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When was the last time you read a book?

Have you ever purchased a book telling yourself you’ll read it once you get home but you just don’t? Then soon enough it’s been sitting there for weeks or even months collecting dust and you’re yet to turn the pages. The Japanese actually created a word for it: tsundoku. Tsundoku has been defined as the practice of purchasing books without the purpose of reading it. Many people have admitted to tsundoku, saying they buy the books for the aesthetic and also find comfort in having the books just there. Therapist and author Marisa Peer has insisted it's not that big of a deal if you’re guilty of tsundoku because there are still good intentions behind your actions. "Many of us decide that a new year's goal is to read more, perhaps focusing on classics or a list such as the 100 books to read before you die," she told The Daily Mail. "We invest in a number of these titles in the hope that owning them will spur us into action. Most of us either don't stick at it long enough for it to become a long-term habit." So, what was the last book you bought and haven’t yet read? Image: Shutterstock

Books

The science of Japanese encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis has catapulted seemingly out of nowhere and into Australian headlines in recent days. With the disease having now <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-09/health-authorities-on-alert-over-japanese-encephalitis-virus/100894208" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reached four states and sadly caused two confirmed deaths</a>, many Australians are looking to answer questions about this new-to-us viral infection. So, what is Japanese encephalitis, why is it spreading in Australia now, and is there anything we can do? What is Japanese encephalitis and what causes it? As the name suggests, Japanese encephalitis is a type of encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain. Symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, vomiting and seizures. It’s caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), an RNA virus in the Flaviviridae family. Other viruses in this family include dengue virus and <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/biology/zika-where-did-it-come-from-and-how-can-we-get-rid-of-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zika virus</a>. They are what’s known as arboviruses – short for arthropod-borne viruses, referring to the fact that they are spread by insects like ticks and mosquitoes. Specifically, JEV is spread by mosquitoes in the Culex genus. Pigs and wading birds like herons and egrets are “amplifying hosts”: that means the virus can infect them and replicate to levels high enough that it can go on to infect a mosquito that bites the larger animal. Humans and horses can both be infected by the virus via a mosquito bite, but we are what’s known as “dead-end hosts”: the virus can’t replicate to high enough levels in our blood to transfer to a mosquito if we’re bitten again. Scientists aren’t quite sure of why JEV replicates better in pigs than in humans. Ali Zaid, a viral immunologist from the Menzies Health Research Institute Queensland at Griffith University, says that viruses usually have preferred host species that are best for them to replicate in – which is known as tropism. “There’s most likely something about the cell entry receptors in humans compared to what is in a bird that makes it easier or more difficult for a particular virus to get in,” he says. You can’t catch the virus from another person or by eating pork products from an infected pig. That’s because the route of infection matters. JEV needs to be spread by mosquito bite and particularly to get into the blood – so it can’t do you any harm if you just breathe it in or eat food containing it. The vast majority of JEV infections are asymptomatic – <a href="https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/vaccine-preventable-diseases/japanese-encephalitis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Australian Immunisation Handbook</a> says that only between 1 in 25 and 1 in 1000 infections actually cause clinical disease. But for those who are unfortunate enough to develop the disease, it’s often very serious. Between 20% and 30% of symptomatic cases are fatal, and 30–50% of people who survive the acute illness experience ongoing neurological symptoms. We’re not really sure what causes some people to have a severe response to JEV infection. Like many viral diseases, the more dangerous symptoms like fever or encephalitis are actually part of our body’s response to the viral infection, not directly caused by the virus itself. “Most of the time the virus will go into its preferred cell, infect it, replicate – and if it has evolved to sort of be sneaky, it will leave the cell relatively unharmed,” says Zaid. “But what happens is the immune system will trigger a knee-jerk reaction, which is designed to brace every other cell in the body against future viral infection. This inflammation is there to essentially kill any cell that may be infected.” Children and older people seem to be more vulnerable. For older adults, that’s probably down to ageing. “Your immune system ages and it’s less able to fend off an explosive infection, and your organs are less likely to handle the damage and inflammation that results from an immune response against the virus,” says Zaid. Zaid points out that in many other countries where Japanese encephalitis is endemic, it’s primarily a disease of childhood. Australia is a bit of an outlier in only experiencing cases in adults, and also in having a better-resourced health system than many countries in South and Southeast Asia where JEV is more widespread – so it can be difficult to translate knowledge from other parts of the world to our context. Why is Japanese encephalitis spreading in Australia now? Japanese encephalitis has been present in Australia for a while, but largely confined to tropical areas – small corners of the Cape York Peninsula and the Torres Strait. Vaccination programs instituted following the first recorded outbreak in the Torres Strait in 1995 have provided protection for humans, and Queensland health department mosquito control activities helped keep the disease, if not the virus itself, largely at bay in those areas. For Nigel Beebe, an associate professor at the University of Queensland and CSIRO working on several mosquito-borne diseases including JEV and malaria, the current spread to the south is unfortunate but not exactly surprising. <div class="newsletter-box"> Get an update of science stories delivered straight to your inbox. <div id="wpcf7-f6-p184886-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> <div class="screen-reader-response"> </div> <form class="wpcf7-form