A hot, sweet love affair

ex-section1 Jan 30, 2026

A hot, sweet love affair

Chocolate may be everywhere in Japan today, but its path from foreign curiosity to everyday indulgence was gradual. Along the way, Valentine’s Day rituals, shifting tastes and one man’s obsessive pursuit reveal how the country learned to love cacao. (Masami Ito, 2016)

Before kings, there were priestesses

ex-section1 Jan 19, 2026

Before kings, there were priestesses

Long before kings ruled the Ryukyu Kingdom, women held spiritual power. A journey to some of Okinawa’s most sacred sites revealed why their presence still lingers. (Alex K.T. Martin, 2020)