Letter from Lisbon: From Konichiwa to Ni Hao and Sawasdee
It is funny how like with handbags, destinations too have their trends. For example, these days, you will see people everywhere carrying Anello backpacks – these bags aren’t particularly good to look at, they are unwieldy and cumbersome to use in my opinion but suddenly it seems everywhere you l [...]
Letter from Madrid: Humans must do what technology cannot
We arrived in Madrid on a Sunday, the last day of the Gay Pride weekend in which we were told two million people descended on the city. Across from the Westin Palace, a protest was being staged.
The hotel doorman shrugged his shoulders when I asked what they were protesting about. “Happens all [...]
Letter from Porto: Jewels of the Duoro and gold in the silver market
I am on my first river cruise. As I write this, our ship, Queen Isabel, has just crossed the deepest lock in Europe, the Carrapatelo Dam, at 35 metres. It’s quite an amazing experience, watching your boat rise to meet the other side of the river, and you marvel at the engineering feats that have m [...]
When in Japan, do as Japanese do – how to maintain “chowa” as Japan opens door to “minpaku” accommodation
As Japan gears up for inbound growth – 40m visitors by 2020 – one growing concern is the maintaining of “chowa” (harmony) between tourists and residents as a previously-closed country opens its doors wide to tourism.
After all, across the globe, there is a trend of destinations fighting [...]
Next Story reimagines urban spaces with Kafnu, the vertical village
Next Story Group, formerly Silver Needle Hospitality, will be launching two spaces in Taipei and Hong Kong under a new brand, Kafnu, by year end. Seeking to reimagine urban spaces through technology and story, the company says the new spaces will synthesise “the best aspects of co-working, co-livi [...]
Letter from Tokyo Station: Japan serious about rail, AirAsia about China and Watson about augmenting
Something unexpected happened on my travels in Japan last week. The train service from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka ran three minutes late. You should have seen the look of consternation on passengers’ faces and my Japanese friend said to me, “So sorry, this is very unusual.”
Where I come from, thre [...]
How Katsumi Sakakura conquered himself to bring Japanese cool to the world
It was two days before Katsumi Sakakura was due to perform at the opening of WIT Japan & North Asia 2017 in Tokyo and I was curious to meet the artist who had captured my imagination with his performances which blend, as he calls it, “screen power with human power”.
In dress and look, h [...]
Insatiable appetite for acquisitions in Asia as Recruit Holdings buys TrustYou and Tiket joins Blibli
At WIT Japan & North Asia 2017, the mood among investors was pretty bullish. Those attending were clear that the climate was hotter than average for investments and acquisitions throughout Asia.
Recruit Holdings, in particular, whose corporate director of global development, Aya Yamato, was o [...]
Imagine a future of travel through avatars – how ANA wants to impact all 7.5b people on earth
It is said that a good idea either makes you laugh or makes you very scared and the idea of travel avatars shared at the sixth WIT Japan & North Asia elicited both reactions from the audience.
Akira Fukabori, market communication intrapreneur of All Nippon Airways and Kevin Kajitani, Digita [...]
Letter from Karuizawa: Of domestic sausages, chowa and online battles
Karuizawa is an hour’s train ride from Tokyo. The hill resort is a popular summer retreat for Tokyo folks looking to escape the heat and stress of city life. At WIT Japan & North Asia, there was a lot of talk about the need to disperse tourism beyond the main centres of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto [...]