mailchimp-ext-0.5.56 spai-bg-prepared init" action="https://over60wp.azurewebsites.net/health/medicine/japanese-encephalitis-explainer/#wpcf7-f6-p184886-o1" method="post" novalidate="novalidate" data-status="init"></form> </div> </div> “We have been thinking that this was going to happen since around 2000,” he says. “In Australia we have access to wading birds that fly in from Papua New Guinea, we have a large feral pig population – so they’re both amplifying hosts – and we have a very good mosquito vector.” That vector is Culex annulirostrus, or the common banded mosquito – a freshwater mosquito found widely across the eastern half of Australia, as well as in Papua New Guinea. Beebe says the species has been shown to be able to transmit JEV in laboratory studies. His lab is currently working on population genetics to try to identify different strains of C. annulirostrus and understand whether they have different capacity to transmit viruses. There are other flaviviruses that are already present in these regions and transmitted by local Culex mosquitoes. Several experts have suggested that climate change and Australia’s recent weather conditions could have tipped the balance in favour of the virus’s southwards spread. “The reports of multiple cases of Japanese encephalitis acquired in Australia occurring at the same time as severe flooding serves as a warning of the significant potential for new human health threats associated with climate change, including the emergence of new pathogens and the appearance of known infections in new localities,” says Karin Leder, a professor in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University. The current La Niña cycle has likely influenced migration of birds that carry the virus and increased the abundance of mosquitoes. Rain and flooding can create wetland environments in new places, which draw birds and mosquitoes together and potentially bring them into closer contact with both humans and pigs. “Regardless of La Niña, if our climate is to become warmer, and challenged by flood events, we may find that JEV will circulate widely and continuously,” says Gregor Devine, group leader of the Mosquito Control Laboratory at QIMR Berghofer. What can we do to protect ourselves and each other? Unfortunately, there are no specific treatments for Japanese encephalitis, but that doesn’t mean we’re powerless against the virus. There are two vaccines against JEV currently approved for use in Australia, and they’re both highly effective. Both are based on the same strain of JEV and derived from virus grown in a cultured cell line developed from African green monkey cells. <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/assessing-the-various-vaccine-technologies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-type="URL" data-id="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/assessing-the-various-vaccine-technologies/">The major difference</a> is that one vaccine (Imojev) contains a live attenuated virus, and the other (JEspect) contains an inactivated virus. <a href="https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/vaccine-preventable-diseases/japanese-encephalitis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">According to the Australian Immunisation Handbook</a>, a single dose of Imojev generates protective levels of neutralising antibodies against four strains of JEV in 85% of adults, and about 65% of adults maintain these protective antibodies against at least three strains five years after vaccination. Young children maintain protective antibodies for at least 12 months after a single dose. The vaccine is approved for use in people aged nine months and older in Australia. JEspect is delivered as two primary doses, like most COVID-19 vaccines. It’s approved for use in people aged two months and older, with a smaller dose being used for children aged two months to three years. At least 83% of adults have protective levels of neutralising antibodies six months after vaccination with two doses of JEspect, and 48% maintain these levels after two years. Protection also remains high in children for at least six months. JEspect can also be used as a booster if there is a high ongoing risk of JEV infection. “Those are some of the best vaccines we’ve got,” says Zaid. “They work quite well and they’re available. They’re not cheap, that’s the only problem.” The Victorian state government has recently flagged that it wants to make JEV vaccines more broadly accessible, given the current outbreak. Zaid agrees that this should be considered, especially for people who are exposed to areas with both mosquitoes and animal hosts like pigs and wading birds. He also points out that, while Japanese encephalitis is in the news, many strategies to reduce the risk of JEV infection will also help counter other mosquito-borne flaviviruses such as Murray Valley encephalitis and Kunjin virus (a West Nile strain). These are already established in southern Australia, they’re also likely to increase with the current favourable mosquito breeding conditions – and we don’t have <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/developing-vaccines-for-forgotten-flaviviruses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vaccines for them</a>. Targeting the mosquitoes, rather than the virus, then, is a worthwhile strategy. That includes taking extra care to avoid mosquito bites by applying strong insect repellent and eliminating pools of stagnant water that promote mosquito breeding. Avoiding the outdoors at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active, and wearing long, light-coloured clothing (mosquitoes are attracted to dark colours) also help. There are also strategies to control the mosquito population, like insecticides that kill larvae – but they can be difficult and expensive to implement over a broad area, especially when weather conditions favour the mosquitoes. Beebe says that the affected states have come together effectively to deliver a coordinated health response to JEV; in addition to that, he’d like to see the creation of national centre of disease control. “There’s a lot to learn now if Japanese encephalitis is going to stay on mainland Australia and continually cycle,” he says. “We really need to work out its ecology in our particular landscape.” <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=184886&title=The+science+of+Japanese+encephalitis" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /> <div id="contributors"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/medicine/japanese-encephalitis-explainer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/matilda-handlsey-davis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matilda Handsley-Davis</a>. Matilda is a science writer at Cosmos. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of Adelaide. Image: Getty Images </div>

