The village of Kamikatsu in Japan has taken their commitment to sustainability to a new level. While the rest of the country has a recycling rate of around 20 percent, Kamikatsu surpasses its neighbors with a staggering 80 percent. After becoming aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide associated with burning garbage, the town instated the Zero Waste Declaration with the goal of being completely waste-free by 2020.
Learn how to make Matcha green tea through a traditional Chado Japanese Tea Ceremony. Making the perfect cup of tea for the Japanese is an integral aspect of their culture, and this ritual is no exception.
One of the healthiest beverages on the planet. Discovered over 900 years ago, Matcha gives the drinker a long-lasting boost of energy, expanded awareness, and maximum antioxidants without the unwanted side effects typical to coffee or a sugar high. READ MORE
“A Japanese firm called Hoshinchu is producing kits for customers to produce their own floating versions of tiny house plants called Air Bonsai.
The tiny trees contain spongy balls of moss that contain magnets that sit above a porcelain base that similarly contain magnets which repel those found in the moss.
How do the trees float :
The Air Bonsai kit is made up of two parts – an ‘energy base’ and the ‘little star’ which floats a few centimetres above the base.
The ‘stars’ are spongy balls of moss 2.3-inches (6cm) across containing magnets weighing around 250 grams.
The porcelain base contains magnets and a rotating mechanism and is connected to the mains by an AC adapter.
The magnets repel each other to create the illusion of levitation.
To plant the trees, customers poke a hole in the ball and add the cutting of the plant or a seedling.
The website shows a number of bonsai trees which have been grown for a number of years spinning off the ground.
An additional pot is available in the form of a lava stone, instead of the moss ball.”
There is a real contrast between the old and the new, the hyper-modern and super traditional
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A really memorable trip
A unique cultural experience
Busy financial hub
A studio, a café and a shop all combined into one
The place where the best artists get together to showcase their work
I’m going to step back 600 years to experience some authentic Japanese culture
Big bold dramatic moves
But what struck me was the concentration
I don’t quite know how to put it into words
It was just mesmerizing
Goes back, since well before the 2nd world war
Huge frantic city
Natural mineral pigments
Working in this particular medium, this is Mecca
Brightly colored minerals
Grind them down into different particles
Over a thousand years of tradition
It brings a new level of respect
The perfect blend of old and new
A walk back in time
Focusing on the challenges ahead
The tea ceremony
No ordinary person would be allowed in; it was a very special place
They are worth Splurging and spending money on
Once in a lifetime experiences that you have to sample when you come to Japan
A bond they have with nature
Job Profile – Travel Blogger :
“As a writer or author you would produce a variety of types of creative work, including novels, children’s books, poetry and, travel and technical writing. If you’ve got excellent writing skills, and you’ve got the determination and the self-motivation needed to make it in this career, there could be opportunities for you as a writer.
As a writer you could work for yourself writing novels, short stories, plays and poetry. You may wish to choose a writing specialism such as writing children’s books, travel or technical writing. You could also write features for newspapers, magazines, radio, film or television. You may also write for social media, websites or blogs. Depending on your role your work could include:
choosing your subject based on personal interest or on a commission given by agents or publishers
coming up with themes, ideas or plots
researching information using the internet, libraries and personal interviews
submitting your draft to a publisher, either speculatively or through an agent
revising your work if necessary, after getting feedback
pursuing publishing opportunities
developing an understanding of copyright law
You may be interested in working as a travel writer, creating guide books, features, hotel reviews or travel novels. Writing travel blogs, articles for websites and updating travel links on Facebook and Twitter could also be part of your job.
Skills, interests and qualities
To become a writer, you should have:
excellent writing skills
self-discipline and motivation
the ability to develop creative ideas
perseverance and determination
a willingness to work alone for long periods
the ability to accept criticism
drawing skills, if you wish to illustrate your own work
Vocabulary chunks to learn after watching the video :
My love affair for mushrooms started when I had to walk
It has developed into basically growing my own Shiitake Mushrooms out of logs
They help with cholesterol
They’ll break down tumors if you catch them in time
They’ll build up your immune system
I reckon that anybody can do it
An oak log between the diameter of 10cm-30cm
Give it a two-week rest period
A little gap of air underneath
Dab some wax on the top of it
Keep moisture content up
To keep bugs and mice away
Off ground
Cool shady area
It’s just something very magical
Shiitake Mushrooms for Wellness & Miso Ginger Soup
Found growing in moist forests on the decaying trunks of fallen trees, Shiitake mushrooms have been an important medicine and food source in Asia for thousands of years. These “flower mushrooms” are used to support a healthy immune system and are frequently eaten during an occasional bout of seasonal sniffles. They’re also really delicious, with a nice meaty texture. Food is medicine, right?
The stories say that a thousand years ago, a farmer decided to score a moist log and then packed wild Shiitakes into the notched wood. To his happy surprise, the inoculation was successful and soon whole mushrooms grew from the trunk, making Shiitakes one of the first cultivated fungi. These much beloved mushrooms can be taken as an extract, tea, or in capsule form. They’re also commonly used in cooking and can be easily reconstituted to use in soups, stir-fries, curries, and sautés, or powdered and used in gravies.
Vocabulary in Chunks 