Apr 17th, 2011 at 4:00PM: In an ironic twist of fate, Japan's recent tsunami may have accomplished something conservationists have been fervently attempting for years: Driving a final nail into its pro-active whaling communities.
The first outsiders only recently reached the small town of Ayukawahama, which was crushed by thirty-foot waves. So was the headquarters of the biggest business in town, Ayukawa Whaling, one of ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
japan posts
The effect of Japan's tsunami on whaling
Apr 17th, 2011 at 4:00PM: In an ironic twist of fate, Japan's recent tsunami may have accomplished something conservationists have been fervently attempting for years: Driving a final nail into its pro-active whaling communities.
The first outsiders only recently reached the small town of Ayukawahama, which was crushed by thirty-foot waves. So was the headquarters of the biggest business in town, Ayukawa Whaling, one of ...Luxury hotel offers rooms to victims of Japan disaster
Apr 12th, 2011 at 2:00PM: As the world watches in disbelief while Japan is continuously rocked by earthquakes and aftershocks, business and organizations have popped up everywhere hosting benefits, donation opportunities and volunteer services to help the victims of the Japan disaster. In Tokyo, one luxury hotel is offering relief for displaced Japan residents.
The Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka was scheduled to close its ...Post-quake life in Tokyo
Apr 9th, 2011 at 1:00PM:
As a Tokyo-based writer, I've written no less than four books on Japan in addition to countless blogs, newspaper articles, magazine features and reference texts. While I hesitate to use the word expert, I consider myself to be profoundly knowledgeable about the country that I've lived in for the last five years.
Yet despite these credentials, I have struggled for weeks to summarize any ...Video: Japanese tsunami destroying everything in its path
Mar 28th, 2011 at 10:00AM:
The aftermath of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami has been widely broadcast on TV news shows - images of wiped out towns and the total destruction of entire areas showed us the power of the quake and its resulting tsunami.
In this video, you'll see one of the most terrifying clips to date - showing just how devastating this natural disaster really was. From the slowly rising river waters ...
Top 20 countries for life expectancy
Mar 21st, 2011 at 10:00AM:
"Old people" - we all hope to live long enough to earn this distinction. In some countries, the probability of living well into your eighties is much better than in others. The worldwide average for life expectancy is just a smidge over 67, with the highest and lowest countries fluctuating by over 20 years in each direction. 39 of the bottom 40 countries are located on the African continent, ...Earthquake strands thousands at Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea
Mar 12th, 2011 at 9:00AM:
Thousands of guests were stranded in Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea after the massive earthquake that rocked the island nation on Friday. Park employees have been giving out humanitarian aid including blankets, heaters, plastic raincoats, food, and water. While Disney has reported only a few minor injuries and minimal property damage, other reports state that the earthquake has liquefied the ...
Travel disruptions from Japan earthquake and tsunami continue
Mar 12th, 2011 at 7:00AM:
After the record earthquake and devastating tsunami delivered a near knock-out punch to Japan yesterday, the damage is still being assessed. The death toll is rising, fears of a nuclear disaster worsen, travel alerts have been issued and hundreds of flights have been canceled as tens of thousands of travelers have been left stranded.
In Japan, both Narita (NRT) and Haneda airports (HND) ...Big in Japan: Bullet train set to beat domestic rail speed record
Mar 8th, 2011 at 10:00AM:
With the possible exception of the perfectly conical Mt. Fuji and the humble cherry blossom, there is perhaps no greater symbol of Japan than the shinkansen (新幹線) or bullet train. Racing across the archipelago at veritable race car speeds, the bullet train is the technological manifestation of performance, precision and elegance.
The statistics behind the bullet train are certainly ...Big in Japan: Cheating your way into university
Mar 5th, 2011 at 1:00PM:
Over the next few weeks, high school students across America are making one of the biggest decisions of their young adult lives, namely where to attend university. In Japan, the situation is no different, though this year the annual ritual has been marred by the country's largest ever cheating scandal.
For anyone out there in high school - or anyone with less than fond memories of being in ...Coming face to face with history in Hiroshima, Japan
Mar 4th, 2011 at 2:15PM: Hiroshima.
Just saying the name can often evoke a strong emotion or reaction. When I told people I intended to visit Hiroshima on my Japan trip, the response was usually the same.
"Why would you want to visit there?" my friends asked.
"Why not?" I quipped. "The city is home to one of the most epochal events in modern history!"
