TV chef Kentaro Kobayashi is known for no-nonsense dishes and his show teaching men how to cook. Over a meal at his favourite Italian restaurant, he talks about his accidental route into becoming a chef.
Fiona Wilson reporting from Tottori, Japan: To run a great hotel, sometimes all you need to do is leave well alone. Fortunately the owners of Toukouen have let their 1960s architectural hot property mellow with age.
This year’s Salone Internazionale del Mobile defied the credit crunch with an optimistic mood and a record number of visitors – 348,000 in total, 29 per cent more than 2007, 210,000 of whom came from abroad. Visitors from…
Japanese clothing retailer Beams has its very own ‘internal affairs’ styling department, dedicated to helping shop staff find their personal look and inspire customers. It also believes in practising the perfect bow. This…
Historically isolated from the rest of Japan, Kanazawa’s economy is now expanding thanks to a new rail link to Tokyo. But its inhabitants are determined to preserve the city’s unique traditions and distinctive architecture…
From a buzzy Berlin food hall to a Japanese lunch legend’s fresh start, we round up the pick of the new culinary openings, flavoured with a lip-smacking recipe for crispy chicken.
While many were grounded, the travel industry has been gently gearing up. Here are some new developments that you might have missed. We start our tour at a citrus-strewn island hotel in Japan.
To mark Monocle’s 15th anniversary we’ve asked 14 faithful photographers in seven key cities to shoot a portrait of one another and share their insights on the importance of visual storytelling, being present and the craft…
Expectations of buildings are constantly changing. So how can developers keep pace? By arming themselves with forward-thinking architects and an open mind. These projects hammer the point home.