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tokyo FEBRUARY 2013 Since 1970 weekenderJapan’s premier English language magazine NAGASAKI Exploring the goto islands + 6 dishes you must try KIMONO HOW TO PULL IT OFF OPINION BEHIND JAPAN’S ORGAN SHORTAGE EDUCATION READY FOR TOMORROW’S WORLD? ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Top news from Asia Daily Wire, the future for online fashion, winter sports, movies, events and much more... Tokyo weekender-Ocak 2013.pdf 1 13.12.2012 12:08 C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Tokyo weekender-Ocak 2013.pdf 1 13.12.2012 12:08 C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Mandara Tokyo Weekender Advert 9-5-12_Layout 1 9/6/12 3:41 PM Page 1 Transcend. Trans form. Trust the moment. Escape your world. Indulge in ours... Welcome to a divine sanctuary, where a single moment spent in joy colors all the moments that follow. While our therapists and aestheticians bestow their expert touch upon your physical body, its effect resonates to the core of your being. Much can happen in a Mandara moment. W h a t a r e y o u w a i t i n g f o r ? MANDARA SPA AT HILTON HAWAIIAN VILLAGE WAIKIKI BEACH RESORT 4th Floor Kalia Tower, 2005 Kalia Road, Honolulu, HI 96815 For information and reservations call +(808) 945-7721 ext. 74370, or visit Mandara Spa located on 4th floor Kalia Tower. www.mandaraspa.com/hawaii FEBRUARY 2013 CONTENTS 16 THE HIDDEN CHRISTIANS On the Goto Islands, west of Nagasaki, we found a history not to be forgotten. 22 26 35 HUIS TEN BOSCH KIMONO GIRL INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS The Netherlands has an intriguing outpost A little help getting it on, please? One Classroom robotics, “Tiger Mom” and the in an unlikely location near Nagasaki. school in Hiroo makes it easy. Tokyo educators looking to the future. 11 Asia Daily Wire 28 A Brush with History 46 Movies A roundup of all the top APAC news of the Who knew modern make-up techniques Top movies finally hitting the screens in past month. owed so much to Japanese traditions? Tokyo this month. 12 Hearts of Gold 30 The Future of Online Shopping? 48 Agenda Why is it so difficult to get a heart When a flash sale site leads the way in Some of the best nights out, art shows transplant in Japan? fashion, where are we heading next? and events this month. 20 Eating Nagasaki 33 Skiing with Kids 50 Back in the Day It’s not all about Castella and noodles There are many resorts around Japan A little look at how the Weekender saw down in Nagasaki. that make it easy for families... Valentine’s Day back in 1988. FROM THE EDITOR FEBRUARY 2013 tokyo sking around, Publisher Bulbous Cell Media Group FEBRUARY 2013 it was harder Chairman Ray Pedersen Since 1970 weekenderJapan’s premier English language magazine than I had Valentine’s Day Executive Producer Asi Rinestine thought it NAGASAKI EXPLORING THE GOTO ISLANDS would be to Editor Matthew Holmes + 6 DISHES YOU MUST TRY find friends or colleagues Art Director Liam Ramshaw KIMONO A HOW TO PULL IT OFF who’d already been to Designer Ayako Fujiwara Photographer Maaserhit Honda OPINION Nagasaki. Making my second BEHIND JAPAN’S ORGAN SHORTAGE trip there this month (lucky Media Director Kotaro Toda me) was something quite Account Executives Nobu (Nick) Nakazawa special and actually slightly Ohad Elbaz unexpected. It really is Masaya Okamoto a great city to explore and just stroll around – truly it’s Media Consultants Mary Rudow EDUCATION somewhere you can get lost Society Bill Hersey READY FOR TOMORROW’S WORLD? without a guidebook and Marketing Ingrid Dubreuil ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Top news from Asia Daily Wire, the future for online fashion, winter sports, movies, events and much more... always find something of interest around the next corner. We were seeking a story, though, and Film Christopher O’Keeffe key to that was actually doing some planning, getting off the mainland and heading to the gorgeous Goto Islands, home not only to the so-called Editorial Associate Vivian Morelli ‘Hidden Christians’ but also some of the most incredible landscapes - Matthew Hernon and seascapes - I’ve ever seen in this country. On our travels we met Asia Daily Wire Mace Bertumen many locals who taught us of the persecution of Christians I had some knowledge of and crucifixions I never knew had happened in Japan. We IT Manager Nick Adams met an American priest (look out on tokyoweekender.com for more on Development Manager Stephane Boudoux that story) and we spoke with passionate people directly connected to Finance & Admin Takako Nakahara history about how they are helping to keep traditions alive. Oh, and we DBA Iryna Sundutova also ate a lot of noodles... Take a look on pages 16-24 for more. I really do hope you have time to think about going