The Japan Society Tohoku Earthquake Relief Fund

| 1st April 2012

Tohoku fund

10% of the author’s profit from the sale of the paperback Tokyo Hearts in 2012/13 will be donated to the Japan Society Tohoku Earthquake Relief Fund.

The Japan Society has watched with deep sadness as news unfolds of the scale of damage from the Tohoku Pacific earthquake on March 11 2011. The Japan Society extends their heartfelt sympathy and condolences to all who have lost loved ones or been affected by the disastrous events.

The Japan Society has created a relief fund to aid victims of the Tohoku earthquake. All funds received will be distributed to organisations working to help people in the affected areas recover from the devastating effects of the earthquake and the tsunami. The Japan Society is working in partnership with the Sanaburi Foundation to ensure funds are targeted to meet specific needs.

Hyper Japan 2012 – The UK’s biggest J-Culture Event

| 27th February 2012

My husband and I lined up with hundreds of others at Brompton Hall in Earls
Court for the Hyper Japan Event 2012. Once inside, there was a great range of Japanese food to try, my husband took part in the Eat-Japan Sake Awards Top Brewery Taste-Off and I was pleased to see so many Japanese imports on display that are now being distributed in the UK such as the beautiful Doki ceramics and pottery. Other highlights included performances from the famous Japanese singer Natsuko Aso and a live demonstration by former World and Olympic Judo champion Maki Tsukada. We also watched a few Japanese food demonstrations in the Taste Discovery Zone and I noticed Choya promoting their Umeshu – a sweet Japanese liquor made from the ume fruit (similar to a plum). This particular drink is a real favourite with females in Japan and I wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes just as popular with the Brits.

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Tokyo Style

| 8th January 2012

The latest look in Tokyo is borrowed from the British. Checked prints, tweed and herringbone wool jackets, duffle coats, hunting caps, traditional trench coats and brogues are everywhere. English heritage mixed with Tokyo street style is the trend for winter.  If you’re in the UK then check out Boden’s tweed blazers and the tweed skirts and gilets at Joules. Philip Morris & Son has the best online website for quality English country wear…I’m off to the shops…

tweed