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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 11 2004 3 Comments

Magic mountain

Whilst winter in Tokyo is relatively pleasant, with little rain and clear blue skies, there’s no getting away from the fact that it’s still cold. And despite Japan having the image of a high tech wonderland, most houses are, to put it bluntly, bloody freezing. Double glazing and central heating are sadly mere flights of fancy. Instead, people make do with oil burners and air conditioners. A sorry state of affairs it has to be said.

But one advantage of the cold and dry conditions is that Mount Fuji becomes visible from Tokyo. With its almost perfect conical shape, and snow-capped peak, it is a thing of breathtaking beauty. This wonderful picture (which I wish I’d taken) says more than my words ever could.

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Categorized: General

Feb 11 2004 3 Comments

Soy sauce animation

Yes, a soy sauce animation. Not something you get to see everyday it has to be said. Or at least I don’t anyway.

I’ll warn you now it’s quite odd, and the only information I can give you is that it’s made by a sauce manufacturer. I think. Hence the topic. So without further delay click here to experience Kikkoman, and feel free to sing along if you want to.

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They enjoyed it so much they bought the product

Categorized: Food and Drink, Odd

Feb 10 2004 Leave a Comment

Appearance is everything?

“Looks are absolutely vital. You can tell a lot about a guy’s character by the way he presents himself.”

A 30-year-old temp worker who regularly attends matchmaking parties in Tokyo.

And to think that some critics accuse the Japanese of being superficial and obsessed with appearance. Where on earth do they get such ideas from?

Categorized: General

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

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