Despite the admonishments and the bitter winter ...Big in Japan: Ways to stay warm this winter
Mar 4th, 2011 at 1:00PM:
With winter continuing to rage all across the northern hemisphere, this post is devoted to quick tips for keeping warm. Of course, we're going to throw in a special Japanese twist, especially since keeping warm here presents its own brand of unique challenges.
Japan may lead the world in technological advancements such as 3D television and automated toilets. But when it comes to properly ...Big in Japan: Girls' Day
Mar 3rd, 2011 at 9:00AM: Today's column is written in honor of Hina-matsuri (雛祭り) or Girls' Day, an annual March 3rd celebration for those of us with two X chromosomes. The striking focal point of this event is the presentation of up to seven tiers of handmade dolls, which have a material history dating back more than a millennium.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of life in Japan is the near constant occurrence ...Big in Japan: The Re-Launch!
Mar 2nd, 2011 at 1:00PM: Long-time readers of Gadling may remember the Big in Japan series, which reigned for 200 posts from 2007 to 2009. Well, we're proud to announce the re-launch of our weird, wacky and wonderful coverage from the Land of the Rising Sun.
My name is Matthew D. Firestone, and I'm a long-time resident of one of the world's greatest megalopolises, namely Tokyo. When I'm not stuffing my face full of ...A travel guide to the 2011 Oscar movies
Feb 2nd, 2011 at 4:00PM: The 83rd annual Academy Awards are coming up in a few weeks and the Oscars race is on. This year's nominations contained few surprises, with many nods for Brit period piece The King's Speech, Facebook biopic The Social Network, and headtrip Inception. While 2010's ultimate travel blockbuster Eat, Pray, Love failed to made the cut, there's still plenty to inspire wanderlust among the Best Picture ...Japanese monkey on the loose with a criminal record
Jan 24th, 2011 at 1:30PM: Mothers of Japan, lock up your daughters, there's a monkey on the loose and she has a record. A Japanese macaque named Lucky escaped from a government nature park in Mishima in central Japan while her cage was being cleaned this morning. City officials and residents are especially wary as Lucky escaped last year and went on a two-month "biting spree," attacking 120 people before being caught in ...Capsule hotels come to China
Jan 11th, 2011 at 3:00PM: Following in the footsteps of Japan, China has introduced "capsule hotels" - a cheap, convenient and possibly claustrophobic option for travelers on a budget.
If your travel plans take you to Shanghai, you could enjoy a night at a capsule hotel for as little as $10 (68 Yuan). The 68 "room" hotel opened next to the Shanghai Railway Station, making it easy accessible for travelers on-the-go. The ...Wikileaks Dumps on U.S./Japan v. Sea Shepherd
Jan 8th, 2011 at 1:00PM:
That the Sea Shepherd's and Japanese whalers are skirmishing again -- last week's tête-à-tête included the sling shotting of stink bombs (by the Shepherds) and false attempts to ram (by the Japanese) -- the bigger news was the Wikileaks release of conversations between representatives of the U.S. government and their Japanese counterparts about how to shutdown the ...Q & A with travel and food writer Zora O'Neill
Dec 14th, 2010 at 11:30AM: Zora O'Neill is a travel and food writer, an editor, and the co-founder (with Tamara Reynolds) of an underground Astoria supper club so successful that it eventually spawned Forking Fantastic!, a cookbook and entertaining guide.
Zora has authored guidebooks for Lonely Planet, Moon, and Rough Guides. Her expertise runs from Egypt to Amsterdam to her home state of New Mexico and on to the ...Photo of the day (12.9.10)
Dec 9th, 2010 at 5:30PM:
Finding contrasts is one of the best things about travel. We love seeing places, people, and cultures different from our own and when we see a familiar item in an unfamiliar context, it's especially interesting. Pick up any travel article about Turkey, Morocco, or Japan and you're guaranteed to read a few examples of "old world meets new" contrast. Today's Photo of the Day by Mike GL captures a ...Gadling's favorite hotels for 2011
Dec 8th, 2010 at 10:30AM:
Where do your loyal well-traveled Gadling contributors especially love to spend the night? We polled Gadling writers on their favorite hotels in 2010. Think of Gadling's favorite hotels for 2011 as our version of a hotel tip sheet.
Laurel Miller. The Kirketon in Sydney for its quirkiness, cool bar, small size, helpful staff and retro-mod style, blissfully free of big-city attitude. Southern ...
