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Melissa Devaughn
For Melissa Devaughn's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Apr 20, 2018
Fly-fishing in the remote reaches of Hokkaido
Akan National Park is renowned for some of the best fly-fishing in all Japan, and anglers can expect plentiful, seasonal catch.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Mar 16, 2018
Canoeing with a twist on Hokkaido's volcanic Lake Kussharo
To experience the best of canoeing in Japan, many choose Hokkaido for its wide-open spaces and relatively easy access to wilderness. Hokkaido boasts six national parks, 12 prefectural parks, and countless wetlands and undisturbed forests. Lake Kussharo is in Akan National Park and is the largest caldera lake in all of Japan.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Feb 23, 2018
Sapporo: Famous for its snow, but a delight in green
Sapporo balances a vibrant city feel with the quieter reprieves of lush parks, dense forests and meandering trails that speak to Hokkaido's nature-centric reputation. One minute you're fighting crowds at a fish market and the next you're listening to birds chirping in the Japanese maples.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Dec 16, 2017
Hokkaido's unique konbu dials up the umami to 12
Fisherman Kazuaki Ida entered the No Borders Cafe in Rausu just as we were finishing cups of hot coffee on a rainy Hokkaido afternoon. He held giant flat-leaved stalks that scraped against each other like hard plastic, garnering appreciative "ahs" of recognition among the cafe's customers. As a first-time Hokkaido visitor and relative newcomer to authentic Japanese cuisine, I remained ignorant. What were these things and why was everyone so excited?

Longform

Historically, kabuki was considered the entertainment of the merchant and peasant classes, a far cry from how it is regarded today.
For Japan's oldest kabuki theater, the show must go on