Japan

The author and Andrew McDaniel continue their tradition of lunching at Natty Dread beach shack before the KBC Augusta Tournament, a ritual dating back to their first tournament together in 2013, while also recording green speed and firmness measurements and a short video on the pre-tournament Sunday.

Delegates attending the 15th International Turfgrass Research Conference in Karuizawa, Japan will find practical food recommendations here, including cold soba noodles (a local Nagano specialty), grilled eel, soft-serve ice cream, and tips for finding restaurants via plastic food models, department store dining floors, and the restaurant-lined streets beneath Tokyo’s elevated Yamanote train line.

Lay’s Thailand’s crab curry potato chip flavor is reviewed alongside a pass on their extreme hot chili variety, with the post rounding out a Bangkok-to-Fukuoka food journey with a taste of Fukuoka beef sushi.

A roundup of recent and notable product collaborations—including Thomas & Friends x J.League merchandise, Lay’s Thailand Lobster Hot Plate chips, and Nestlé Thai Tea ice cream cones—alongside a personal book signing in Osaka and a feature appearance in the current issue of Golf Digest Choice magazine.

A personal reflection on memorable brand collaborations across Japan and beyond, including a Sapporo x Royce’ chocolate beer, a regrettably missed Mizuno x Lamborghini sneaker, Kashima Antlers x Suntory drinks, and a newly acquired pair of Mizuno x Michelin trail running shoes ahead of a race in Chiang Rai.

A traveler documents a multi-week trip across Japan through regional dishes, including whale (kujira) and horse sashimi (basashi) in Kyushu, fresh nattō and tiny whole shrimp in Ibaraki, and a jerk chicken burger at Natty Dread, illustrating how food reflects the geography of a journey as distinctly as temples and shrines.

A writer reflects on time spent in Bangkok and the smaller Japanese city of Yuzawa, where they worked on a book and enjoyed snow, food, and hot springs, before returning home to rearrange their office with souvenirs including a bottle of Yuki Otoko sake alongside their copy of Yuki Guni.

A botanist shares observations from studying Japanese grasses (Sasa senanensis) before returning to Bangkok, where they mapped their 2016 flight routes and celebrated Thailand’s pleasant dry season weather with a dinner of miang kham—a traditional Thai leaf-wrapped snack that also inspired a novelty potato chip flavor.

Exploring Kyoto’s Ponto-chō dining district and the scenic summit of Hakodateyama, the post pairs iconic Japanese culinary experiences with equally memorable views and walks.

A Euro Biz Japan article from August 2016 explores the distinctions between different types of turf grasses used in Japan, based on an interview conducted by Fred Varcoe.