SHIROI KOBITO It was only appropriate to re-watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on the flight. I was going to Hokkaidō, Home of Shiroi Koibito! You see that logo at every turn and every corner. It isn’t merely a factory ok? It’s like a castle. Just like how Charlie Bucket loves his chocolates, my life [...]

I probably should have done some videos of the food, but I was too eager to eat. Blame those gluttony genes. The first raw fish I ever had was probably salmon sashimi. Very soon, I learnt that salmon sashimi = cheap sashimi, and the Japanese actually eat salmon in other ways. Hello to the expensive [...]

The first railway line in Hokkaidō was built between Sapporo, its capital city, and Otaru, underlining the importance of this port city. Being a strategic port ourselves, we understand that economic progress and infrastructure development is typically faster, as compared to inland regions. Larger ships were unable to sail in directly, so the famed Otaru [...]

Mountainous geography and harsh winters- some of the reasons why the Japanese were reluctant to live in the northern part of their country. Development went ahead, with the assistance of the Americans in the 19th century, and people gradually migrated to this place with cool summers and sub zero winters. It got a little warm [...]

I watched part of the National Day Parade wistfully from home. I could have rushed down to the Padang if I really wanted to, someone said. But I’ve been to that many NDPs and rehearsals and I know I’ll perspire like mad. Someone offered to bring me to a nearby gym so that I could [...]