Body

Japanese encephalitis virus contracted in Victoria claims its first victim

Victorians are being warned to protect themselves from mosquito bites after Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) was <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/body/fresh-warnings-after-spread-of-mosquito-born-disease">contracted locally for the first time</a>. A Victorian man has died from the virus, the Victorian Department of Health announced yesterday after Australia’s acting chief medical officer declared a national alert about the spread of JEV. The Victorian man, who was from the state's north and aged in his 60s, died on 28th of February. An autopsy has since revealed JEV was the cause of his death, with investigations into how he contracted the virus now underway. The man's death is the first JEV death in the state, while seven cases have been found in the same state this year. Victoria Deputy Chief Health Officer Associate Professor Deborah Friedman said before now JEV had only ever been acquired overseas. "This is the first time that Victoria has ever had locally acquired cases of Japanese encephalitis virus," she said. Associate Professor Friedman called on people to protect themselves against mosquitos, with JEV spread through the bite of an infected insects. Health Minister Martin Foley echoed the same advice, saying "if you're around mosquitos, please cover up". Associate Professor Friedman said mosquito levels were high across the state, particularly in northern Victoria, increasing the risk of infection. Most humans who contract the virus do not experience any symptoms, or only mild symptoms like headaches or fever.

Body

A Japanese fairytale

Justine Tyerman has a Japanese lesson, discovers a magical bamboo forest and finally sees the world’s most famous volcano in the clear. It happened when we least expected it. En route by taxi to Mishima Station at the end of our week on the <a href="https://walkjapan.com/tour/izu-geo-trail">Izu Geo Trail</a>, suddenly, right ahead of us, dazzlingly close and clear, was Mt Fuji. I nearly fell out the window, trying to get a photo of the perfect cone. It was a fitting finale to a fabulous week during which time we explored the Izu Peninsula on foot with <a href="https://walkjapan.com/tour/izu-geo-trail">Walk Japan</a>. Our last day began with a stroll around Dogashima and the pumice cliffs above the seashore. As we walked by a stall, a sprightly lady selling jewellery began an animated conversation with our guide Yohei. She was aged 75 and had been a diver since the age of 10. In her younger days, she used to dive 12m in 40 seconds up to 600 times a day. Still diving regularly, she was also a great saleswoman too and managed to sell a few sets of earrings to the ladies. We climbed up a huge rock to ‘Matsushima of Izu’, a scenic look-out visited by the Showa Emperor in November 1954. Turtle and Snake Islands, topped with green trees, were just a stone’s throw across a narrow channel of clear, turquoise blue-green water. The striations in the rocks told the story of millions of years of volcanic activity. A 200-metre-long tombolo or sand bar stretching to the trio of Sanshiro Islands was visible just below the surface of the sea. You can walk to the islands at low tide. Nearby, we peered into a great chasm in the earth where the roof of the Tensodo Sea Cave had collapsed. While we were there, a boat full of excited tourists appeared below us, one of many daily excursions from the wharf at Dogashima that take passengers right into the cave. Heading for the hills, we drove through a little village where an elderly couple were working on a tiny plot of land, cultivated right up to the door of their house, and further on, a man in a carpark who looked to be at least 95, doing exercises and stretches while cleaning his car — time and space are seldom wasted in Japan. The Izusanryosen Trail to the summit of Mt Daruma, 982m, an extinct volcano in the west-central highlands of the Izu Peninsula, was the focus of our hike for the day. After scaling many, many steps on a warm afternoon, we were rewarded with another tantalisingly-hazy glimpse of Mt Fuji. After a picnic lunch at the summit... and a chat with six well-equipped Japanese women hikers who had climbed all the way from the village of Heda... we descended Daruma and ascended 890m Kodarumayama meaning small Darumayama. The signpost sparked a language lesson with Yohei who explained the meaning of the Japanese characters — ko means small and yama means mountain so Kodarumayama means small Daruma. The things you learn while hiking with Walk Japan. The track down from Kodarumayama was probably the most difficult of the whole week — seemingly never-ending steps where the soil had eroded away leaving just the wooden support structure. It required a high level of concentration to make sure you planted your feet in exactly the right place. I was relieved I was wearing my heavy-duty, trusty TBs (tramping boots) that day. I sure needed their ankle support. We had a bus with us the whole day so some took the option of going down by road, rejoining the group for the last part of the hike, an amble along a wide, grassed pathway that looked like the fairway on a golf course. We stopped for refreshments at a restaurant with a magnificent elevated view of Izu’s volcanic landscape including the Tanzawa Mountains in the distance. A short time later, we arrived at Shuzenji in the hilly centre of the peninsula. Our accommodation for our last night on the Izu Geo Trail was Arai Ryokan, a graceful 140-year-old historic Japanese inn. Before checking in, we explored Shuzenji Onsen, an exquisite town with the Katsura River running right through the centre. One of the oldest and most famous hot spring resort towns on the Izu Peninsula, Shuzenji was named after the Shuzenji Temple founded by a Buddhist monk, Kobo Daishi, about 1200 years ago. The oldest of the original onsens, is now a public foot bath by the river. Magic in the air Wandering along the river and across picturesque bright red bridges on a glorious mild afternoon, we discovered little cafes and boutiques selling pretty umbrellas, crafts and pot plants. Our pathway took us through a bamboo forest. The play of light and shade through the tall spindly trunks of the bamboo was mesmerising. We lay on our backs on a platform at the centre on the forest and gazed skyward at the impossibly-high tops of the trees swaying in the breeze. The sunlight and shadows played tricks with my eyes. There was magic in the air. My room at Arai Ryokan, overlooking the river, was one of the loveliest and most spacious of our six nights on tour. Sliding windows opened wide, bringing the sound of the river into the room. I loved looking out at the historic Japanese buildings with the turned-up corners on the roofs. The main indoor onsen baths, Tenpyo Dai Yokudo, were built from cypress wood in 1933, in the 8th century Nara Era architecture style. They are registered as a National Cultural Asset. There are indoor family baths that can be booked for private use, and outdoor baths surrounded by gardens. Strolling around the ryokan’s beautiful gardens with their arched bridges over ponds full of colourful fish, and lush green foliage interspersed with the vivid crimson of maple trees, I felt like I was in a Japanese fairytale. It’s a place I’d happily return to. Arai Ryokan specialises in kaiseki cuisine with fresh local seafood and vegetables. By now we were well-versed in traditional Japanese dinners and the 10-course menu (in English and Japanese) was mouth-watering. Knowing the following day I’d be heading home to Kiwi fare, I made the most of the exotic flavours and artistic presentation. It was a fitting feast for our last night together which ended with speeches and a presentation to our excellent tour leader and guide, Yohei. Next morning, it felt odd to be dressed in street clothes and footwear. Everyone looked so different after a week of hiking gear during the daytime and yukata in the evenings. Yohei accompanied us to Mishima Station where he helped us buy our train tickets to various destinations. I always find railway station farewells quite emotional but as we bowed goodbye, I had a sense our paths would cross again sometime, probably walking somewhere. Walking, the purest, simplest form of transportation, was the bond that had united our enthusiastic, energetic international group of 12. Walking was the focus of every day, enabling the gradual discovery of new terrain, a slow unravelling of landscape allowing the senses to absorb the sights and sounds and smells. The experience was enriching, deeply satisfying, and more than a little addictive. Snowshoeing in <a href="https://walkjapan.com/destinations/hokkaido">Hokkaido’s</a> remote eastern region with its abundant wildlife, shimmering crater lakes and onsen thermal hot spring baths surrounded by glistening white snow looks tempting... Fact file: <ul> <li>The <a href="https://walkjapan.com/tour/izu-geo-trail">Izu Geo Trail</a> is a 7-day, 6-night guided tour starting in Tokyo and finishing in Mishima. The trail explores the Izu Peninsula in the Shizuoka Prefecture, one of the most unique geological areas on Earth. The mountainous peninsula with deeply indented coasts, white sand beaches and a climate akin to a sub-tropical island, is located 150km south west of Tokyo on the Pacific Coast of the island of Honshu, Japan.</li> <li>An easy-to-moderate-paced hiking tour with an average walking distance of 6-12km a day, mostly on uneven forest and mountain tracks including some steep climbs and descents.</li> </ul> Justine Tyerman was a guest of <a href="https://walkjapan.com/">Walk Japan</a>.

