WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN LATELY?

my wife, Margrit, and I had not visited Japan for almost a decade, and we were delighted with many of the changes we experienced when we were there in January. For instance, traveling on the famous Shinkansen, the “bullet train” from Osaka to Tokyo, we journeyed about 500 miles in just 21/2 hours! It was the fastest train ride we’ve ever experienced and by far the most comfortable. And the museums, temples and gardens were beautiful and serene.

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DISCOVERY: A growing passion for fine wine in Japan has contributed to an increased interest among Japanese chefs. Until recently, Asian cooking presented something of a challenge to conventional wine-and-food pairing. But no longer.