The delights of Japan – and fear of long-haul

It may be my age or, as I prefer to believe, the hangover of lockdown, but I made a right meal of planning for my first long haul trip in a few years - despite decades of reporting from around the world.

What would I need to take with me on a 13-hour flight, how would I cope with the jetlag and how could I fit in a busy inspection trip with a heavy workload and an eight-hour time difference?

(Glad I took socks and an eye-mask on the flight; wish I had better earphones and had remembered earplugs.)

But all my fears evaporated when I encountered what might rank as my Best Breakfast Ever at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Tokyo – and consequently remembered the unexpected joys of travel. There are, of course, many hotels in the city – indeed the world - that offer such a resplendent buffet but there is just something about the flavours of much Japanese food that reminds me of exquisite fine dining. When you want to savour the taste of each mouthful for as long as possible because it is so delicious.

Groaning with all the usual fare, it was the homemade tofu, kelp seawood, radish, bamboo shoots, fish and abundance of veg that made the selection so exciting. Seeing kids with breakfast plates piled high with greens - broccoli! - and fruit made me sad for the many British children who eat packaged rubbish if they eat breakfast at all. There’s a reason why Japan’s life expectancy is so high and ours is diminishing. (Although my local hosts were keen to point out that the Japanese don’t eat breakfast like that at home.)

The smiley robot carrying dirty plates to the kitchen just added to the joy.

Covering an international maths conference at Waseda University in Tokyo, we were taken to lunch at one of the many little local cafes serving students reasonably-priced and nourishing fare. The burgers were of course delicious but I have never before encountered a fried egg served with a smiley-face and a sparkler!

Talking to many of the international delegates at the conference, it was clear that it wasn’t just me who was delighting in the quality of the food. The friendliness and courtesy of the people, the punctuality and cleanliness were also standout factors.

So whether you are traversing the world as if the pandemic had never happened or taking your first steps back to organising international events, it’s exciting to be reminded of the pleasure and education offered by different places, cultures and people in real life. And what wonderful opportunities our industry offers.