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Current Affairs

Feb 12 2004 2 Comments

Where’s the beef?

Gyudon (basically rice topped with beef) is a popular cheap meal in Japan, and there are a few restaurant chains that center their business almost solely around it. But the recent ban on imported U.S. beef has meant that many outlets have had to stop selling it.

Unfortunately some customers aren’t taking it very well. Two days ago, 35 year-old Masaaki Mori entered his local gyudon restaurant at 9 am. After swiftly drinking two bottles of beer (obviously an early starter), he ordered a bowl of gyudon. This is when the trouble started, as after being told that the shop had run out of beef, our disgruntled customer kicked up a bit of fuss. Banging his fists on the counter and shouting his displeasure to all and sundry. The man seated next to him told him to be quiet, so our beef loving brawler slapped him on the face, and for good measure grabbed the hair of another customer who tried to intervene.

After his arrest, Mr. Mori told police officers that he “thought the restaurant was still serving gyudon. I felt angry as they said it had stopped serving the dish.”

Since the incident, it’s rumoured that the nation’s gyudon restaurants have upped their security to code orange until further notice.

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Beef loving customers getting ready for a rumble yesterday

Categorized: Current Affairs, Food and Drink

Feb 09 2004 4 Comments

Back to the drawing board

In a bid to produce environmentally friendly energy, the government has been increasing the number of wind-powered generators in Hokkaido, northern Japan. A positive move most people would no doubt agree.

However some natural conservation organizations think differently, as last week an endangered eagle (designated a natural monument no less) was found dead near one of the generators. Apparently severed by the blades. Due to this, the groups have urged caution in building more wind-powered generators. Claiming that during times of poor visibility, birds can’t always see them.

Looks like it’s back to burning coal then.

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Some wind-powered generators patiently waiting for birds last week

Categorized: Current Affairs, General, Science

Feb 07 2004 Leave a Comment

Segway. No way!

On Thursday, the Tokyo police sent papers to prosecutors on a businessman’s use of the U.S. made Segway on a public road. During a promotional event, the 42 year-old import company president drove the Segway along Takeshitadori Street, in Tokyo’s fashionable Harajuku district.

Not a major crime you’d think, but the Segway is classified as a motorcycle under Japanese law. And as it’s not sufficiently equipped with brakes, lights, and indicators, it’s illegal. This means that the Segway can only be used in parks and University campuses.

An imported Segway costs somewhere in the region of 850,000 Yen (almost 4,400 pounds). It has to be said, that’s a lot of money for a quick race around the local park.

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A man speeding away from the police yesterday

Categorized: Current Affairs, Technology Stuff

Feb 06 2004 Leave a Comment

Policing the police

First the bad news.

Last year saw 433 police officers punished for misconduct. The reasons were varied, but coming in at number one was violating road traffic laws. This claimed 84 officers. Slightly more interesting was the second most popular activity. Namely, undermining public trust by misconduct related to drinking and sexual affairs. A whopping 77 officers were found guilty of this, but sadly details of each individual case weren’t released. And taking the third spot was theft, fraud, and embezzlement. Managing a fairly respectable 64.

As far as the good news is concerned, the total number of officers punished was down 135 from the previous year. That’s about it.

Categorized: Current Affairs

Feb 05 2004 1 Comment

Avian flu creates ostrich meat boom

The current avian flu scare sweeping across Asia, and concerns about mad cow disease in North America, have created something of a boom for Japan’s Ostrich farmers.

Bird flu has already struck in Japan, but so far ostriches are in the clear. And as the birds’ upper legs and back apparently taste like beef, their popularity is soaring (no pun intended).

One chef even went so far as to claim that “If beef, pork, and chicken are the big three meats, this (ostrich meat) is the fourth.”

So there you go.

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An Ostrich being chased by a hungry mob yesterday

Categorized: Current Affairs, Food and Drink

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