which is over 75 centimeters in diameter.

Instructor Isaku Kageyama is a two-time National Odaiko champion and spent five years as principal drummer with Tokyo-based ensemble Amanojaku. He also acts as an ambassador for the art, teaching taiko workshops in the U.S., Brazil and other countries.

Email isaku@isakukageyama.com to reserve a spot in the workshop.

January 14, 2 - 3 p.m. Asakusa. More info online.

Setagaya Boro-Ichi

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:30:08 +0000

Only in Japan would shopping be considered one of the country’s treasured intangible cultural assets. Well, okay, the Setagaya Boro-Ichi is more than just shopping.

The fair dates back 433 years when fabric scraps known as “boro” were the main item of trade. Today, the lively event features over 700 stalls crammed along the narrow and aptly named Bori-Ichi Dori. Vendors sell everything from antiques, shrubs and pottery to clothing, food and home décor accessories.

Be sure to grab some daikan-mochi, a type of rice cake that has been the fair’s specialty snack for hundreds of years.

January 15 - 16. Around Kamimachi station. More info online.