International Travel

How to stay in this Japanese hotel room for $1 a night

How far would you go to cut costs during your travel? A hotel in Fukuoka, Japan allows guests to stay the night at its room at the bargain price of $1 – but there is a catch. Visitors to Asahi Ryokan could pay just ¥100 (about $1) per night – but only if they agree to have their entire stay live-streamed. According to owner Tetsuya Inoue, the feed – which is aired on his YouTube channel One Dollar Hotel – is video-only and does not include bathroom use. Guests are also permitted to turn out the lights during sleep. “Our hotel is on the cheaper side, so we need some added value, something special that everyone will talk about,” Inoue told <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/livestream-hotel-room-japan-intl-hnk/index.html">CNN</a>. “Young people nowadays don’t care much about the privacy … Some of them say it’s OK to be [watched] for just one day.” <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k_D6eaNz6fU"></iframe></div> Guests at the live-streaming room are requested to follow certain rules and precautions, such as concealing private information like passports and credit card numbers as well as refraining from “lewd acts”. Only one room out of the 10 in the guesthouse comes with the live-streaming option. When the streaming room is unoccupied, Inoue turns the camera on himself working in the office. Guests who would rather not have their night broadcasted to the world may book other rooms for ¥3,000.

International Travel

Japanese theme park to open Godzilla experience in 2020

You’ve seen the legendary Japanese monster on your screens – but next year, you will be able to see them up close in person. The Nijigen no Mori theme park on Awaji Island in Hyogo prefecture will launch a <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/godzilla-theme-park-japan-intl-hnk/index.html">Godzilla-themed area in 2020</a>, complete with a full-size replica of the giant lizard from the movies. Visitors will be able to explore around and inside the 20 meters high, 25 meters wide and 55 meters long beast. Some other activities or “missions” that visitors can try at “Godzilla Interception Operation” include a zipline heading right into the monster’s mouth and a shooting game. The theme park is aptly situated on Awaji Island, the site of Godzilla’s first sighting at the beginning of the Meiji era. According to the theme park’s website, as a typhoon hit the island the monster “appeared with the high waves, roamed the island, causing tremendous damage”.

International Travel

The Japanese hotel room that comes with a life-size flight simulator

For aviation enthusiasts, the flight may be the best part of a trip. But that might change after a Japanese hotel came up with a special accommodation option. The Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu has installed a <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/japan-hotel-flight-simulator-intl-hnk/index.html">flight simulator</a> inside one of its rooms. Guests can come in and enjoy a 90-minute flying session in the “Superior Cockpit Room” suite, where they will simulate the experience of piloting a Boeing 737-800 from Haneda to Itami Airport in Osaka. The hotel said visitors can “experience the sense that you are actually maneuvering by tilting the landscape by operating your control stick.” The hotel, which is located at Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport, offers the simulator experience for 30,000 Yen (AU$397), complete with a flight instructor to guide you through the cockpit. You can also book the room for an additional 25,300 Yen (AU$335) per night.

International Travel

Japanese zoo's hilarious lion drill goes viral

One of the worst situations that a zoo can face is to have dangerous animals escaping their enclosure and roaming free. To prepare for the emergency, Tobe Zoo in Ehime, Japan set up a drill to train staff on ways to deal with an escaped lion. Instead of releasing an actual big cat, the zoo opted to use a <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-25/japanese-zoo-uses-fake-lion-in-escape-training-drill/11244646">staff member in a lion costume</a>. A video shows the furry suited employee strolling around the zoo on two legs and charging into a net held by zookeepers. The staff then could be seen simulating tranquilising and capturing the faux animal. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Tobe Zoo in Aichi conducted a lion escape drill today. Note the expression on the actual lions faces. <a href="https://t.co/azuJYQhLCw">pic.twitter.com/azuJYQhLCw</a> — Spoon & Tamago (@Johnny_suputama) <a href="https://twitter.com/Johnny_suputama/status/1142420460988182534?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2019</a></blockquote> The drill was aimed at preparing staff and visitors for the emergency in the event of an earthquake or other incident. The zoo noted that similar drills are held annually, but this year marked the first time it took place while the park was open. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ftobezoo%2Fposts%2F2221043644617861&width=500" width="500" height="770" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> The video has attracted interest from social media users across the world, with many highlighting the zoo’s unique training method. “How do I sign up for this job?” one wrote. Some pointed out the real lions who could be seen watching the drill from a distance. “Real lions watch carefully – no doubt assessing weaknesses and plotting their own getaways,” one commented.

