Anna Matsushita

 One winter, my family and I embarked on a journey to the Canary Islands, situated off the coast of North Africa, to celebrate the year-end holidays. These islands, a bit farther south than the Mediterranean, are renowned for their numerous volcanoes. My destination was one of the islands in the archipelago, Lanzarote. It's a Spanish territory where the predominant language is, unsurprisingly, Spanish. Upon landing at the airport and traversing the island by bus, I beheld many curious sights. I noticed peculiar circular enclosures made of stone, with greenery growing in sunken centers. Our guide explained that these were vineyards. The island, formed from volcanic ash, experiences strong winds, making it challenging to cultivate taller crops. Thus, they construct enclosures with rocks to shield against the wind, creating depressions in the center where grapevines thrive. That day, our group of nearly thirty individuals was meticulously led around by our guide, showcasing variou...

 In my early years, I resided in the Tohoku region of Japan. Near the housing complex nestled in the mountains, there was a forest where various fruits grew.   Among them, the mountain grapes held a special fascination for my young heart. Simply put, they looked delicious. Despite being warned by adults never to eat them, they seemed even more tempting.   During that time, I heard a folktale called "Saru-zake" (Monkey's Wine). It narrated a story of a monkey living in the mountains who hid the mountain grapes he had gathered in a tree hollow. Over time, it miraculously turned into wine. A woodcutter who discovered it tasted the wine, found it incredibly delicious, drank too much, and ended up drunk—such was the essence of the story, if I recall correctly.   This wine made from mountain grapes (Vitis coignetiae) is considered one of Japan's oldest alcoholic beverages archaeologically. Its origins can be traced back to the Jomon period, approximately 10,000...

It must have been about twenty-five years ago. I had just graduated from university and landed jobs at a small travel agency. The company, which specialised in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, immersed us thoroughly in the geography, history, tourist attractions, and diverse cuisines of Europe as part of our work. Among our team were those who, during their student days, had embarked on budget travels abroad, boldly exploring various countries. We exchanged experiences, learning from one another, and absorbed knowledge like sponges from our seniors as we navigated our daily routines. At the time, my role involved researching travel ideas for sales by gathering information from overseas branches. Domestically available information required my personal effort to research, compile, and organise. Despite the economic bubble having burst five or six years earlier, Japan still had a thriving appetite for information on luxury cuisine, fine wines, and high-end resorts. In the pre-internet...