Phoebe Amoroso

It could be a scene from a surreal dream — the animated virtual idol Hatsune Miku swaying her aqua pigtails on stage next to the renowned kabuki actor Nakamura Shido II. Since 2016, the unlikely duo have joined forces multiple times, and now they’re back again — this time at the Osaka Expo, on May 24 and 25....

I’m lounging on a curved green couch in Igniv Bangkok when the first crystalline platters appear, bearing the “snacks” to open our meal. My first morsel, I’m instructed, should be the bite-size kadaifi (filo pastry) roll offering a satisfying crispiness that gives way to a delicate morsel of Phuket lobster enhanced with citrus. Next, like an Easter gift, an eggshell filled with a creamy mix of Bergkase (Swiss mountain cheese) and Gruyere with enoki mushroom.

There are 47 prefectures in Japan, but – in my humble opinion – Nagano is simply the best of the best. In fact, Japanese travelers agree: it ranked in the top 10 most attractive prefectures in 2024...

A single clam and lotus croquette crowned with a halo of crisp lotus root sits poised in a pool of delicate cream. A drizzle of emerald parsley sauce harmonizes the dish with its freshness and earthiness.

Both visual and textural perfection, the dish is part of a course at Liaison, a Michelin-starred establishment in Osaka, and served up by chef Yuji Tsuji, who was working his second to last night on the job in late October. After joining the high-end restaurant in 2021, he helped it earn it one Michelin star three years in a row...

Journalist Phoebe Amoroso reports from Tokyo, visiting some of the biggest chain convenience stores in the country and finding out what has made them so successful.

In the dim light of Ginza’s Star Bar, a Negroni seems to radiate an amber glow. The cocktail all but conceals a large cube of ice carved to fit the rocks glass exactly. No effort has been spared in its creation: Moments before pouring the cocktail, the bartender diligently fans the crystalline cube to warm its surface to minimize the risk of it cracking when liquid is added.

For travelers planning their first journey to Japan, one question inevitably arises: Tokyo or Kyoto? Tokyo might seem like the obvious choice, right? It's the capital and it dazzles with its sheer scale and lightning-paced energy, a metropolis where ancient shrines neighbor neon-lit skyscrapers and world-class dining ranges from Michelin-starred sushi to backstreet ramen.

Emiko Nakayama only began learning to make cheese three years ago, and yet she has suddenly found herself in the international spotlight. Her creation, Setana, a Camembert cheese, won a top award of Super Gold at the World Cheese Awards held late last year in Viseu, Portugal.

Only 104 of the 4,786 global entries were awarded Super Gold status by a panel of world-leading cheese experts, which put Setana in the top 2.2% of the competition.

The lacquerware tray and tableware signal the start of a serious sushi meal: A perfectly rolled warm towel, crisply folded napkin, chopsticks and a geta (wooden serving board) beckon the arrival of freshly made nigiri sushi.

But there's one piece of tableware that seems both familiar yet unfamiliar — an oblong tatami coaster for a smartphone.

A hexagonal, dark wood-paneled counter at Sake Studio Tokyo is lined with bottles — and anticipation.

Miniature jars are laid out before me as I’m about to (re)familiarize myself with the aromas they contain. I take a whiff of a grapefruit candy and then curiously find it tickling my nose as I sip sake from elegant wine glasses....

Tokyo based Journalist Phoebe Amoroso visits the famous 'Guitar Street' in Ochanomizu where shop after shop sells a remarkable array of electric guitars.

14 minutes
BBC Radio 3

I am tottering my way down two flights of grimy stairs to a basement curry restaurant — the kind of place that only promises a good time if you’re already five drinks in.
“Table one,” I tell the staff. They mutter among themselves and seat me at a table for one.

It’s quite a funny mix-up given that I’m on a mission to connect with other people. Fortunately, the confusion is quickly resolved, and I find myself seated at a table of complete strangers, entirely as intended....

The small medicine bottles are lined up on the counter, one by one, carefully positioned for rational inspection. The dark plastic obfuscates the contents, white labels with minimalist print detailing the contents. I inspect each one carefully, choosing my prescription for the day.

This, however, is no pharmacy. It's a coffee shop and caffeine is my drug of choice.

Harajuku, once known as Tokyo's fashion hub but now more synonymous with tourist hordes, is having a bit of an identity crisis. It is a struggle that is emblematic of a challenge facing many central urban neighborhoods -- how to appeal to consumers when almost everything is available on the internet...

INTERVIEW: As he takes over the American Bar & Grill kitchen, chef Nathan Anaya promises to turn dining moments into memories.