Tokyo Sézanne’s missing stars; Hongkonger shed 32kg in 8 months: 7 lifestyle highlights

We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.1. Where did Tokyo restaurant Sézanne’s 3 Michelin stars go?Tokyo’s Sézanne restaurant, which once held the No 1 spot on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list, has been quietly stripped of its three Michelin stars ahead of the guide’s next update in autumn 2026. The change follows the high-profile departure of its opening chef, Daniel Calvert, in April, leaving his replacement, Stephen Lancaster, to start from scratch.2. This Hong Kong executive lost 32kg in just 8 months. How did he do it?Hong Kong executive Keizer Cheng in August 2024 (left) and in March 2025 after losing 32kg and trimming his body fat to 12.5 per cent. His fitness journey included a structured fitness programme and a new approach to eating. Photo: onepersonaltraininghk.comAt 25, Keizer Cheng was living a typical life as a young Hong Kong professional: working long hours with relentless deadlines and the constant hum of pressure. On paper, he was a successful executive. In reality, his body was buckling under the weight of his choices.3. What to do in Furano, a little-known summer haven on Japan’s Hokkaido islandTourists stroll through lavender fields at Tomita Farm, one of the most colourful spots in Furano. The city in central Hokkaido comes into its own during summer, when it offers visitors the chance to enjoy its natural beauty and delicious local produce in temperate weather. Photo: Kyodo News via Getty ImagesThe Japanese island of Hokkaido is best known to people outside Japan as a winter destination full of powdery ski slopes. But it is also the perfect getaway in the warmer months. One spot in particular, overflowing with idyllic backdrops and great food, has long flown under the radar of international travellers.4. How this 68-year-old Hong Kong man overcame ‘end-stage’ knee arthritisEspineli says his life has always been shaped by discipline and movement. Photo: Jonathan WongA diagnosis of “end-stage” osteoarthritis usually signals the termination of an active life: the end of mobility, the inevitability of surgery and the narrowing of life’s possibilities. But Reynaldo Espineli was not going to let it slow him down.5. Optimistic people live longer but how to be more positive? An expert gives tipsThree years ago, Dr Deepika Chopra was just months into writing a book about optimism when she found herself confronting a crisis that threatened to dismantle everything she thought she understood about hope.6. Prawn toast as a Scottish egg? How UK chefs are reinventing a Cantonese classicThe classic prawn toast at Cafe Kowloon in London comes covered in sesame seeds. Chefs around the UK are now experimenting with the dish. Photo: Cafe KowloonBritish chefs are in the midst of a love affair with Cantonese prawn toast as the dish appears on tables across the country, spanning fine-dining hotspots, chef’s counters and street food markets.7. How the Young and Dangerous films of the 1990s made triad gangsters sexy(From left) Jordan Chan, Michael Tse, Ekin Cheng and Jason Chu in a still from Young and Dangerous (1996). Jerry Lamb also stars. Photo: Golden HarvestStarring Ekin Cheng Yee-kin and Jordan Chan Siu-chun as glamorous and trendy triad members navigating the Hong Kong criminal underworld, the Young and Dangerous series of films were smash hits between 1996 and 2000.Further Reading