International Travel

The cats that help keep a Japanese rail line in business

Visitors who come to Japan’s Kishigawa line today may see the railway’s unique themed trains and adorable cats as the station masters. What they may not know is the cats’ predecessor saved the rail line from being shut down less than 15 years ago. The Kishigawa Line of the Wakayama Electric Railway runs from JR Wakayama Station through 12 stops over 14.3 kilometres before reaching its final terminus of Kishi Station. It was at Kishi Station that a calico cat named Tama lived. Thanks to her photogenic looks and sweet personality, Tama became popular among commuters, who began championing her as Kishi’s “stationmaster”. The rural rail line began experiencing problems in mid-2000s as the number of passengers were declining. In 2006, the Kishigawa line’s fourteen stations were unstaffed. Fortunately, it didn’t spell an end to the railway. “In 2006, the current president of the Wakayama Electric Railway, Mitsunobu Kojima, was asked by residents to revive the Kishigawa line after the previous owner had announced it was to be abolished,” Keiko Yamaki, executive at the Wakayama Electric Railway’s owner Ryobi told <a href="http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20190522-the-cat-who-saved-a-japanese-rail-line">BBC</a>. That was when Kojima met Tama. “Our president has always been a dog person, but when he met Tama that was it … he fell for her.” In January 2007, Kojima officially named Tama as the “Stationmaster of Kishi Station”, anointing her as Japan’s first feline stationmaster. Tourists soon came in waves to see the special representative of the line, who would often greet customers from atop a table by the ticket gates. Reports said during her time as the stationmaster from 2007 to 2015, Tama brought in 1.1 billion yen (about AU$14 million) to the local economy. The Railway said the annual number of passengers have grown by nearly 300,000 since 2006. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BTlI36zglH4/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BTlI36zglH4/" target="_blank">A post shared by @carolelv</a> on May 1, 2017 at 11:42pm PDT </div> </blockquote> Tama also became a trademark for the Kishi station. Tama-chan’s merchandise could be found in the station shop. Drawings of the cat could be found on every surface of the building, which has also been rebuilt in the shape of a cat’s head. The whiskered feline also inspired Tama Densha, the now-representative train of the Kishigawa line. The train’s design and interior is based on Tama and her three colours, complete with 101 different drawings of the furry stationmaster with a variety of facial expressions. When Tama passed away at 16 years old in 2015, thousands of people attended her funeral at the station. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BfKa67bAvLN/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BfKa67bAvLN/" target="_blank">A post shared by Kevin (@primordialooze)</a> on Feb 13, 2018 at 7:57pm PST </div> </blockquote> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BflWZjMnNFi/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BflWZjMnNFi/" target="_blank">A post shared by Chakriya Chunkesa (@puku_chakri)</a> on Feb 24, 2018 at 6:57am PST </div> </blockquote> But her legacy doesn’t end there – her successor Nitama (meaning “Tama two” in Japanese) has taken the role of Kishi stationmaster, while another apprentice Yontama (“Tama four”) is assigned in Idakiso.

International Travel

Japanese onsen etiquette explained

The thought of soaking in a hot spring sounds fantastic, especially after a long day sightseeing or skiing. But before you grab your swimmers and towel and rush off – check these rules on Japanese Onsen etiquette. Yukata on If you are staying at a traditional Japanese Inn, or Ryokan, you should have a yakata in your room. This light cotton kimono should be worn to the onsen, to breakfast and dinner. You can go naked underneath it, or just wear underpants. Make sure you fold the yakata correctly. You need to fold the right side UNDER the left side. Only dead bodies placed in coffins have the yukata folder right over left. Don’t be fooled by the pictures – no one wears the yukata inside the onsen – we’ll get to that soon. If the hotel has a jacket – that can be worn over the top of the yukata for cold days. Grab your towel from your room (and maybe a washcloth) You will need your towel for after your onsen soak. Bring it from your room. Trust us. Otherwise, you may be left trying to dry yourself with a towel the size of a washer. And you will also look silly. If you are going to a public onsen you will also need your own washcloth. Note that the Japanese often carry their own wash clothes to use in public toilets. That’s why you can never seem to find the paper towels – they carry their own. Sexes divide Japanese onsens are strictly gendered. If the hotel has two onsens they will swap the male and female onsens each day to be fair. Children must go with women into the female onsen. When to go We highly recommend going a few times during your stay. You don’t want to miss the best onsen. My Japanese guide tells me you should go before dinner, after dinner and before breakfast. If you drank alcohol at dinner, you should wait at least an hour before going to the onsen. The heat can make you feel faint. Shoes off Before you enter the onsen, you need to remove your shoes. You should take note of how and where the Japanese remove their shoes <a href="https://www.familytravel.com.au/stories/japan-culture-mistakes/?__hstc=224028740.2b4f31e7a1a1fd4ad6142555b1fed403.1559530192640.1560901826457.1560990902411.6&__hssc=224028740.3.1560990902411&__hsfp=4182817123">to avoid making a mistake</a>. If you reach the onsen via indoors, you may need to take off your shoes before you reach the tatami mats. Watch the Japanese guests when they take off their slippers. They back up to the step until their heels touch the edge. They step out of their slippers and up onto the step backwards. Then when it comes to going down, they can effortlessly slip their slippers on and walk away. The picture above shows how NOT to do it. Those shoes should be neatly lined up with the heels pressed against the step. Other times, you will find a bench for slippers at the entrance to the onsen. Look for numbered pegs – sometimes you should clip your slippers together with the peg and then use that number for your clothing basket inside. After you have removed your shoes you will head into the change room. Most onsens will have baskets for your clothes. Strip off and get naked Yes, naked. No swimmers. We know all the onsen pictures make it look like you can cover yourself. That’s just for photos. In real life – you must be naked. Everyone is naked. No one cares. Although if you are travelling with teens and tweens – you are going to have to explain this one. Put your clothes in a basket Find a basket to put your clothes and towel into. Fold them nicely. If you had a numbered peg for your shoes – you should match that number to your basket. If not, pick anyone you want. Leave your towel in the basket. Do not carry it into the onsen. Grab your washcloth – you’re going to need it for the next step. Time to shower Every onsen will have shower taps, soap, shampoo and conditioner. Before you go anywhere near the water, you must cleanse. Sit on the stool and place the bucket on the small step in front of you. Turn the taps on and make sure you wash down every part of your body. Once you’re done, put your washcloth in the bucket. Turn the taps to cold and get the washer nice and soaked with cold water. Put the cold washer on your head Some Japanese ladies like to make it fancy. Others just sit it on top. This cold washer will help you to adjust to the heat of the onsen. Head for the onsen Now, naked and with your washer on your head, you can head for the onsen. If you do feel self-conscious you can wait to put the washer on your head and have it dangle in front to give you a small semblance of privacy. Make sure you check outside doors – sometimes there’s another onsen pool outside, or hidden around the corner. Don’t stay in too long An onsen soak is delightful, but don’t overdo it. You probably want to remain in for about 30 minutes max. You want to take the soak easy. Dip in a little, immerse, then sit back on a step. Get up, out of the water occasionally and change positions or pools. In cold snowy areas, some people like to take the bucket and use it as a water scoop to keep their top half warm. Shower again Once you’ve had enough you need to go back to the showers. Scrub and wash every part of your body before you head back to the change room to dry. Pamper yourself You will often find the change room has hair dryers, body cream and brushes you can use. You can do this naked, in a towel or in your yukata. Time to go Put your wet washer in the collection bin provided. Get dressed into your clothes and head off. Make sure that you put your slippers on correctly as you leave. Written by Alison Godfrey. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/japanese-onsen-etiquette/">MyDiscoveries</a>.

