FEATURE
COVERCHORD CULTURE
THE CREATORS’ CHOICE
TRAVEL DESTINATIONS
Humans have an innate need to travel. Our nomadic heritage is imbedded in our genes.
Look forwarding to the day when the pandemic is contained and borders are reopened, we asked a group of leading creators to share with us the places they’d like to revisit, along with destinations they hope to explore in the future.
It's not always easy to get to where you want to go, but if you can imagine it, you're halfway there.
Which places do you hope to return, and where do you wish to go?
Kunichi Nomura
Place I’d like to return
New York
I used to go to New York a lot, and now that I can’t, I'm really thankful for those times. I have some of my closest friends living in the city. I have my favorite cafes and bars I like to go to and drink and talk without having too much to do. Most of the time if I’m on the Lower East Side and hanging out, I’m going to meet someone I know and end up going somewhere. So I don't have a specific place in mind, I just like to be in that 500m radius area.
Place I want to go
Patagonia
I want to go somewhere that feels like there is nobody else. And there aren’t many places with a lower population density than Patagonia. It would just be nice to get away from daily life and feel like "I've come a long way". Somewhere other than here! That's the real thrill of traveling, and I've never felt that more than I do now.
Kunichi Nomura
Editor, etc.
Born in Tokyo. Kunichi Nomura is an editor, writer, interior designer, creative director and DJ. He is the host of "Traveling Without Moving" on J-Wave radio every Sunday at 8pm.
Website_tripsters.net
Instagram_@kunichi_nomura
Moises Saman
Place I’d like to return
Peru
Peru is the country where I was born, but neglected for most of my life as the child of a mixed family growing up in Europe. Only as an adult did I begin to visit, and with each subsequent visit a new gem is discovered, revealing the endless possibilities of Peru’s contrasting landscape. From the unforgiving peaks high in the Andes, to the otherworldly beauty of the Amazon, to the gritty alleyways of El Callao, Lima’s port and the place where my Peruvian family comes from, this is where I can’t wait to return.
Place I want to go
Namibia
Namibia is at the top of my list. My young daughter is obsessed with wild animals, and my wife and I have begun doing some research on safari destinations. Namibia seems unique in many regards, offering one of the most diverse cultural and natural experiences, and its landscape is truly breathtaking and rich with wildlife. It is also worth noting that Namibia is an oasis of stability in a turbulent region, which makes it more suitable to travel with small children.
Moises Saman
Photographer
Born in 1974 in Lima, Peru, and raised in Spain, Moises Saman graduated from California State University in 1998 with a degree in Communications and Sociology. He spent seven years working as a Staff Photographer at Newsday where he covered the fallout of the 9/11 attacks, spending most of his time traveling between Afghanistan, Iraq, and other Middle Eastern countries. In 2007 Moises become a freelance photographer for The New York Times, while also becoming a regular contributor for Human Rights Watch, Newsweek, and TIME Magazine, among other international publications. In 2014 Moises was invited to join Magnum Photos as a Nominee and became a full member in 2014. In 2015 he was a Guggenheim Fellowship in Photography recipient for his work on the Arab Spring, culminating in the publication of his book Discodia. After being based in NY, Tokyo, Cairo, and Barcelona, Moises and his family now live in Amman, Jordan.
Instagram: @moisessaman
Banana Yoshimoto
Place I’d like to return
Feng Sheng Restaurant in Taipei
I've been there many times. The portions are huge, everything is delicious, the decor is nice, the location is convenient, it's the perfect place for me. I like the way the ladies work, it's always full and lively. I'm not skinny by any means, but I’d be in a lot of trouble if this restaurant was close to where I live. I'd love to fly there again when I can. In the photo, I'm surprised at the amount of food being served at my publisher's reception: "You're still coming!” There were so many dishes! But SOUPY-chan, a popular illustrator from Taiwan, who was sitting next to me, looked totally calm and ate a lot. I was convinced that this is where Taiwanese people's strength comes from.
