All posts by Martin Leroux

  • Tokyo families talks to Brian McKnight

    Brian McKnight is a true romantic, in every sense of the word. The 47-year-old New York native has been crooning his way into the world’s hearts for nearly two decades with his silky-smooth melisma and self-written love...

    • Posted June 16, 2016
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  • Zoorasia

    It has been 15 years since Zoorasia started in Japan. This 50-hectare zoo houses more than 1,500 creatures of over 150 species. Spend a magical day full of sightings of tropical birds, rare animal species from Humboldt...

    • Posted April 1, 2014
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  • New affordable international daycare opens in Aoyama

    Aoyama International Daycare and Learning Center,  a new children’s daycare with a special focus on English education, opens November 1st in the posh Aoyama neighborhood.   Jerry Hanus , who operates Jerry’s Home English, Joy to the World...

    • Posted October 8, 2013
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  • Yokohama Zoorasia

    Yokohama Zoorasia The scorching sun can instill a desire to venture out into the Savannah and see the wildlife in their habitat. But seeing as packing up and flying to African jungles isn’t a possibility for many,...

    • Posted June 17, 2013
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  • Jeremiah D. Welsh Talks Art

    The natural world is an ostensibly simple one. Its beauty, however, is deeply rooted in its complexity. This is the concept that fascinates artist Jeremiah Welsh. A new Tokyo resident, the Connecticut native encapsulates his unique outlook...

    • Posted May 4, 2013
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  • Blast from the Past: Ichibangai

    It’s easy to get swept away by the glitz and glamour of present-day Japan with its blinding neon lights and trendy fashion quirks; so easy, that many tend to overlook the allure of Japan from simpler times....

    • Posted March 3, 2013
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  • School of rock: the American Guitar Academy

    The arts have always been an integral component in children’s education. Music, in particular, is a great medium through which students can create, experiment, and express themselves. Moreover, studies show that picking up a musical instrument and...

    • Posted February 3, 2013
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  • Celi: a new family-friendly hangout in Ebisu

    The Ebisu experience reaches new heights with the opening of the hip and stylish CELI: a cafe and restaurant with distinctly French roots; yet providing a uniquely international dining experience.Named after Madam CELINE, famed designer of the...

    • Posted July 1, 2012
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  • Tips for bringing home a puppy

    Last month, I wrote about how to select a dog for your family. This article is for those people that have decided to bring a puppy into their life. The love and laughter that comes with a...

    • Posted November 29, 2010
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  • The heart of art

    For many, there is nothing more cherished than memories.  As such, whether they consist of pictures from a recent family trip or from one’s own childhood, photo albums are some of the most valued items in many...

    • Posted September 28, 2010
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  • The man with the Midas touch

    David Foster is a force to be reckoned with in the music industry.  The fifteen-time Grammy-winning musician-songwriter-producer has created more stars than the Big Bang; and in his forty years in the industry, has launched the careers...

    • Posted August 30, 2010
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  • The greener option: Vegetarian dining spots in Tokyo

    More and more people are making important lifestyle shifts from being a carnivore to going vegetarian.  Vegetarians in Japan do not benefit as much as their European and North American counterparts in terms of food selection, but...

    • Posted August 30, 2010
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  • The man who launched a thousand chips

      Wally Amos’ recipe to success is simply that of chocolate chip cookies. For over thirty years, the celebrity cookie-maker’s name adorned households across the United States and later in Southeast Asia due to his beloved baked...

    • Posted July 27, 2010
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  • Decoding the language of art

    A maitre artist once told me that art is a form of creative expression that hones a person’s ability to widen his/her vision, letting an idea float in the mind and interpret with a synthetic, analogical approach. ...

    • Posted April 29, 2010
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  • Maria’s Babies Society

    Among the primary concerns many international parents face is which international school in Tokyo is best-suited for their child. Maria’s Babies Society offers a safe haven encouraging the creativity of children and their growth as responsible, worldly...

    • Posted March 29, 2010
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  • Eye to Ai

    American Idol commences its ninth season, and the usual suspects are back in full swing: The hopeful (and hopeless) singers, the notoriously frank judging panel, and Ryan Seacrest’s Colgate grin. And each year, the hit karaoke concourse...

    • Posted March 29, 2010
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  • Carmina Mancenon: Global changemaker

    Late January,  world leaders gathered in Davos, Switzerland for high- level talks at the World Economic Forum as the emerging Global Changemakers, composed of young social activists from around the world,  pitched innovative solutions to ailing social...

    • Posted February 27, 2010
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  • The art of Feng Shui

    The 20th century brought about the explosion of material richness, convenience, and comfort. Excessive materialism created a need for spirituality and culture. In the new millennium, people crave for spiritual “medicine”. This has already manifested itself in...

    • Posted January 31, 2010
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  • Vegging out

      The summer heat is as strong as ever, surely building up the appetites of Tokyoites everywhere (particularly the tiny ones’!). It‘s a great season to eat light and fresh, making a vegetarian meal an ideal option....

    • Posted July 26, 2009
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  • The new stone age

    Look around the streets of Tokyo and you will see an abundance of gemstone stores offering semiprecious and precious stones. These beautiful colored stones offer the promise of enhancing our lives simply by wearing them close to...

    • Posted June 29, 2009
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  • A twist on family ties

    Whether they’re pirates, comics, or child orphans, characters from Tokyo International Players (TIP) never fail to unite and put on an entertaining act. In its 112-year run, TIP’s May production of Charles Dickens’ classic Oliver! will prove...

    • Posted April 29, 2009
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  • Meeting with Benjamin Creme

    Benjamin Creme is an artist, author and chief editor of Share International, a monthly magazine which has subscribers in over 75 countries and translated into many languages including Japanese. He has been preparing the world for over...

    • Posted April 29, 2009
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  • Globa Tennis

    Tennis - a lifetime sport for your child. Kids benefit from having fun, learning teamwork, sportsmanship and competitiveness. Starting early is the key.

    • Posted March 30, 2009
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  • Stylistically speaking

    The Stylistics, the Philly ‘70s soul crooners, famed for their smooth-as-silk harmonies and legendary ballads  “You Are Everything,” “You Make Me Feel Brand New,” and their disco jam “I Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love)” are...

    • Posted February 1, 2009
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  • How to avoid the Christmas rush

    Have you ever found yourself wandering aimlessly at shopping centers on Christmas Eve, fearing a pouting child or spouse the following day? Many of us have fallen victim to the Christmas rush, that pesky phenomenon wherein holiday...

    • Posted November 4, 2008
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  • Art feast

    Japan’s contemporary art world is coming of age. The nation’s youth are updating the scene, injecting the culture with their own 21st century visions and styles. Consider it the latest renaissance. From the distinctive art of anime...

    • Posted November 4, 2008
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  • Sister Act

    It is said that music is the universal language, transcending cultural boundaries. Three American girls in Japan are living proof of that theory. Kyla (16 years old), Brenna (13 years old), and Shana (9 years old) Ryan...

    • Posted October 1, 2008
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  • A word with Jodie Foster

    Top photo © Elena Derevstova In Nim’s Island, we find Jodie Foster revealing a lighter side, as a clumsy, reclusive author of adventure novels, drawn into a real-life adventure of her own with one of her young...

    • Posted August 28, 2008
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  • Say it like Yamin it!

    American Idol's fifth season was arguably its best, having garnered its highest ratings yet. This was possible largely in thanks to a strong, diverse pool of talent in the top 24. In this crowd, the world caught...

    • Posted June 30, 2008
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  • An idol mind

    Sanjaya visited Osaka this March. TF were there to pick his brain.

    • Posted April 30, 2008
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