Travel Tips

Tasty Japanese crumbed chicken with Asian slaw

Want a taste of Japanese crumbed chicken mid week? It’s easier to make than you think! Difficulty: easy Cooking time: less than 15 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">2 chicken breast fillets thinly sliced</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">2 eggs</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Splash of milk</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Japanese bread crumbs</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Japanese mayonnaise</li> </ul> For the salad <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Green cabbage</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Red cabbage</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Coriander</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Avocado</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Toasted nori</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Sesame</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Sliced shallots</li> </ul> Mayonnaise dressing <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Japanese mayonnaise</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Few drops of sesame oil</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Squeeze of lime juice</li> </ul> Method <ol> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Firstly, crumb the chicken.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Make an egg wash, by combining the eggs with milk, and beating. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Line up the flour, egg wash and bowl of Japanese bread crumbs in a row. Dust the thin chicken first in flour, then egg, then crumbs. Set aside. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">To make the mayonnaise dressing, put all ingredients in a bowl and mix together with a whisk. Set aside. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">To make the salad, thinly slice the cabbages, shallots and avocado, and toss together with nori, sesame, coriander leaves. Dress with mayonnaise. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Fry off the chicken in batches in a mix of vegetable oil and butter, until golden brown. This should take approximately 3-4 minutes. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Blot the excess oil by placing the chicken on paper towels. </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Place the chicken on a plate, dress with the salad.</li> </ol> Recipe courtesy of <a href="https://kitchen.nine.com.au/recipes/japanese-crumbed-chicken-with-asian-slaw-salad-recipe/fc764edf-eed2-46e9-8d29-cea504e941dd">Nine Kitchen.</a>

Food & Wine

Japanese onsen etiquette explained

The thought of soaking in a hot spring sounds fantastic, especially after a long day sightseeing or skiing. But before you grab your swimmers and towel and rush off – check these rules on Japanese Onsen etiquette. Yukata on If you are staying at a traditional Japanese Inn, or Ryokan, you should have a yakata in your room. This light cotton kimono should be worn to the onsen, to breakfast and dinner. You can go naked underneath it, or just wear underpants. Make sure you fold the yakata correctly. You need to fold the right side UNDER the left side. Only dead bodies placed in coffins have the yukata folder right over left. Don’t be fooled by the pictures – no one wears the yukata inside the onsen – we’ll get to that soon. If the hotel has a jacket – that can be worn over the top of the yukata for cold days. Grab your towel from your room (and maybe a washcloth) You will need your towel for after your onsen soak. Bring it from your room. Trust us. Otherwise, you may be left trying to dry yourself with a towel the size of a washer. And you will also look silly. If you are going to a public onsen you will also need your own washcloth. Note that the Japanese often carry their own wash clothes to use in public toilets. That’s why you can never seem to find the paper towels – they carry their own. Sexes divide Japanese onsens are strictly gendered. If the hotel has two onsens they will swap the male and female onsens each day to be fair. Children must go with women into the female onsen. When to go We highly recommend going a few times during your stay. You don’t want to miss the best onsen. My Japanese guide tells me you should go before dinner, after dinner and before breakfast. If you drank alcohol at dinner, you should wait at least an hour before going to the onsen. The heat can make you feel faint. Shoes off Before you enter the onsen, you need to remove your shoes. You should take note of how and where the Japanese remove their shoes to avoid making a mistake. If you reach the onsen via indoors, you may need to take off your shoes before you reach the tatami mats. Watch the Japanese guests when they take off their slippers. They back up to the step until their heels touch the edge. They step out of their slippers and up onto the step backwards. Then when it comes to going down, they can effortlessly slip their slippers on and walk away. The picture above shows how NOT to do it. Those shoes should be neatly lined up with the heels pressed against the step. Other times, you will find a bench for slippers at the entrance to the onsen. Look for numbered pegs – sometimes you should clip your slippers together with the peg and then use that number for your clothing basket inside. After you have removed your shoes you will head into the change room. Most onsens will have baskets for your clothes. Strip off and get naked Yes, naked. No swimmers. We know all the onsen pictures make it look like you can cover yourself. That’s just for photos. In real life – you must be naked. Everyone is naked. No one cares. Although if you are travelling with teens and tweens – you are going to have to explain this one. Put your clothes in a basket Find a basket to put your clothes and towel into. Fold them nicely. If you had a numbered peg for your shoes – you should match that number to your basket. If not, pick anyone you want. Leave your towel in the basket. Do not carry it into the onsen. Grab your washcloth – you’re going to need it for the next step. Time to shower Every onsen will have shower taps, soap, shampoo and conditioner. Before you go anywhere near the water, you must cleanse. Sit on the stool and place the bucket on the small step in front of you. Turn the taps on and make sure you wash down every part of your body. Once you’re done, put your washcloth in the bucket. Turn the taps to cold and get the washer nice and soaked with cold water. Put the cold washer on your head Some Japanese ladies like to make it fancy. Others just sit it on top. This cold washer will help you to adjust to the heat of the onsen. Head for the onsen Now, naked and with your washer on your head, you can head for the onsen. If you do feel self-conscious you can wait to put the washer on your head and have it dangle in front to give you a small semblance of privacy. Make sure you check outside doors – sometimes there’s another onsen pool outside, or hidden around the corner. Don’t stay in too long An onsen soak is delightful, but don’t overdo it. You probably want to remain in for about 30 minutes max. You want to take the soak easy. Dip in a little, immerse, then sit back on a step. Get up, out of the water occasionally and change positions or pools. In cold snowy areas, some people like to take the bucket and use it as a water scoop to keep their top half warm. Shower again Once you’ve had enough you need to go back to the showers. Scrub and wash every part of your body before you head back to the change room to dry. Pamper yourself You will often find the change room has hair dryers, body cream and brushes you can use. You can do this naked, in a towel or in your yukata. Time to go Put your wet washer in the collection bin provided. Get dressed into your clothes and head off. Make sure that you put your slippers on correctly as you leave. Written by Alison Godfrey. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/japanese-onsen-etiquette/">MyDiscoveries</a>.