Place I want to go
Santorini Island
One place we haven't visited yet but would like to is Santorini Island in Greece. I've been to Mykonos, which is nearby, many times, and every time I’m there, I try to go to Santorini by boat, but for whatever reason I am never able to go. That's because when I arrive at Mykonos, I feel satisfied with everything and I don't need to go anywhere else. Also, I can't go out in the daytime because it's too hot, so I have to go to the beach or to the pool, and everything is open until midnight, so I stay up late, and when I wake up, it's already 10am. I always wake up and think "Why don't I go on a boat to another island now? But it's too hot and it's too much work, so I'll just have a lazy breakfast and go to the beach, then I eat lunch, get drunk, go to the swimming pool, go out at night, come back at midnight, have a drink at the hotel bar and go to bed ...... It was a place so near and yet so far away. It was a place that was both so close, yet so far away.
Banana Yoshimoto
Novelist
Born in Tokyo in 1964. A graduate of the Department of Literature and Art, at the Nihon University College of Art, Banana Yoshimoto made her debut in 1987 with "Kitchen", which won the Kaien New Writer's Award. In 1988 she won the Izumi Kyoka Literary Award for “Moonlight Shadow”, in 1989 the Art Encouragement Prize for New Writers for “Kitchen” and the Yamamoto Shugoro Prize for “Goodby Tsugumi”. In 1995 Yoshimoto was awarded the Murasaki Shikibu Prize for Literature for “Amrita”, and in 2000 the Dumago Prize for Literature for “Adultery and South America”. Her works have been translated and published in more than 30 countries, and she has received numerous international awards. Her recent books include “The Legend of Fukiage”.
Twitter_@y_banana
Instagram_@bananayoshimoto2017
U-zhaan
Place I’d like to return
Jiu Mian Dao Chai, China
This is a restaurant in Chengdu, China. I traveled to Chengdu specifically to eat Sichuan food, and the most memorable part of my trip was a dish deemed the "spicy dinosaur rabbit" at this restaurant. A whole rabbit lies in a bath of hot and spicy soup, so well cooked that it falls off the bone when you grab it with your chopsticks. When you bring it to your mouth, the aroma, spiciness and rich flavor of the broth spread throughout the whole lower half of your face. I want to go back one day and eat more while enjoying a beer.
Place I want to go
Mexico
I was planning to go to Mexico for a month-long camp during the summer of 2020 with a couple of American friends who are learning tabla from the same teacher in India. I was looking forward to spending my days practicing tabla together and enjoying the local food, but of course that didn't happen. It's a dream I want to realize once the pandemic is over.
U-zhaan
Tabla player
U-zhaan studied under globally known tabla players, Anindo Chatterjee and Zakir Hussain. Was a member of band ASA-CHANG & JUNRAY from 2000 to 2010, releasing four albums. In 2011, he released a collaborative albums “Kawagoe Rendez-Vous” and "Mr. Morning Night" with Rei Harakami. In 2014, he released his first solo album “Tabla Rock Mountain” with Cornelius and Ryuichi Sakamoto as featuring guests. In 2017, he released the album "2 Tone" with Shuta Hasunuma, and in 2020 performed at the Saptak Annual Festival of Music in Ahmedabad, India.
Instagram_@u_zhaan
Twitter_@u_zhaan
Daisuke Obana
Place I’d like to return
Roden Crater
At Roden Crater, the time and air there is mysterious. It feels like somewhere not from this world. I was overwhelmed by the power of mother earth and the idea of expressing this magnificent crater as art. I spent time just taking in the sound of the air and the incredible scenery. I would love to visit again when James Turrell's life work is completed. Of course we were not able to get too close or enter it, but if I’m honest, this photo was actually taken within the exclusion zone.
Place I want to go
The Goto Islands
To tell you the truth, I don’t travel so much out of interest because I have to travel for work.
But traveling out of necessity means I travel with no pre-conceptions, and I think that can actually result in you getting more out of it.
If I could take a long vacation traveling domestically, I would like to visit the the Goto archipelago.
I'm also interested in the unchartered territories of the North Sentinel Islands.
Daisuke Obana
Designer, N.HOOLYWOOD
After working as both a buyer and a shop manager at a second-hand clothes store, he established the second-hand clothes select shop "go-getter". In 2000, Obana opened "Mister hollywood", a shop where he reconstructed used items, and began designing original ones. In 2002, he launched his first collection, and in 2007 presented his first exhibition "N.HOOLYWOOD COMPILE" in Paris.
Website_n-hoolywood.com
Instagram_@n_hoolywood
Tommy Ton
Place I’d like to return
Japan
Before lockdown happened, I had plans on returning to Japan since it had been three years since I last visited. I used to go to Japan twice a year for five years because it brought me so much joy to be immersed in a culture that was so inspiring and truly life changing. What forever changed my perspective on life was the beauty and way of life in Japan. I have so much love and respect for the passion and dedication the people of Japan pour into making it such a beautiful place.