there yourself. We know and speak to many of our readers who have children with them here in Tokyo and at this time of year, however old they are, many are thinking about their education and their future. We wanted EST. Corky Alexander, 1970 to meet some of the people who are innovating and doing things the Published by Bulbous Cell Media Group right way in some of the best international schools in town, and we www.bulbouscell.com think we actually found some interesting stories on the way. Whether that was the robotics classes we watched or the interesting angle on Published monthly at the Regency Shinsaka Building, 5th floor the “Tiger Mom” philosophy we heard, we think there’s something for 8-5-8 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052 everyone; even if you don’t have kids. And if you just want to forget (03) 6846-5615 / (03) 6846-5616 (fax) about homework and the like, there’s always the Weekender guide to [email protected] skiing with the kids – on page 33. To subscribe to the Tokyo Weekender, please call Here’s a more serious question: what’s going to happen to your (03) 6846-5615 or email: organs after you die? It’s a question that we might not be as comfortable [email protected] with as we should be. Henry Watts writes on page 12 about the difficulty getting a transplant many people in this country face when illness or disease forces doctors to take the ultimate step. Some Japanese patients For ad sales inquiries, please call (03) 6846-5615 or email: even have to travel abroad – raising a lot of money privately to do so – [email protected] but does it have to be like that? There might be an answer. What with kimono classes, a discussion about the future of online www.tokyoweekender.com shopping with experts in Japan and more of the usual movie, event and society news, I really feel this issue is packed with content and we hope Opinions expressed by Weekender contributors are not you enjoy what we’ve put together for you. Lastly, to friends and readers necessarily those of the publisher running in the Tokyo Marathon this month, good luck – many of us will be there watching on Sunday 24th! Follow Tokyo Weekender on Twitter: @weekenderjapan Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/tokyo.weekender How ABOUT something A little speCial this Valentine’s Day Grand Hyatt Tokyo is pleased A Valentine Amore accommodation plan is available starting 1 to feature a line-up of delightful February, allowing couples to enjoy a romantic stay while indulging offerings this Valentine’s Day, a with a bottle of chilled champagne, chocolates and fresh strawberries special time of the year to share in the comfort of one of our stylish guestrooms. This plan can also love and appreciation. Whether include a sumptuous dinner at Fiorentina. Our restaurants and bar looking for a romantic stay or a will also feature specials to enhance the romance. At Fiorentina, an charming chocolate gift, Grand Italian Valentine menu designed for couples offers a sumptuous Hyatt Tokyo will offer options dinner including welcome drinks, appetisers, pasta and a main dish, perfect for charming your loved all finished off with a delicious chocolate dessert. If you are looking for one. From 1-14 February at Fiorentina Pastry Boutique an a special lunch, try The Oak Door’s Valentine’s lunch with a welcome array of delicate desserts will be available, making perfect drink and a rose for the lady. For diners seeking a relaxed and Valentine’s gifts. The “Quore”, a sphere of chocolate filled with luxurious setting for the evening, bar Maduro’s delightful Valentine’s heart shaped sweets, debuts this winter, created by pastry chef Box will feature a 6-box plate with enticing tapas, dessert and 4 Kanako Yoshida, winner of the Boiron Pastry Competition 2012. beverages which can be enjoyed while listening to smooth live music. ASIA DAILY WIRE | NEWS | 11 sia Daily Wire is your go-to place for all the latest news from across the Asia Pacific region. Covering business, culture, entertainment, Malala discharged from sports and breaking news, Asia Daily Wire is updated round the hospital, father clock in real time and picks and chooses the best headlines from vows to return Asources across Asia—doing all the hard work for you. Here is a roundup of home after some of the ADW Editor’s picks from the past month... recovery Malala Yousafzai, the 15-year old Pakistani Japan North Korea activist shot in the head by the Taliban, withdraws to allow has been discharged from a hospital in employees foreigners to the UK after making “excellent progress.” from Algeria bring their She will stay in the UK before undergoing amid rising mobile phones reconstructive surgery on her skull, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham death toll Foreigners said in a statement.