International Travel

You can now dine with your dog at this Japanese restaurant

A restaurant chain in Japan has realised that many people do enjoy dining with their dogs. Therefore, to keep their customers happy, they have involved your dog in your overall dining experience. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BuV_J3yjMJE/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BuV_J3yjMJE/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by emi (@emi11dai02)</a> on Feb 26, 2019 at 3:36am PST </div> </blockquote> Ushisuke, which is a chain of restaurants in Tokyo and Tokahham, are serving grilled meat to their customers and their furry friends, according to <a href="https://www.kotaku.com.au/2019/03/japan-has-bbq-restaurants-for-you-and-your-dog/">Kotaku</a>. Yes, that’s right. The restaurant grills meat for you AND your dog. The restaurant has also gone one step further to make sure that your dog feels included in the dining experience. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs0Sm-4AkSI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs0Sm-4AkSI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by ✭ アモル ✭ (@amor_album)</a> on Jan 19, 2019 at 5:00am PST </div> </blockquote> Pets are able to sit at the table and order from a specific menu that’s catered to dogs. Items include a selection of rice, veggies and thick slices of meat. As the dogs are up at the table in their special seats, they are able to patiently wait for their food to be cooked. Would you take your pooch to a restaurant like this? Let us know in the comments.

Family & Pets

Delicious Japanese beef with soba noodles

Invite your friends over for a casual night in and cook this Japanese one–dish meal. Delicious, healthy and impressive looking. Serves: 4 Preparation: 10 minutes Cooking: 15 minutes Ingredients: <ul> <li>½ cup (125 ml) salt–reduced dark soy sauce</li> <li>2 cloves garlic, crushed</li> <li>1 tablespoon cornflour (cornstarch)</li> <li>1 teaspoon wasabi paste</li> <li>500 g (1 lb) lean sirloin steak, trimmed and thinly sliced</li> <li>300 g (10 oz) soba (Japanese buckwheat noodles)</li> <li>2 tablespoons sunflower oil</li> <li>1 large red capsicum (bell pepper), halved, seeded and thinly sliced</li> <li>5 spring onions (scallions), sliced</li> <li>1½ cups (125 g) sliced shiitake mushrooms</li> <li>3 cups (750 ml) dashi stock, made with dashi powder</li> <li>1 sheet nori, cut into thin strips</li> <li>½ cup (15 g) chopped fresh coriander (cilantro) leaves</li> </ul> Preparation: <ol> <li>Put ¼ cup (60 ml) of the soy sauce in a bowl with the garlic, cornflour and wasabi paste and mix well to combine.</li> <li>Add the steak and stir until well coated.</li> <li>Set aside.</li> <li>Cook the noodles in a saucepan of boiling water for about 6 minutes, or until al dente.</li> <li>Drain well and set aside.</li> <li>Heat 1 tablespoon of the sunflower oil in a large wok or large non–stick frying pan over high heat.</li> <li>Add the capsicum, spring onions and mushrooms and stir–fry for 4 minutes, or until the vegetables have softened.</li> <li>Remove to a plate.</li> <li>Heat the remaining oil in the wok, add the steak and stir–fry for about 4 minutes, or until just tender.</li> <li>Remove to a plate.</li> <li>Put the stock and remaining soy sauce into the wok, add the noodles, vegetables, nori and coriander.</li> <li>Toss well, then return the steak to the wok and toss again.</li> <li>Divide the noodles, vegetables and beef among serving bowls and spoon over some of the cooking liquid.</li> <li>Serve immediately.</li> </ol> This recipe first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/recipes/japanese-beef-with-soba-noodles">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V">here’s our best subscription offer</a>. <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Food & Wine

You won’t believe the reason why this Japanese train company is apologising

At a time when commuting in parts of New Zealand feels about as enjoyable as trying to draw blood from a stone, you’d be forgiven for wishing for a problem like the one faced in a recent story from Japan’s notoriously reliable railway system. Officials from the Tsukuba Express line, which operates between the cities of Tokyo and Tsukuba, issued an apology to passengers (despite receiving no complaints) after one of the trains rain 20 seconds earlier than scheduled. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/23b6eZkGnxc" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> According to the statement, the train left at 9:44:20, rather than the scheduled 9:44:40, after on eof the staff members failed to check the departure times correctly. The company was effusive in its statement, saying it “deeply” apologised for the “severe inconvenience” that the 20 second delay had caused passengers. A spokesman explained the apology to AFP. "What matters is not the 20 seconds... The point is that our formal procedure should be this: A sound rings 15 seconds before the departure, followed by an announcement asking for caution due to the closing doors, and then the doors shut," he said. Have you ever been to Japan?

