“However persuasive they might be as facsimiles, shokuhin sampuru are subjective interpretations, seeking not only to replicate dishes but to intensify the feelings associated with the real thing.”
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Posted inEditor's Pick
My Quest to Find the Owner of a Mysterious WWII Japanese Sword
“When I was a kid, I was fascinated by a traditional katana my grandfather had brought home from Japan in 1945.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Zero Zen
“A great exchange rate, ChatGPT, and kimono-wearing bros have turned Kyoto into the loveliest tourist trap on earth.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Eastern Promises
“In a Tokyo of tourists, the citizens have become strangers.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
The Joy of Clutter
“The world sees Japan as a paragon of minimalism. But its hidden clutter culture shows that ‘more’ can be as magical as ‘less.’”
Posted inEditor's Pick
How Tokyo Became an Anti-Car Paradise
“The world’s biggest, most functional city might also be the most pedestrian-friendly. That’s not a coincidence.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
How Two Friends Sparked L.A.’s Sushi Obsession — and Changed the Way America Eats
“The aim, in essence, was to create a sushi ecosystem for Los Angeles. Would it work?”
Posted inReading List
Remember the Titans: An ‘Attack on Titan’ Reading List
The influential anime didn’t just upend kaiju tropes—it delivered an unsettling look at imperialism and hubris.
Posted inTop 5
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
Featuring stories from Michelle Shephard, Adrienne Mason, Dylan Levi King, Sara Mitchell, and Saskia Solomon.