Place I want to go
Africa
At the top of my list of where I'd like to visit next would be Africa. There are many countries I'd love to visit in Africa like Morocco, Tanzania, Kenya, and South Africa. Africa is a continent of so many beautiful cultures and as well spectacular nature. Just to have the opportunity to be up close in nature is what I'd love to do most but to see the diverse people who make up this continent would be such a treasured experience.
Tommy Ton
Photographer・Deveaux Creative Director
Tommy Ton is a Canadian photographer known for his former fashion blog Jak & Jil, street style coverage of fashion weeks on the likes of Style.com and GQ.com, and self-publishing project tommyton.com. Ton is currently the creative director of New York fashion brand Deveaux.
Instagram_@tommyton
Kensei Mikami
Place I’d like to return
Ho Chi Minh City & Hanoi
I went there for a photo shoot and I was impressed by the food, which you can't get in Japan. The food was very good, from local to upmarket, with all the fragrant vegetables you can eat, especially the Vietnamese hot pot and pho in Hanoi. There was also a lot of great souvenirs and sundries, including traditional costumes. Vietnam has a lot of motorbikes, but when you go there, there is no stress at all. It’s one of the countries I would like to visit again one day for sure.
Place I want to go
Sweden
There are a lot of outdoor brands from Sweden I like and I want to see what kind of outdoor life they actually have there.
I've never been to Scandinavia, so I don't really know much about it.
Kensei Mikami
Actor / Model
Kensei Mikami is a Japanese actor. After being active as a fashion model in Japan, he went to New York at the age of 18. After returning home, he started work as an actor. While appearing in numerous television dramas and films, he also represented various brands as a model. Mikami also launched his own children's clothing brand "himher"
Instagram_@kenseimikami
Mariko Hayashi
Place I’d like to return
Morocco
In the summer of 2016, I traveled from Paris to Morocco, back to Paris and onto to New York over about 20 days. It was a mix of work and pleasure and I think it was the most exciting trip I've ever done.
I wish I could make this kind of cross-country trip again someday. In Morocco, I recommend an open-air restaurant called "La Pause".
Place I want to go
Lisbon and Porto
I was actually planning to go to Portugal last year, but I gave up because of COVID-19. I met a couple who were staying in the same hotel in Morocco who were from Portugal, and I was intrigued by their conversation: "It's a beautiful city with great surf spots". Then I did some research and the images of Lisbon's beautiful streets made me want to go even more. I want to spend my time surfing and just relaxing and walking around. When I travel, I don't like to cram my schedule with too much to do, I want to just go with the flow.
Mariko Hayashi
Designer / Brand Director, jonnlynx
Born in Kagoshima in 1976. After working as a press staff and designing for a select shop, Hayashi launched "jonnlynx" in 2008.
Website_jonnlynx.jp
Instagram_@mariko__hayashi
Isao Nishiyama
Place I’d like to return
Salvador.
I want to go on a long journey, far away from home. A trip with interesting and unexpected encounters, sitting at a bus stop, tired of carrying heavy luggage, or when staying a cheap hotel. The dazzling moments that can happen in otherwise mundane settings. I want to revisit those miraculous moments that come with the journey. This is a photo I took from the window of my inn in Salvador. It’s a scene I saw with someone I will never see again. It revives the irretrievable time and memories from before and after the photo was taken. I would like to go back to experience these things again.
Place I want to go
The Secret Beach
Going to see my parents is one of the trips I plan to carry out when we no longer have to worry about the pandemic. I'd like to go to a secret beach that my father found, which is only accessible at low tide, and sit down with our lunch and pour a glass of white wine into plastic glasses. When I feel a little relaxed, I think I'll take some portraits. Ideally they’d both be naked. I'll probably be naked too. A family ceremony, performed in our natural state, as we were born. A spiritual journey.
Isao Nishiyama
Photographer
Born in 1977. Isao Nishiyama is a photographer and graphic designer based in Tokyo and Fukuoka. In 2013 he launched Studio Journal Knock, a visual magazine documenting the daily lives of artists around the world.
Website_nishiyamaisao.com
Instagram_@isao_nishiyama
Illustration_Ayu Iwashima
