Selena Hoy
I'm a writer.
Curious enthusiast based in Tokyo. I write about food, culture, recreation, art, business, and travel in Japan and beyond.
PROJECTS
discover.silversea.com
First, You Have to Hide Her Horns: The Rituals behind a Traditional Japanese Wedding
Eater
Teatime in Tokyo
Tea is inextricably woven into Japanese culture. It’s part of religion, art, and the rhythms of daily life. It’s enjoyed on the tops of mountains and on subway station platforms; it’s offered in meetings and at lodgings, and is sometimes served instead of water at restaurants. Its preparation ranges from dissolving a packet of powder in a bit of hot water from an electric kettle to an elaborate ceremony with specialist tools, exacting movements, and exquisite vessels. It’s even sometimes used...
mabuhay.ink-live.com
Tokyo Green Day
FOB piece on vegetarian/vegan restaurants in Tokyo for Mabuhay magazine.
discover.silversea.com
A Day in the Life of a Japanese Geisha
“Let’s play a game!” exclaims Fukuya as she pours me another drink. She and her companion, Teruha, stand at the front of a room in the Hachioji area of Tokyo in Japan on each side of a small taiko drum. “Does everyone know how to play rock-paper-scissors?” she asks. Everyone does. She then explains the rules as rock-paper-scissors with a twist— literally. She and Teruha demonstrate playing the game to a steady beat. The loser of each round must spin in a circle while the winner beats the drum...
BBC Good Food
Top 10 foodie things to try in Tokyo
Discover the top 10 essential foods to try on your next trip to Tokyo, with Good Food's guide to the best Japanese delicacies.
Taking a trip to Tokyo and want to eat your way around the city like a local? Let your tastebuds explore these local delicacies and tick Good Food's personal favourites off your list.
10 must-try foods to eat in Tokyo
1. Pour over coffee
Japan does coffee in that meticulous Japanese way – with care, love, and exquisite attention to detail. Now you can get quality espr...
The Atlantic
In Japan, Small Children Take the Subway and Run Errands Alone ...
In Japan, Small Children Take the Subway and Run Er...
The Independent
Forest bathing: The Japanese background to the latest wellness fad
Forest bathing: The Japanese background to the latest wellness fad
roadsandkingdoms.com
Walking Tour: An Afternoon in Koenji
There’s an expression in Japanese: Aji ga aru, which means “It’s got flavor.” It describes something that’s a little used, a little time-worn, but better for it. That describes Western Tokyo. The stations along the Chuo line are surrounded by shotengai—pedestrian shopping alleys packed with tiny independent shops and restaurants—which makes strolling a special pleasure.
We’ll be walking around the Koenji area, but don’t bother getting started early: Koenji doesn’t really get going until after...
life.intercontinental.com
Sushi Past to Present: The story of Edomae Sushi
Sushi is deceptively simple. It’s a compact morsel of vinegared rice and fish taking only one or two bites. Perhaps the most well known style of sushi is nigiri-zushi, or hand-pressed sushi, also known as Edomae-zushi. But what exactly is Edomae-zushi, and what does it mean now that Edo, the old name for the capital, has become Tokyo?
The idea of fermented rice and fish is an old one, coming over from the Asian continent centuries ago. Fish was packed in rice and salt to keep it from spoiling...
discover.silversea.com
Living Pictures: The Philosophy Behind the Most Beautiful Japanese Gardens
Japan
The Japanese garden is rightly famous for its understated beauty, from the perfectly raked gravel of Zen temples to the serene tea houses reflected in mirror-like ponds. The gardeners themselves treat these gardens as a canvas, using the seasons as paintbrushes and employing minimalism to dictate a sense of balance. From the meticulous pruning, leaf by leaf, of each bush, to the weeding of a neighborhood flower patch with a pair of chopsticks, gardening in Japan is an exercise in medita...
mabuhay.ink-live.com
Kakigori Grows Up
Front of book piece for for Mabuhay Magazine (Philippine Airlines)
aspire.ink-live.com
A Perfect Day in Sapporo
A Perfect Day in Sapporo for Hong Kong Airlines' Aspire Magazine
life.intercontinental.com
Sip Your Way Through World-Class Whisky in Osaka
Sake (Nihonshu) may be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of alcohol in Japan, or perhaps shochu, sake’s cheerful cousin. But Japan has become a powerhouse in the world of whisky in recent years, and the accolades keep rolling in. Japanese bottles picked up the World’s Best Blended Malt (Taketsuru 17) and World’s Best Single Malt (Hakushi 25) at the World Whiskies Awards this year, while Hibiki 21 took home trophies from the 2017 International Spirits Challenge, including the t...
dwl.gov-online.go.jp
Mottainai: Reduce, reuse, recycle, respect
Highlighting JAPAN Vol.122 JULY 2018
The mottainai movement in Japan and how it was helped along by Kenyan activist Wangani Maathai.