EPICURE Early Spring 2020

EPICURE escapes
THE OLYMPIC YEAR
WHAT'S NEW IN JAPAN?
With Japan gearing up for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic
and Paralympic Games, attention is being focused on
the Tohoku region in northern Honshu, which was
heavily affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
Prefectures within the region such as Aomori, Fukushima and
Miyagi will be some of the first to receive the Olympic Torch
Relay and will play host to part of the games. Tohoku is easily
accessible from Tokyo by shinkansen and is celebrated for its
local produce and vast natural beauty.
THE OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY FOR TOKYO OLYMPICS 2020
TRAVELS THROUGH TOHOKU
Following a tradition of peace and hope, the touch relay theme
this year is ‘Hope Lights Our Way’, uniting the Japanese people
around messages of support and acceptance. The flame will
initially be put on display at various locations in the Tohoku
region, to help underscore a message of hope in areas affected by
the 2011 earthquakes and tsunami, including Miyagi, Fukushima
and Iwate. The Olympic Torch Relay will commence on 26 March
2020 in Fukushima Prefecture and will then travel to each of
Japan’s 47 prefectures, showcasing the varied cultural and scenic
attractions of each region.
Miyagi is lucky enough to play host to the Olympic flame twice,
once on 20 March 2020 when it arrives from Greece and displayed
in recovering areas and again from 20-22 June 2020 on its way
to Tokyo for the Games. A place of natural beauty, Miyagi boasts
both beautiful coastline and lush wilderness. Visit Zuiganji, one
of the region’s most prominent Zen temples well-known for its
beautifully gilded and painted sliding doors. Originally founded
in 838 AD, it was converted into a Zen temple in the 12th century
and remains a training ground for Buddhist monks.
TOKYO 2020 VICTORY BOUQUET FLOWERS FROM THE
TOHOKU REGION
Early this year, the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic
and Paralympic Games announced the decision to present
victory flower bouquets to medalists. These flowers will be
made up of flowers from the hardest hit prefectures in the 2011
Great East Japan Earthquake disaster as a symbol of recovery
including; Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima. Flowers that will
be used in these bouquets include sunflowers and roses from
Miyagi and gentians from Iwate.
NIPPON 2020 CULTURAL OLYMPICS
Tokyo 2020 Nippon Festival has been created to build energy
around the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The
festival welcomes people and cultures from around Japan
"THE MIYAGI PREFECTURE IS A PLACE
OF NATURAL BEAUTY, STUNNING
COASTLINE AND ADORABLE
WILDLIFE AND IN 2020 WILL BE THE
HOST TO SEVERAL MEN’S OLYMPIC
GAME FOOTBALL MATCHES."
and beyond to interact and celebrate the Games, events will
be organised to encourage diversity and regeneration in the
Tohoku region opening new gateways and introducing new
possibilities for Japan.
MIYAGI PLAYS HOST TO THE FOOTBALL MATCHES DURING
THE 2020 OLYMPIC GAMES
The Miyagi Prefecture is a place of natural beauty, stunning
coastline and adorable wildlife and in 2020 will be the host to
several men’s Olympic Game football matches. Catch the Men’s
Quarterfinal at Miyagi Stadium on 1 August 2020. The stadium is
just a stone throw’s away from Matsushima Bay, enjoy some down
time after the games and explore the collection of over 260 pineclad
islands that have been designated one of Japan’s Three Most
Scenic Views. Visit the region’s cosmopolitan capital Sendai, fondly
nicknamed the City of Trees, and sample some of the prefecture’s
culinary delights such as, gyutan (cow tongue) and kamaboko
(white fish cakes). Additionally, Zao Fox Village is a must whilst in
Miyagi, the village is home to six different types of fox, here visitors
can feed and play with the adorable creatures, the animals are
friendly up close and play a key role in Japanese folklore.
RESTORATION AND THE REOPENING OF THE KABUSHIMA SHRINE
Whilst travelling to Japan for the 2020 Olympic Games it is worth
extending the trip of a lifetime to nearby areas. Located in the
Tohoku region in Aomori Prefecture is Hachinohe City, here is
where the renowned Kabushima shrine stands. The shrine was
completely destroyed in a fire on 5 November 2015, the new
shrine is under construction and is scheduled to be reopened in
March 2020.The shrine was incredibly picturesque located on a
small hill surrounded by the sea, it enshrines goddess Benzaiten.
Kabu in Kabushima can mean both turnip and stock in Japanese,
the shrine is therefore a popular place for local fishermen and
townspeople to come and pray for good luck in the stock market
and business, as well as fishing.
For more information on Japan 2020 visit: japan.travel/en/uk
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