Only in Japan

Well, you've probably heard it quite a few times in your life that Japan beholds many unusual things that will raise eyebrows, drop jaws, nod heads, and slap foreheads. From my three weeks in Japan I've finally experience first hand what those people mean when they say that. As an Asian, im somewhat already accustomed to the Japanese culture. I can't imagine what westerners went through. Our bodies must be shaken like cigarette withdraws. Oh well, here's a list that I compiled of things that i find are exclusive in Japan (or hard to find in other countries, especially in the US).

5. Only in Japan...will boybands like this hit the number one spot in the rankings:

These five "men" are in a group called newS, a Japanese boyband who drives the premature women population of Japan into a frenzy. Plug your ears, cause when those girls scream, the decibels can get up there. Sigh, they make the Backstreet Boys look like they have testicles. Sorry if I offended someone! :)

4. Only in Japan...can you find "live" billboards on a truck:

As I was walking down Harajuku, I saw a crowed over by the street flashing their cameras that what I though was just a billboard vechicle, just like the ones that circulate the MSU campus. But upon further investigation, found out that the people on the billboard moved! Stupid me I thought they were just mannequins, damn good looking mannequins too. It took me 5 seconds to find out that they were actual people. A great way to advertise I guess. (they were advertising for a CD release of some band).

3. Only in Japan...can you enjoy soy sauce flavored icecreams:

Dr. Ross was cool enough to have hooked us up with a plant tour of the world renowned soy producer, Kikkoman (I was actually interested in this plant tour...I consumer Kikkoman's soysauce like others do with milk). Anyways, after the tour ended, the company treated us with icecream. Soysauce flavored icecream. Thats a first for me. Reluctant at first, I gave it a little lick like a cautious dog. It didnt taste bad at all! Hell, it tasted better than those air-pumped icecream back in Thailand. Not salty like you may all think at all!

2. Only in Japan...can you buy your child a condom suit for Halloween:

There are lots of strange foods in Japan, but there are also plenty of weird 'things' too. Like this purple condom custome I can across to in Shibuya. Woudn't it be the perfect Halloween costume for your 10 year olds? Just imagine them trick-or-treating in their FULL BODY purple condom outfit. Only 28 bucks folks, for a definate banned item in the US.

1. Only in Japan...will you be able to cross an intersection diagonally with hundreds of other pedestrians:

This is truly unique to the famous Shibuya crossing in Tokyo, Japan. Shibuya is Tokyo's version of Broadway + Fifth Avenue, but bigger. Thousands of people walk in this district that is filled with department stores, resturants, and brand name stores. At the center of it all, just right in from of the Shibuya train station, is the crossing. Hundreds of people gather at the edge of the streets waiting for that 'walk' signal to light up. When the cars stop and the light signals go, mobs of people flock from all directions filling tp the entire road. When viewed from a high buidling, it seems like there is no road.

But thats not it....

BEYOND NUMBER 1... THE ULTIMATE...

Only in Japan...will you feel violated after taking a dump:

Everyone would agree that Japan is one of the most, if not the most technologically advanced nation in the world. They're so advanced that technology extends onto your toilet seat. Lets start off with something that's easy to comprehend - the seat is heated. Alright! that'll be nice for the winter. Next, there's an automatic flush function. Great! I dont have to push a button for pull the lever. Thats just the basic; they had that for decades. Here comes the fun part. The toilet offers to clean your butt for you. At a push of a button, a plastic arm will extend from one side of the bowl and shoot water straight to where the mess was made. But thats not it. You can adjust the water pressure AND the water shooting? (i guess...) between bidet or spray. I had to try it once. Very unique experience if you ask me. Never felt this violated before in my life. Thanks toilet, I can wipe my own butt ^^'

東京タワー | Tokyo Tower

Located in Shibuya Park, Japan's tallest artificial structure, the Tokyo Tower, stands at a towering 300 plus meters tall. Inspired by the Eiffel Tower if Paris, Tokyo Tower was built in in 1958 as a broadcasting tower for major television and radio outlets. Since then, the tower has always been a part of Tokyo, if not whole of Japan. Because of its height and location, the Tokyo Tower can be seen from various parts of Tokyo, indluding Rappongi, the Imperial gardens, and even Shinjuku train station.



