SunStar Pampanga: Japan's Limitless Beauty

Above, Sensoji temple in Asakusa. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is interesting to see visitors from other countries' takes on Japan travel. Do they see things the way others do or do they get different impressions and perspectives?

From the Philippines, is an article on a visit to Japan in SunStar Pampanga.

They begin it with:

JAPAN, oh such beauty. Such impression was made on me in my very first visit here two weeks ago. It thrilled me by the day and it amazed me by night. Its splendor seemed limitless. 

From the time, I stepped out of an excellent Cebu Pacific flight onto Narita International Airport (NRT) from Clark, beauteous things started to unravel. Never mind the warm weather which went humid at some point in our four-day trip to the land of the rising sun. 

I and my media colleagues, although some of them frequent visitors already (Bong Lacson, Ashley Manabat), had the grandest of time as our journey combined the warmth of the city, the breeze of the countryside, the technological wonders and even the traditional sites (and sights) – albeit part of the never-ending modernity, rich culture and heritage of Japan. 

Our gracious hosts Japan National Tourism Office and the Leading Versatile Solution Inc. travel agency in Tokyo, in cooperation with Selrahco Management and Consultancy made sure we would see (and savor) the best of all these.

To read more, go here. 

Trump To Visit USS Arizona Memorial

Above, the USS Arizona Memorial. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

En route to his Asian summits, President Donald Trump will stop over in Hawaii and visit the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

According to West Hawaii Today:

HONOLULU — President Donald Trump’s first official trip to Hawaii and Asia will include a stop at Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial, the White House said today. 

Trump will travel to Hawaii, Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines from Nov. 3-14. 

“The president’s travel will underscore his commitment to longstanding United States alliances and partnerships, and reaffirm United States leadership in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” the White House said in a release. 

On Nov. 3 at the start of the trip, Trump will also receive a briefing from U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii. The impact on public visits to the Arizona Memorial was not immediately clear.

To read more, go here. 

Mummified Corpse Found On Yacht

Above, a mummy-like corpse in Return of Godzilla (a.k.a. Godzilla 1985).

It is weird how sometimes life imitates art. Or, in this case, death imitating art.

The Japan Times reported:

MANILA – Philippine police said Tuesday they were trying to determine the identity and cause of death of a man found dead while sitting slumped in a yacht that was drifting in the Pacific Ocean and which was apparently owned by a German adventurer. 

Police Chief Inspector Dominador Plaza said the gray decomposing remains of the man resembled a mummy, adding mystery to his death. His body was discovered near the radio in the cabin of a white yacht found last week by Filipino fishermen off the southeastern province of Surigao del Sur. 

There were no visible signs of foul play, like a gunshot or stabbing wound, Plaza said.

Maybe Godzilla is returning and a giant sea louse is somewhere on that yacht like in Return of Godzilla?

To read more, go here. 

"7 Ways To Stretch Your Travel Budget In Japan"

Above, Hozomon gate at Sensoji in Asakusa, Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

People who like to travel but have limited funds to do so are always on the lookout for deals and tips on making their money go further.

Fortunately, we have Internet resources to find bargains and to learn how to stretch your hard-earned dollar.

GMA News (from the Philippines) has an article on "7 Ways To Stretch Your Travel Budget In Japan".

They begin with:

You might have snagged the ultimate airfare steal to Osaka or Tokyo, but as the saying goes, almost everything in Japan is expensive. The always-on-time trains cost at least ¥120 (currently about P48.50) to ride, while cheap meals like a small bowl of gyudon or ramen will set you back at least ¥500-¥600 (P200-P240). 

While these are just the cost of living in a first-world country, there are ways to stretch your budget in the Land of the Rising Sun.

To read more, go here.

"A First-Time Visitor's Guide To Tokyo"

Above, springtime at Asakusa's Nakamise Street. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Information and tips are always most welcome, no matter where the source originates from. That is certainly the case with a post by the GMA News from the Philippines.

GMA News has posted their "A First-Time Visitor's Guide To Tokyo" which includes basic nuts 'n bolts information on visiting Japan, with the focus on Tokyo.

They begin with:

Move over, Hong Kong! There’s now a new “it destination” for Filipinos: Japan. With more affordable direct flights by budget carriers and the ease of getting a Japanese visa, locals finally find it accessible to visit the Land of the Rising Sun. 

I recently organized a family trip to Tokyo and managed to take care of everything—from visa application to flights and accommodations—for all 15 of us. I am no travel agent nor am I affiliated with a travel agency, but I was able to execute our trip with minimal fuss and stress thanks to technology and a lot of research.

Fortunately, American don't need to go through the visa process as outlined in the article. But there may be readers who are from countries who still do need to know the visa process procedures.

More from: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/504854/lifestyle/travel/a-first-time-visitor-s-guide-to-tokyo 

GMA News: 6 Small Tips To Make Any Trip To Japan Memorable

Above, Nakamise Street in Asakusa, Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

GMA News has posted "6 Small Tips To Make Any Trip To Japan Memorable." Although tailored to tourists from the Philippines, they can be used by travelers from any country.

They begin with:

It seems like every week, different sets of social media friends are posting about their Japan trips; flooding either my Facebook news feed or Instagram home page with images of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. 

Easing the issuance of tourist visas to Filipinos and low-cost air fares have made the Land of the Rising Sun one of the items on every Pinoy’s travel bucket list. Take your pick: Sakura (Cherry Blossom) during spring or leaves turning red in autumn; great Japanese food on the street or Michelin-star restaurants; manga comics, gadgets and cultural heritage sites; Japan has it all. 

Having been fortunate to visit this East Asian country last February, here are some tips that can make the trip even more memorable.

To read more, go here.

Godzilla and James Bond As Tour Guides

Above, the Wako department store was featured in Godzilla (1954). Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I started out making The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan several years ago, it was with the premise that fans will want to visit Japan to see for themselves the landmarks and locations featured in Godzilla, Gamera and other giant monster movies.

Sure enough, I was right. For the most part, members of the baby-boomer generation received their first exposure to Japan and Japanese culture through these movies. So, too, fans of James Bond movies were exposed to the exotic locations that were featured in the 007 movies.

An article has been posted in the Philippines' Sun.Star on James Bond and tourism. They got the premise right, but goofed on the pre-title sequence of Thunderball (1965). The writer describes the scene in Hong Kong where Bond (Sean Connery) is assassinated in a Chinese Murphy Bed. That sequence was actually in You Only Live Twice (1967), where the movie's main center of action was Japan.

It is still an interesting article to read and it begins with:

THERE is no doubt that James Bond movies are promoting tourism… places, festivals, food, lifestyle, and fashion. Agent 007 is suave but dynamic charmer, equally capable of disarming both bomb and bombshell. That makes James an effective tour guide. 

When I presented my paper before a group of college students taking up BS Tourism, many eyebrows went up. Probably (just probably), they have just realized (and their teachers, too) that James Bond movies are not just about James, super villains, fantastic girls, prodigious gimmicks, neoteric guns, and phantasmal gadgets. 

I am encouraging tourism students, teachers, tourism officers and those who are involved in tourism to review (see again) James Bond movies. When producers, Harry Saltzman and Albert Broccoli, introduced James Bond (Sean Connery) in 1962 in the movie “Dr. No”, the movie audience was brought to scenic Jamaica (sun and beach).

Likewise, Japan's giant monster movies also are promoting tourism: Godzilla (1954) is centered in Tokyo. Godzilla Raids Again (1955) is centered in Osaka. King Kong vs, Godzilla (1962) prominently features Tokyo and Atami. Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964) is centered in Nagoya. Rodan (1956) is centered in Kyushu (mainly Sasebo and Fukuoka). Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993) prominently features Kyoto as does Gamera 3 (1999).

To read more, go here.

Philippines: Legacy of Godzilla Comes Alive

Above, the giant Godzilla poster-sign at Warner Bros. in Burbank. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

With the new American production of Godzilla hitting theaters in a little over two weeks from now, the excitement is becoming more palpable worldwide. It is interesting to read different countries' take on Godzilla.

The Philippines, who suffered under the wrath of the Imperial Japanese military in World War II, is the latest country to weigh in on the return of "the King of the Monsters." Their opening day for the movie is May 15, a day earlier than the U.S.

The Philstar.com, the online version of Manila's Philippine Star, has an article on the movie and it begins with this:

MANILA, Philippines - Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures unleash the epic-action adventure Godzilla, a powerful story of human courage and reconciliation in the face of titanic forces of nature, when the awe-inspiring monster rises to restore balance as humanity stands defenseless. 

Godzilla stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Oscar nominee Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen, Juliette Binoche, Sally Hawkins, with David Strathairn and Bryan Cranston. 

In 1954, Japan’s Toho Co., Ltd., released Ishiro Honda’s groundbreaking monster movie Godzilla in a country still reeling from the devastation of World War II. The film became a massive hit in Japan, and 60 years later, continues to resonate around the world for distilling the fears and horrors of the atomic age into an awe-inspiring force of nature...Godzilla.

And, recognizing Godzilla's impact on pop-culture around the world, they said this about the original 1954 movie's impact:

Partially reshot, softening some of its metaphorical bite and dubbed into multiple languages, the film was released abroad two years later and a legend was born. For the past six decades, the towering “King of the Monsters” has cut a swath through pop culture, spawning numerous sequels, an army of toys and incarnations in everything from comic books to video games. A whole new genre of movies emerged — kaiju eiga — and Godzilla became one of the most beloved and recognizable movie heroes of the 20th and now, 21st centuries.

 To read the full article, go here.

Holdout Japanese WWII Soldier Dies At 91

Above, Hiroo Onoda at the time of his surrender in 1974.

Japan Today reported:

TOKYO —A Japanese soldier who hid in the Philippine jungle for three decades, refusing to believe World War II was over until his former commander returned and ordered him to surrender, has died in Tokyo aged 91. 

Hiroo Onoda waged a guerrilla campaign in Lubang Island near Luzon until he was finally persuaded in 1974 that peace had broken out, ignoring leaflet drops and successive attempts to convince him the Imperial Army had been defeated. 

He died in a Tokyo hospital on Thursday of heart failure.

I remember when this story first broke back in 1974. I found it quite interesting that a Japanese soldier hid in the jungle for nearly 30 years believing that World War II still hadn't ended. It was big news back then.

To read the full article, go here.

Paul Walker Dies At 40 In Car Crash

While perusing news websites earlier today, one of my "stops" was The Drudge Report.

Their big headline was the horrific death of Fast and Furious star Paul Walker. Above it was an ad by Amazon.com for the Kindle Store ebook edition of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

According to People magazine's website:

The actor died Saturday afternoon when a car he was in crashed and exploded in Santa Clarita, Calif. The driver also died.

Police released a statement about the accident: "When they arrived, deputies found the vehicle engulfed in flames. The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded, extinguished the fire and subsequently located two victims inside the vehicle. The victims were pronounced dead at Peopthe scene."  

Apparently, the driver lost control of the car and it crashed into a fixed object and exploded. Walker was a passenger in the vehicle.

At the time of the accident, Walker was attending a charity event to help victims of the recent typhoon that struck the Philippines through his Reach Out Worldwide organization.

Walker leaves behind a 15-year-old daughter, Meadow Rain.

To read the full story, go here.