Greenery, community, artistry: Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park makes you see Tokyo in a different light

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The seven- floor Yoyogi Park resort’s concrete wall, with plants drooping over the balconies, blended so well with its surroundings that I nearly missed the entrance, not least because it was a bland side door that slid softly opened when you press the doorbell or tap with a crucial card. Certainly, host private was zealously guarded here: Outsiders have no access to the top share team where there is a club, heated pool and Jacuzzi. The only business you’ll own is your” tribe”, the kind that values recover and rest as much as the excitement of the area.

But the Interior Shibuya beauty still wafts through. Surrounding the hotel is a plethora of lovely cafes, great bars, exclusive restaurants, bookshops, art galleries and yet people baths — all summarised into a nifty pocket- sized map for guests to bring about. The hotel’s only restaurant, the ground floor Pizzeria e Trattoria L’Ombelico is family- friendly, pet- friendly, and mostly filled with locals. The menu is an Italian roll call of classics done right, namely wood- fired, Neapolitan- style pizzas whose cheeses bubble and tomatoes tease your tongue with their sweet tang, and perfectly al dente pastas with clingy sauces. The lunch sets were the best deals, winning even at the appetisers, which were tiny but mighty on flavours. Breezy Italian wines and beers, including a Yoyogi Amber Ale from a microbrewery down the road, add to the convivial air.

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Exploring Loewe’s Crafted World in Shanghai: An immersive experience of luxury and heritage

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This tale extends further in shows like Style Without Limits where wonderful creations from Anderson’s collections take center stage alongside United In Craft, which celebrates handmade help worldwide.

The show of Crafted World is the Sudden Dialogues area, featuring immersive rooms that carry readers into the revolutionary worlds that have inspired Loewe’s collaborations. From replicas of king potter Ken Price’s workshop to beautiful Studio Ghibli dreamscapes, these areas ignite the imagination and enjoy creativity in its purest form.

As guests emerge into a courtyard adorned with Alvaro Leiro’s reinterpretations of traditional Galician raincoats, they are invited to explore a curated gift shop offering exclusive products and books, extending the experience beyond the exhibition halls.

When asked how he would like people to remember Jonathan Anderson’s Loewe, he said:” The biggest thing when I joined Loewe, I wanted to kind of eradicate this idea of a luxury status of a brand and this idea of a cultural brand. I wanted to put the culture at the forefront of the brand rather than it just being about a luxury product. It had to mean something more. Ten years ago when I went out with that mission statement, I did n’t know what I was saying. But now, when I see the exhibition and now when I’ve been in the brand for this period of time, it’s starting to make sense. Without the craft, without the art collaboration or the idea of the]Loewe ] Craft Prize, we would n’t have a brand. And ultimately that has to do with the culture of it. I think this is fundamental. That’s what I would like people to remember.

The&nbsp, Crafted World exhibition is now open till May 5 at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre and it is open to the public with free admission.

CNA Luxury was in Shanghai to experience the exhibition at the invitation of Loewe.

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Hong Kong’s new national security law comes into force

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Hong Kong, a former British colony, returned to Chinese law in 1997 with the assurance that its high degree of autonomy and rights may be protected under a “one country, two systems” method.

In recent years, some politicians and activists have been jailed or have gone into captivity, and liberal media outlets and civil society organizations have been shut down.

In a mutual declaration led by the international- based Hong Kong Democracy Council, 145 area and advocacy groups condemned the rules and called for restrictions on Hong Kong and Chinese officials involved its passage, as well as review the status of Hong Kong’s Financial &amp, Trade Offices worldwide.

” It’s time for the United States to step up for political prisoners and freedom in Hong Kong. Every time we let authoritarians get away with atrocities, we risk other bad actors attempting to do the same”, wanted Hong Kong activist Frances Hui said in Washington, during a news conference with the US Congressional- Executive Commission on China ( CECC), which advises Congress.

Chris Smith, a co- chairman of the CECC, said the Hong Kong trade offices had” simply become outposts of the Chinese Communist Party, used to engage in transnational repression”.

China defends the security crackdown as essential to restoring order after months of sometimes violent anti- government protests in 2019.

About 291 people have been arrested for national security offences, with 174 people and five companies charged so far.

Chinese authorities insist all are equal before the security laws that have restored stability, but while individual rights are respected no freedoms are absolute.

A previous attempt to pass Article 23 was scrapped in 2003 after 500, 000 people protested. This time around, public criticism has been muted amid the security crackdown.

In Taipei’s fashionable Ximending shopping district, more than a dozen Hong Kong, Taiwan and Tibet activists gathered to protest the law and shout their denunciations.

Other protests are planned in Australia, Britain, Canada, Japan and the United States.

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In Thailand, a house built specially for a surgeon’s family and his 14 dogs

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” They are like family to me. We take attention of each other like people do. Like humans, they have feelings and may express their feelings. That is what makes them quite near to people”, said Dr Norawee.

He loves of all his dogs and speaks warmly of them. For instance, Alice, the second dog he brought into his house, holds a unique place in his heart with her gentle nature and unwavering loyalty. Then there are lovely mischief- makers like Casper and Momo who add vibrant energy to the house, reminding everyone of the joy and spontaneity that comes with canine companionship.

Hoping to meet the unique needs of his animals, he envisioned a place where they could grow physically and emotionally. Recognising the importance of exercising and play, particularly for larger varieties, the property boasts wide grounds where they can roam freely.

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