Top New Music Releases From Japan: May 2023

As our monthly music column officially enters the rainy season and as our time indoors increases, it’s more important than ever to have a good selection of music. Get comfortable with these new albums, singles and EPs. They give listeners the opportunity to feel like they’ve been transported to far away lands. There are new releases by Maya Ongaku, Cyber ​​Rui and more. Plus, Maika Loubte and Cornelius return.

Albums

Maya Ongaku — Approach to Anima

Out on Guruguru Brain, our new favorite label, is the debut album by Enoshima trio Maya Ongaku. In some parts, it sounds like a stroll down the beach and in others, it feels like being hypnotized by a snake charmer. Approach to Anima is certainly an album that makes everything sunnier.

The band’s lack of a formal drummer smooths out any hard edges, gently guiding the listener via

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Largest LGBTQ group in US warns about travel to Florida

The largest LGBTQ rights organization in the US joined other civil rights organizations Tuesday in issuing a travel advisory for Florida, warning that newly passed laws and policies may pose risks to minorities, immigrants and gay travelers.

The Human Rights Campaign joined the NAACP, the League of United Latin American Citizens, the Florida Immigrant Coalition and Equality Florida in issuing travel or relocation warnings for the Sunshine State, one of the most popular states for tourists to visit in the US

While the advocacy group said it wasn’t calling for a boycott or making a blanket recommendation against visiting Florida, it said it wanted to highlight new laws passed by the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature that it said were hostile to the LGBTQ community, restrict abortion access and allow Floridians to carry concealed weapons without a permit.

“Those who visit must join us in their vocal opposition to these dangerous policies,”

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Shop Japan: Omotenashi Selection Summer 2023

If you’ve spent any amount of time in Japan you’ve probably heard the word “omotenashi” quite a few times, as it describes an idea that lies at the heart of Japanese culture. Omotenashi is a kind of hospitality that seeks to anticipate a guest or a customer’s needs, before they are even expressed.

The OMOTENASHI Selection is a collection of products and services that have been made with that same kind of thought and consideration – whether it is a piece of clothing made with extraordinary attention to detail, food or drink made in a traditional, time-honored method, or just a small household item that brings a smile to your face every time you see it.

In this mini magazine we showcase a curated collection of the items found in the OMOTENASHI Selection to help you choose the ones you like most – because
everyone should have a touch of

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Tokyo Islands: Bringing Together the Islands of Tokyo

When most people think about Tokyo, they envision the hustle and bustle of the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, the neon lights of Akihabara, or the towering skyscrapers of Shinjuku. But Tokyo is so much more than the mainland metropolis that first springs to mind, and its reach stretches to incorporate far more than you might think, surprising even long-term residents of the capital.

Some of these lesser-known locations that fall within the bounds of Tokyo are the Izu and Ogasawara Islands. This archipelago, often collectively referred to as the Tokyo Islands, incredibly consists of over 200 individual islands of varying sizes, many of which feature scenery that rivals even the more famous tropical locations of southern prefectures such as Okinawa.

Being completely disconnected from mainland Japan, the Tokyo Islands are home to their own range of nature, wildlife and even weather that is unique to each location. This includes Miyakejima, an

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Air Canada nearly doubles revenue, checks out profit as travel demand takes flight

Air Canada reported that first-quarter revenue nearly doubled compared to a year earlier as travelers hopped back on airplanes en masse — even as higher costs tamped down net earnings.

Buoyed by a record $4.9 billion in revenue, the quarter marked the second in a row where the carrier has turned a profit following 11 straight quarters of losses totaling $10.1 billion.

Net income amounted to $4 million, in stark contrast to $974 million in losses a year ago.

Chief executive Michael Rousseau said the results for the three months ended March 31 beat out all expectations for a traditionally weaker quarter, and that he believes demand will persist amid strong advance bookings for the rest of the year. They hit $5.3 billion at the end of March, up from $4.1 billion a year earlier.

“The winter and the start of the spring can be very challenging in North America,

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The World’s Best Road Trip Destinations, According To New Report

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There’s no better feeling than getting behind the wheels of your car and taking to the open road. Traveling on vacation via car gives you the freedom to go and see whatever you want, whenever you want.

