Japanese culture

When will it be possible to travel to Japan?

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As one of the few countries in the world, Japan has been hardest hit by the shutdown in connection with Corona entered in 2020.
All types of visas were suspended and borders were closed to the whole world. They still are.

However, Japan has gradually begun to allow business travelers and students to travel into the country. They still need to be quarantined.

In the last 2 years, Japan had several shutdowns some regions such as Tokyo have been shut down on a regular basis due to the population density. Face mask are not unknown in Japan. In 2004 when I visited the country for the first time, I saw Japanese walking around with face mask.

Temperature measurement is also used in several places in Japan such as in hotels.

When Japan opens up to tourists is hard to tell. My guess will be autumn 2022 or spring 2023. It will definitely be a country where one has to have a negative test when traveling into the country. I can also imagine being tested on arrival at the airport.
There will most likely be quarantine rules of varying duration depending on how many vaccines one has received.

Read more about Sushi chef & sake sommelier Zoë Escher

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

That’s why Japanese sushi chefs from Tokyo are so popular!

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Most people know that Tsukiji Fish Market, located in Tokyo, is the largest in the world. The second largest fish market in the world is located in Los Angeles. There are many of the local seafood in Japan lands in Los Angeles and turns into sushi in the exclusive Japanese sushi restaurants.

In Los Angeles, you have Hollywood and celebrities in the film and music industry who love food and, especially, high quality food. So that’s why many Japanese sushi chefs work from some of the best restaurants in Tokyo, Los Angeles. In Los Angeles you can get sushi of the same quality as some of the best sushi restaurants in Tokyo.

When I talk about the best sushi restaurants in Tokyo, it is not those that are on international lists which tourists and others can find.

I talk about the restaurants that the Japanese consider to be the best in Tokyo. That is, restaurants that are not publicly known. The Japanese do not pay that much attention to lists and guides.

I have found a few pictures from 2012. The pictures from the sushi bar in my teacher’s sushi restaurant Bar Hayama.

Read more about Sushi chef & sake sommelier Zoë Escher

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

Memory: Elite kendo training in Tokyo, 2004

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Practice with the national team coach of the Japanese kendo women’s team in kendo at Tokyo University in Tokyo in 2004.

I’ll never forget that??❤️.

Read more about Sushi chef & sake sommelier Zoë Escher

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Zoë has held sushi courses and cooking classes for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

Memory: Opening of Formland Spring in the exhibition center Herning in Denmark, 2016

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In 2016 I held the opening speech and opened the exhibition Formland Spring in the exhibition center Herning in Denmark. I was asked by exhibition center Herning if I was interested in making a speech where I talked about Japan.

I said yes of cause it is one my favorit topics.

I spoke about Japan, Japanese culture and design.

When I had declared the fair open Seido Taiko played Japanese drums.

At the opening, 49 from the press, 20 VIPs and 271 exhibitors attended.

Opening the fair and talking about Japan was a fantastic experience.

Read more about Sushi chef & sake sommelier Zoë Escher

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

Memory: Japan’s most famous kendo dojo

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I am jumping a bit in time for 2017.

In summer 2017 I was in Tokyo and I had an appointment with my teacher that I should have some kata practice.

I had to be dressed and be ready for training at. 6.00 am. When you have an appointment with my teacher, you will NOT be late unless you have been run over by a bus.

I showed up at the address and couldn’t get through the grid gate to Noma dojo. The Noma dojo was built in 1925 and it is the most famous kendo dojo in Japan and, to train, one must be invited.

Next to the building is a police station. All police officers in Japan practice kendo it is part of their job. Some of the best kendo athletes in the world are police officers. I went in there and explained to the officer who did not speak English that I was going to Noma dojo to practice.

He went along to the grid gate. I show him my teacher’s business card and point to the gate. He called spoke to a woman lady and, shortly after, the gate was opened. He points out which way to go.

During my stay I practiced a few times in Noma dojo. For me, training in such a beautiful and historic kendo dojo is a great experience.

The photo shows my teacher Hirakawa sensei (older gentleman) and a colleague Okada sensei that is very famous in Japan.

Read more about Sushi chef & sake sommelier Zoë Escher

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Zoë has held sushi courses and cooking classes for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

Which temple in Kyoto is the most beautiful?

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In Kyoto there are 1,600 temples and all of them are unique and beautiful in their own way. There are temples that stand out more than others.

The Golden Temple also called Kinkakuji in Japanese, is the most visited temple in Kyoto. The temple is located in northern Kyoto about 40 minutes by transport from Kyoto station.

The large temple is located in a large beautiful Japanese garden where flowers and details of the garden are highlighted in the most beautiful way.

Read more about Sushi chef & sake sommelier Zoë Escher

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Zoë has held sushi courses and cooking classes for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

Do the Japanese drink matcha tea with milk?

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In August, I received a gift from one of my Japanese teachers. It has been packed away with all my Japanese tea.

Now I just see that it is something completely different from what I thought it was.

In 2010, I first experienced Matcha latte at a cafe in Tokyo.

I haven’t seen this “Matcha au lait” version. You can drink it both cold and hot. A small guide is provided in Japanese along the tea.

It is going to be interested to taste the tea.

Read more about Sushi chef & sake sommelier Zoë Escher

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

Kyoto

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KyotoI took this pic a few years ago.

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

What is the biggest difference between Japan and the rest of the world?

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We live in the world becoming more and more heactic. There are many conflicts and discussions between different countries and cultures.

Japan is a small country with about 130 million citizens and despite of that Japan is what I would call a very quiet country.
The Japanese culture is very different from the rest of the world. Japanese children learn from childbirth, to speak and treat others properly through eg. martial arts used as childcare

The Japanese also learn to think of others before themselves and in win win. It makes Japan a comfortable country. Japan is one of the safest countries in the world travel in if you as a woman travel alone.

Read more about Sushi chef & sake sommelier Zoë Escher

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Zoë has held sushi courses and cooking classes for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

Tokyo: Part 3: Japanese houses

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About 30 minutes drive from Tokyo located the city of Kawagoe. In the city there are many small houses from the Edo period also called ancient Japan.

The houses are small, made of wood and have lots of soul and history in themselves. There are many small shops, women in Kimono, green areas and nice restaurants.

Below you will find pictures of other houses.

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Read more about Sushi chef & sake sommelier Zoë Escher

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.