International Travel

The little-known Japanese law tourists need to know about

From cherry blossoms to fresh sashimi, it’s easy to see why Japan is such a popular tourist destination. But a landmark ruling in Osaka this week has far-reaching consequences for people looking to visit the Land of the Rising Sun. The ruling relates to tattoos. Thousands of travellers are tattooed in Japan everyday, which has led to a burgeoning industry, but what often gets lost in translation is the fact that this process is illegal according to Japanese law. While rarely-enforced, this Japanese law dictates that tattoos may only be administered by doctors, who let’s face it, are rarely found operating in seedy tattoo parlours. Last week a tattooist in Osaka was found guilty of breaking this law and was slapped with a 300,000 yen (A$3,400) fine, although he is expected to mount a legal challenge. While travellers getting tattoos are unlikely to be convicted themselves, it could have far-reaching implications for the tattooists who are on-edge with the new ruling. While becoming more accepted today, tattoos continue to have a stigma in Japan due to their association with the Yakuza, who were famous for their elaborate body art. As a result, many public spaces in Japan such as gyms, pools and saunas have measures in place to prohibit people from displaying their tattoos. With tourists expected to converge in droves upon Japan for the 2020 Olympic Games, the nation’s strict tattoo laws are expected to come under heavy scrutiny. What are your thoughts? Have you arranged your travel insurance yet? Save money with Over60 Travel Insurance. <a href="https://elevate.agatravelinsurance.com.au/oversixty?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=content&utm_content=link1&utm_campaign=travel-insurance" target="_blank">To arrange a quote, click here.</a> Or for more information, call 1800 622 966.

Travel Insurance

The Japanese word for people who own more books than they can read

Book lovers and hoarders – it’s a bad combination. At least, it was – but we’ve stumbled upon a Japanese word that makes us book hoarders feel a little less guilty. The practice is so widespread that our friends in the Land of the Rising Sun have a little portmanteau to describe us – tsundoku, a combination of “tsunde” (“to stack things”), “oku” (“to leave for a while”) and doku (“to read”). All together, according to <a href="http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2015/08/unusual-words-for-book-lovers/" target="_blank">Oxford Dictionaries</a>, it’s defined as, “the act of leaving a book unread after buying it, typically piling it up together with other such unread books.” The word’s closest English relative would have to be “bibliomania”, a term coined in the 1800s to describe a fictional “neurosis” which causes sufferers to obsessively collect books. Sound familiar? These are just two words we think deserve to enter the general lexicon, but as it turns out, there’s a whole lot more out there for us bookworms. Here are some of our favourites: 1. Colophon – The word might not sound familiar, but what it describes will. A “colophon” is the emblem or imprint found on the title page or spine of the book used by publishers to help build loyalty to their brand. 2. Biblotaph – A “biblotaph” is someone who buries their books – especially those the ones they admire – in order to protect them from “bibliolklepts” (book thieves). 3. Princeps – A “princeps” is simply a first edition or first printing of a book. Princeps can be exceedingly valuable – something as recent as the first Harry Potter novel may be worth tens of thousands of dollars. 4. Bibliognost – If a bookworm is someone who loves books, a bibliognost takes it one step further. Not only do they love books, but they seem to know everything about them. 5. Librocubicultarist – Do you like to read in book? You’re a librocubicultarist. The word comes from the Latin “liber,” meaning “book,” and cubiculum, meaning “sleeping chamber”. 6. Scripturient – This word has died out over the years, but it essentially means “author”. While the latter may be easier to day, “scripturient” sounds a lot fancier! Are you guilty of “tsundoku”? How many unread books are still on your shelf? Let us know in the comment section below.

Books

Cruise line introducing sushi at sea

Add take-out sushi to the list of the things you can get on a cruise ship. Cruise giant Royal Caribbean this month has begun adding sushi-to-go carts on several of its ships with the concept scheduled to debut on more vessels. Dubbed Izumi Express, the offering is an offshoot of the Izumi sushi restaurants that are on a number of Royal Caribbean vessels. The new sushi carts are selling packages of sushi rolls at a cost of $7 to $9 along with a selection of Japanese beers. Among the sushi options are a shrimp crunchy roll and a spicy salmon roll, both for $8. Royal Caribbean tested the Izumi Express concept earlier this year on the 3634-passenger Freedom of the Seas and this month is adding it to four more vessels: Independence of the Seas, Empress of the Seas, Majesty of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas. Two more vessels, Adventure of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas will get the carts in August, according to a spokesperson for the line. Royal Caribbean says the carts will be located in the Promenade areas of ships, for the most part. Some vessels may place them on pool decks. Operating hours on sea days will be from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm and from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm Operating hours on port days will depend on sailing times. Do you think you’d like to see sushi on a cruise? Let us know in the comments. Written by Gene Sloan. First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>. No matter where you’re travelling to, making sure you know how to access your cash while away – and in the most affordable way – is very important. Easy to use and with countless benefits, the Over60 Cash Passport allows you to securely access your cash in the same way you use an ATM or credit card. <a href="https://oversixty.cashpassport.com.au" target="_blank">To apply for a card today, click here.</a> Related links: <a href="/travel/cruising/2016/07/7-secrets-to-enjoying-food-on-a-cruise/">7 secrets to enjoying food on a cruise</a> <a href="/travel/cruising/2016/08/why-cruising-is-good-for-your-brain/">Why cruising is good for your brain</a> <a href="/travel/cruising/2016/08/cruise-lines-that-let-you-byo-alcohol/">4 cruise lines that let you BYO alcohol</a>

Cruising

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You won’t believe the reason why this Japanese train company is apologising

The little-known Japanese law tourists need to know about

The Japanese word for people who own more books than they can read

Cruise line introducing sushi at sea

Our Partners

News

Shop

Catalogues

Newspaper

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Compare

Games

Information

Keep up to date

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When was the last time you read a book?

The science of Japanese encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis virus contracted in Victoria claims its first victim

A Japanese fairytale

How to stay in this Japanese hotel room for $1 a night

Japanese theme park to open Godzilla experience in 2020

The Japanese hotel room that comes with a life-size flight simulator

Japanese zoo's hilarious lion drill goes viral

The cats that help keep a Japanese rail line in business

Japanese onsen etiquette explained

Tasty Japanese crumbed chicken with Asian slaw

Japanese onsen etiquette explained

You can now dine with your dog at this Japanese restaurant

Delicious Japanese beef with soba noodles

You won’t believe the reason why this Japanese train company is apologising

The little-known Japanese law tourists need to know about

The Japanese word for people who own more books than they can read

Cruise line introducing sushi at sea

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