It was too bad that we did not get a chance to take a ride up to the top. But at least we got to see a monkey perform tricks. And I got to take a photo with the mascot. I was thinking at it looked like a pink condom, but I was too scared to write it down on this blog untill upon further research just now confirmed my thoughts. Yes, the mascot is a pink penis (please correct me if im wrong!). Its name is Noppon.

築地市場 | Tsukiji Market

Located in central Tokyo, the Tsukiji fish market is the biggest wholesale fish and seafood in the world. Everthing ranging from seaweed to tuna are found at this place. Its open for operation mostly everyday, being the busiest around 5-8am. Annually, more than 700,000 tons of seafood are handled at Tsukiji (2000 tons a day).

The main even of the show was the tuna auction. Hundreds of frozen tuna gets auctioned off, bluefin tunas are priced at around $200 per kilgram. And they weigh 200+ kilgrams. Do the math. The fishes are either moved on to their next destination or are chopped up and sold within the market.

増上寺 | Zojyoji Temple

Located in the middle of Tokyo, the Zojyoji Temple the main temple of the Jodo-Buddist sect. During the Edo period Zojyoji served as the temple of the Tokugawa family. 6 out of 15 Tokugawa shoguns are burried here at Zojyoji.

Along the sides of the main temple are rows of small statues with bonnets and windmills. These statues are the protector of the souls of stillborn children, or jizobosatusu in Japanese. Mothers who have lost an unborn child often dedicate such statues and decorate it with toys and clothing

A large bell is located in front of the entrance into the temple. The bell is banged with the long rope before one prays and make wishes.

PakkuRo's Food File「# 7」:

東京の韓国の料理 Tokyo's Korean Food

วันก่อนออกไปหาข้าวเย็นกินกัน สะดุดเจอร้านอาหารเกาหลีเลยตัดสินใจเข้าไปลองดู พอดีมีคนเกาหลีไปด้วยเลยให้เขาสั่ง

Jjigae

Dolsot Bimbimbap

Galbi　(ไม่มีโอกาสถ่าย หันไปก็หมดแล้ว)

Hmmmm…น่ากินนน

อาหารอร่อยอย่างที่คาดไว้ (เผ็ดดี ผิกับดอาหารญี่ปุ่น) ทุกอย่างหายวับไปกับตา (มีคนตะกละเยอะ)

รสชาติ 9.0
ความสวยงาม 8.0
ความอิ่ม 8.0
ราคา 8.0

日本の食文化 | Japanese Food Culture

We traveled to Noda city which was the home of Kikkoman Soy Sauce Co. Ltd. We were also fortunate enough to sit in a presentation about Japanese food culture. The presenter talked about the history of 和食or traditional Japanese (foods that were created before Meiji resotration) foods like soba, sushi, tempura and unagi. Soba, made from buckwheat, originated from Edo. These home-made noodles were often served cold with tsuyu (sweetned soy sauce) in the Edo period but quicky had variations as time passed. Sushi, which is vinegared rice topped with fish, also originated in Edo (current Tokyo). They say that in the old days, 20 set of knives were used to process the fish untill it got to your plate. The tempura, deep fried vegetable or shrimp in batter is also another famous traditional Japanese dish that is now famous around the world. A dish that not many people know is grilled unagi (eel) in soy sauce. This dish is often eaten on hot summer days. In addition to the history of foods, we also learned that the Japanese dishes are healthy (mostly vegetable) and are aesthetically pleasing.

東京海洋大学: 味の素 | Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology: Ajinomoto

During our visit of the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, we got the opportunity to listen to a lecture by the advisor of Ajinomoto General Foods. The company is the number one food maker in Japan, creating revenue of $11 billion. Ajinomoto also has a joint venture with Kraft Foods. The speaker touched on some critical success factors, which include maket trends, consumer patterns, and other competitors in the industry. The market has changed from local mama/papa shops to big multi-national retailers. Since Japan is an aging society, most consumers value freshness and the ease to cook when they go shopping. To adjust to such challenges, Ajinomoto sets supply chain and logistics goals. Their key word is integration. They want to maintain their competiveness and lower inventory. To achieve this, they integrated IT into their odering process and inventory management system. Then they developed new plans of purchasing and production. Lastly they improved their delivery functions such as packaging and delivery plans.