In this issue: Running 130 miles along Japan’s Nakasendo trail is like traveling 400 years back in time, a cozy album by Lamp, & feast on 2,000 years of Chinese culinary history.

Running 130 Miles Along Japan's Nakasendo Trail Is Like Traveling 400 Years Back in Time

Retracing the Nakasendo Way, an ancient postal route from Japan’s Edo period, is the perfect way to learn about Japan’s history, food, and folklore.

Stuck at home during the pandemic, I began researching the best trails around the world, hoping I would get the opportunity to run them someday. While chatting with expat friends in Tokyo about the Kumano Kodo, a famous pilgrimage route in southern Japan, they tipped me off to a hidden gem, the Nakasendo Trail, a less-famous route that has just as much folklore and cultural importance, but without the crowds… Men’s Journal

Lamp - For Lovers

‘For Lovers’ is an 8-track album released in 2004 by the Japanese band Lamp. Warm and cozy, it’s a perfect soundtrack for that chill vibes.

Feast on 2,000 Years of Chinese Culinary History

“If cooking was key to the revolution of humans in general, only the Chinese have placed it at the very core of their identity.”

Fuchsia Dunlop, culinary writer, and a four-time James Beard award winner, talks about how to use MSG, the subtle joys of texture, and Neolithic steamer baskets… Atlas Obscura

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