What’s more, road-tripping is popular. 81% of summer travel in the United States is undertaken by car. You can road trip on your own or travel with family and friends. But where are the best places to visit for a road trip?

Woman in a car on road trip

A new report from car experts DiscoverCars has surveyed more than 140,000 tourists from across the world to discover the best scenic routes you can explore with the freedom of your own vehicle.

The five best road trips are spread across continents and will lead you through a diverse range of landscapes. In most cases, you would need to hire a vehicle on

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Discover Nagasaki: In the Footsteps of Japanese Christians

Ccurrently, only about 1.9 million Japanese people (1.5% of the population) identify as members of the Christian church. Many choose to keep quiet about it. Taro Aso, the former Prime Minister of Japan, is — to the surprise of many — a practicing Roman Catholic. However, there was a time when Christianity in Japan was big, loud and bloody. Today, visitors to the country can travel back in time to those turbulent years by visiting sites throughout Nagasaki Prefecture connected to some of the most important Christian figures in Japanese history.

Hirado Bridge

St. Francis Xavier and Hirado Island

Francis Xavier was the first missionary to visit Japan in 1549, with a wanted murderer named Anjiro acting as his guide and translator. He operated out of Kagoshima but also traveled up north to Nagasaki where he introduced Christianity on Hirado Island in 1550. The religion quickly spread there after

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After chaotic 2022, how is Canada’s air travel sector shaping up for summer? -National

Canadian airports and airlines are bracing for a hot summer travel season ahead as they attempt to bounce back from the chaos of long lines and delays that have been seen across the country last year.

Travelers might have a smoother ride this time around as the air travel sector rolls out a series of measures, from hiring more staff to technological advancements.

There’s also increased pressure on accountability as strengthened air passenger rights measures proposed by the federal government loom.

With COVID-19 restrictions completely lifted, improvements at airports and better staffing, “we’re in far better shape than we were before,” said one travel insurance broker in Toronto.

“If there’s any bright light that’s come out of COVID, it’s that we have changed a lot of things right from passports to air travel and compensation,” said Martin Firestone, president of Travel Secure Inc.

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“The bottom line

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Why This Popular European Destination Is Perfect For A Summer Getaway

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It’s no secret that this summer is going to be an extremely busy time to travel to Europe.

According to Allianz Partners, a travel insurance company, the number of Americans traveling to Europe this summer has surged 55% compared to the summer of 2022.

Woman standing at scenic overlook in Portugal

Among the most popular European travel destinations for Americans this summer are cities like London, Paris, and Rome.

Still within the top 10 most popular destinations, but further down on the list, is Lisbon, Portugal. While Portugal has certainly been increasing in popularity in recent years, it still remains a somewhat underrated spot for American travelers.

Here are the best reasons to visit Portugal this summer:

Porto Portugal

1. Affordable Prices

Portugal is by far the most affordable country in Western Europe. According to the travel planning tool BudgetYourTrip, you can expect to spend around $149 per day on a

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28 Best Places to See Hydrangeas in Japan

Ajisai or Japanese hydrangeas, which bloom during Japan’s humid rainy season, have a long-standing history in this country and are loved by people of all generations. Here is a list of breathtaking spots for hydrangea viewing all over Japan.

Tokyo

Photo by zu_kuni via Shutterstock

1.
Hakusan Shrine

Located in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Hakusan Shrine holds an annual hydrangea festival, called the Ajisai Matsuri. It’s only a few minutes away from the Tokyo Metro Hakusan Station. Visitors can also enjoy various Japanese festival treats sold on roadside food carts.

2.
Takahata Fudoson Congoji Temple

Takahata Fudoson Kongoji Temple is in Hino, Tokyo and is one of the three famous Fudo temples in the Kanto region. There are around 7,500 hydrangeas of 200 types. It is located beside a mountain where you can go for a little hike.

Kanagawa

Photo by dokosola via Shutterstock

3.
Enoshima Shrine

Enoshima Shrine, where the

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