Anthony Bourdain reveals the one place he’d settle down
He’d pick one city ‘in a second’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.If anyone’s got the travel bug, it’s Anthony Bourdain.
The renowned TV chef is constantly on the move, sampling culinary delights around the the world, from the crevices of the Congo to the streets of Sicily.
It’s safe to say the man knows his waffles from his wanderlust. Now, the US presenter has revealed the one place in the world he’d settle down.
Speaking to Maxim, Bourdain explained that his fascination with all things Japanese has always drawn him to Tokyo.
Interestingly, his reasoning has little to do with food.
"It's so different than the aesthetic I grew up with, the society and culture I grew up with," he said.
Bourdain developed an obsession with the Japanese capital from his very first visit, admitting that it completely changed his life.
He said that the first time he went to Tokyo his "head kind of exploded".
"I compared it to taking my first acid trip: Nothing was ever the same for me. I just wanted more of it.
"If I had to agree to live in one country, or even one city, for the rest of my life, never leaving it, I'd pick Tokyo in a second," he said.
Bourdain explained that his interests in Japanese culture was also partly fuelled by a passion for Tebori, the Japanese practise of tattooing by hand.
All you have to do is catch a glimpse of the chef's heavily-inked arms to see how much his intrigue has influenced him.
"Many of the things I love about Japan come from the fact that I recognise that I don't have those things," he added.
He expressed huge admiration of the intense discipline required for so many Japanese practises, such as Tebori and flower arranging, which he personally feels he lacks.
Bourdain explained that the attention to detail that these activities require can be enriching, allowing you to focus on the basic elements of what it means to experience pleasure.
Meet you in Tokyo.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments