Tag: Japan

Go Away With … Tamlyn Tomita

Jae-Ha Kim

“After the fall of the Berlin Wall, a TV station in Japan raised funds to send over cherry blossom trees to Berlin,” says “Berlin Station” actress Tamlyn Tomita. “I was lucky enough to witness the first pink-and-white blossoms in Berlin and to see so many Berliners underneath the beauty of these flowers. It made me proud to view this sight as an American whose father’s parents were from Japan, a former axis country, extending a grand gesture of peace toward another former axis country and showing the world how true progress and partnership can be nurtured and sustained.”

Go Away With … Tia Mowry

Jae-Ha Kim

Sixteen years after Tia Mowry became a household name on the sitcom, “Sister, Sister,” the busy actress stars in two series. She appears on TV Land’s “Instant Mom” and “Tia Mowry at Home,” her own lifestyle show on the Cooking Channel. Married to actor Cory Hardrict, she says her family travels all the time and never tires of it.

Go Away With … Kunal Nayyar

Jae-Ha Kim

“It’s interesting living and working in two different countries — both India and the United States,” says “The Big Bang Theory” star Kunal Nayyar. “Whenever I have time, I go to India and see my mom and dad. We’ll be there for Christmas. And for work, I’m based out of Los Angeles.”

Go Away With … Joe Morton

Jae-Ha Kim

Fans love to hate Joe Morton’s portrayal of Rowan (Olivia Pope’s father) on the hit ABC drama, “Scandal.” The actor, 68, remembers, “I was in Williamstown, Mass., to see some plays and this woman came up to me and said, ‘I didn’t recognize you right away, but I knew I hated you!’” Laughing, he adds, “We had a lovely long conversation after that. But people do react to my role on ‘Scandal.’”

Go Away With … Shannen Doherty

Jae-Ha Kim

Former co-stars (“Charmed”) and real-life best friends, actresses Shannen Doherty and Holly Marie Combs star in the Great American Country reality series, “Off the Map with Shannen and Holly.” “Holly and I experienced so many memorable moments,” says Doherty, 43, who resides in Malibu. “We ziplined in Kentucky and handled an alligator in Georgia. But, most of all, the people we met were so special and I truly feel blessed to have had this experience.”

Go Away With … Kanae Minato

Jae-Ha Kim

A former home economics teacher, Kanae Minato rocked Japan’s literary world with her 2008 debut novel, “Confessions.” A movie adaptation of the psychological thriller was selected as Japan’s entry for the best foreign language film at the 2010 Academy Awards. This past summer, the book was released in English.

Go Away With … Lisa Loeb

Jae-Ha Kim

Musician Lisa Loeb (of “Stay” fame) has some tips for traveling with young children: “Prepare yourself! Bring tons of snacks and activities, make sure you get a good night’s sleep before you venture out, don’t forget extra diapers and bring strollers and car seats with you. And lots of wipes. And maybe some Starbucks gift cards for the people around you on the plane.”

Go Away With … Brittany Bowe

Jae-Ha Kim

“I just got home from Japan, and it is by far one of the coolest places I’ve ever been to,” says U.S. speedskater Brittany Bowe. “The culture is so unique. We actually got to do a little bit of sightseeing on this trip and visit some of the temples. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. All the castles and architecture of Europe are beautiful. But then seeing Japan and its architecture is completely different and so special. Also, we went to Kazakhstan for a World Cup race and it was by far the coldest place I’ve ever been to so far. But it was a beautiful area. The buildings looked so cool and futuristic.”

Go Away With … Shelina Moreda

Jae-Ha Kim

Professional motorcycle racer Shelina Moreda has always liked moving fast. She was just a toddler when she rode ATVs. She fell in love with dirt bikes at the age of 12. Her mother and father — who raced cars and dirt bikes himself — were supportive when she announced her career choice. Moreda, now 27, lives in Petaluma, Calif., one of just three women to race in the AMA Pro Road Racing National Series.

Go Away With … Tony Hawk

Jae-Ha Kim

When Tony Hawk started skateboarding, he never dreamed that the sport would grow to what it is today — or that his name would become synonymous with skateboarding to so many people around the world. “I just always loved it and still have such a passion for it,” says the laid-back 42-year-old champ.

Go Away With … Justin Bieber

Jae-Ha Kim

It’s not easy to travel incognito when every tween and teenage girl in the world knows what you look like. But Justin Bieber gave it a good shot during a recent trip to the Bahamas. When the 16-year-old pop star wanted to try out the waterslides at the Atlantis resort in Paradise Island, he wrapped a beach towel over his trademark mane of floppy blond hair.

Go Away With … Jordin Sparks

Jae-Ha Kim

Though Jordin Spark’s tours have taken her to many destinations, the young singer has a long list of places she’d still like to visit. And she plans on taking her dog with her, if at all possible.

Go Away With … Todd Rundgren

Jae-Ha Kim

Rock legend Todd Rundgren has been performing for more than 40 years. Best known for hits such as “Hello It’s Me,” “I Saw the Light” and “Bang the Drum All Day,” Rundgren is currently on tour. The 61-year-old Pennsylvania-born musician now resides in Hawaii. “I used to live in Upstate New York where we got incredibly bitter cold for weeks on end,” Rundgren says. “And I remember the winters from growing up in Pennsylvania. I have no desire to relive them.”

Go Away With … Al Jarreau

Jae-Ha Kim

“Traveling is a wonderful perk of my job,” says singer Al Jarreau. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” A recent tour took him to Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai, Manila, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Jakarta, but not Tokyo — one of his all-time favorite cities. The seven-time Grammy Award winner in jazz, pop and R&B is best known for his smooth hit singles “Never Givin’ Up,” “Moonlighting” and “After All” and his greatest hits album “Al Jarreau — The Very Best Of: An Excellent Adventure” will be in stores on Sept. 29.

Go Away With … Chris Isaak

Jae-Ha Kim

Chris Isaak has had hit singles (“Wicked Game,” “Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing”), acted in feature films (“Silence of the Lambs,” “The Informers,” “From the Earth to the Moon”) and toured the world. Now add talk-show host to his resume, as he interviews other musicians on the Biography Channel’s series, “The Chris Isaak Hour.” Born and raised in the Bay Area, the 53-year-old entertainer lived briefly in Tokyo when he was a college student.

Go Away With … Joan Osborne

Jae-Ha Kim

Ever since her 1995 hit single “One of Us,” Joan Osborne has remained a strong presence in the music world, collaborating with members of the Grateful Dead, participating in the Lilith Fair concerts and appearing in the documentary “Standing in the Shadows of Motown.” The 47-year-old singer-songwriter is now playing dates nationwide to support her latest CD “Little Wild One.”

Go Away With … Yanni

Jae-Ha Kim

Born in Kalamata, Greece, Yanni moved to the United States to attend the University of Minnesota when he was 18 years old. Though he earned a degree in psychology, the self-taught musician decided to pursue music as his career. “I didn’t know any better back then,” he says, laughing. “I’m not sure it was the best thing to do, but it was what I needed to do. I have always just loved music.”

Go Away With … KT Tunstall

Jae-Ha Kim

Singer KT Tunstall has always been environmentally conscious. When she began touring to promote her quadruple platinum debut album “Eye to the Telescope,” Tunstall traveled on a biodiesel-powered bus. “It’s unacceptable to tour using non-environmentally friendly fuel when there are alternatives,” says the outspoken Scot whose London home benefits from the use of reclaimed wood, Thermafleece wool insulation and solvent-free paint.