Out with the old and in with the old
Written by: adekun on 2 August, 2008 6:35 pm - Filed under: blog — No Comments »
Today sees ailing Prime Minister Fukuda’s new cabinet inaugurated. The forbearing Japanese can now look forward to a raft of reforms instead of the usual dithering and inaction. If the latest reshuffle doesn’t upset the apple cart, the golden age may last until next September when an equally dynamic team get elected.
Long live the gerontocracy!
Monkey rocket launcher
Written by: adekun on 24 July, 2008 10:36 pm - Filed under: blog — 3 Comments »
In the news a few days ago was a report on hordes of monkeys descending upon gardens. The old residents have put dozens of giant stuffed tigers in an attempt to keep them at a distance. Those bold enough get faced with a barrage of rockets propelled from makeshift launchers and pistols.
28th Kaike Triathlon
Written by: adekun on 20 July, 2008 7:50 am - Filed under: blog — 3 Comments »
Today is Triathlon day and it looks to be a hot and very humid one. The typhoon moving up from Taiwan is now heading more towards the west. On Friday evening there was an announcement over the city public address system to say somebody had spotted a two or three metre fish; either a school of fish or a shark. With the warming of the seas over the years, Hammerhead sharks can be seen off the beach. This year the swim is going ahead. The event is now an ecology conscious green tournament. Volunteers will be bussed around in buses running on biodiesel produced from used tempura oil. 
34th G8 Summit
Written by: adekun on 6 July, 2008 10:54 pm - Filed under: blog — 4 Comments »
As world leaders arrive for the G8 summit so has the warmer weather. Down in Kyūshū it was over 36°C. In Hokkaido, a key point on the agenda is rising costs. Even the ‘cost’ of hosting the event is up with the Japanese government splashing out a cool £285m, half of which is on security. According to The Guardian it is perhaps is a little less lavish than the last the country hosted:
Japan is touting Lake Toya as the “compact” summit in an attempt to banish memories of Okinawa 2000, an 80bn-yen orgy of excess during which the leaders lunched on Beluga caviar and foie gras while Jacques Chirac held court on his love of sumo wrestling. The lesson does not seem to have been learned: this week 60 top chefs will prepare the leaders’ meals, although the menu and its cost are closely guarded secrets.
This year’s resort sits 625m atop a mountain looking like something from a Gerry Anderson’s Supermarionation production. (continue reading…)
Butter my arse
Written by: adekun on 30 May, 2008 10:06 pm - Filed under: blog — 2 Comments »
Towards the end of March notices appeared above the empty butter shelves. The general theme was an apology from the supermarket manager saying they are unsure when the next delivery will be. Although it hasn’t been the most fervent of searches, Monday brought an end to over a month without any respite. I spotted a few blocks. They must have just had a delivery and I was in the right place at the right time. A steal I thought at ¥368 for a scant 200 g. Along with the ridiculously priced apples and flour, pie making will have to wait (probably indefinitely). I also spotted seven cherries for ¥298.
There have been many stories covering this phenomenon. Hashimoto an official at the Ministry of Agriculture was quoted “Drought in Australia which pushed up the cost of cattle feed and bulging demand for butter elsewhere in Asia are making butter imports more expensive and shoppers are turning to made in Japan butter. The bottom line is, however, butter is not our staple food. Personally, I can happily switch to margarine.” (continue reading…)
Nine out of ten Japanese prefer pasta
Written by: adekun on 11 May, 2008 7:21 pm - Filed under: blog — 3 Comments »
Price rise announcements are now a common precursor to each month. Earlier in the year there were reports of Japan’s WPI being at a 27 year high and CPI being hitting decade highs. In a country where the economy is as stagnant as the wages, cost-driven inflation is really spanner in the works. Being so hideously short on natural resources you would think it prudent that the country not to be reliant on something that can be grown at home.* Japan’s food self sufficiency has fallen to a meagre 39%. Despite this there is still a surplus of the tightly controlled rice. Rather than relay my own thoughts and experiences this article sums it up much better and offers an insight as to what the government is cooking up (skip cynical typo). I think it’s worth adding however, when asking students what their favourite food is, they almost always respond with pasta or spaghetti.
What I am yet to understand is flour cost increases are met regular tax increases levied upon the millers. I can only surmise as I don’t have an understanding of how things work here. Nor do any Japanese I speak to. In fact there is so little interest in the subject it is little wonder things go awry or politicians get repeatedly caught with their hands in the till. On a more positive note there are plans to increase the self sufficiency rate; with a coffer that no doubt needs to be filled.
This month was greeted with a McPrice Hike. An example given was because of cheese and flour cost increases the ¥100 hamburger will now cost between ¥20 and ¥30 extra depending on the region. The last part made me laugh. Undoubtedly the forbearing Japanese will swallow the latest price rise.
* herein lies a little of the problem
Year of the Hamaomotoyotou
Written by: adekun on 6 September, 2007 12:41 pm - Filed under: blog — 2 Comments »
In the paper the other day, there was an article about the finding of ハマオモトヨトウ (Brithys crini) caterpillars in the prefecture. They were last since around parts in the mid Fifties. The name is derived from their favoured plant Hamaomoto, found between Minami-Kantō and Okinawa. The report shows a chap with hundreds of larvae swarming around a plant in his garden. Surprisingly, it cites the greenhouse effect and the rise in CO2 levels as the cause.
Recent Comments
Denise: Adrian, when I saw "Labour Thanksgiving Day", I thought your wife had given birth. :o) I love the last line ...
Rick Rosenshein: Great blog, beautiful photos and articles. Very informative. Thank you for sharing and keep up the great work. Rick
Robin Wedewer: How nice to find you and to hear your nice words about Bumblebeeblog.com! As for the weeding, you know it can ...
Lucy Corrander: Dropping by through Blotanical. Thought I would say hello. Lucy Corrander LOOSE AND LEAFY
Jon in France: 90° or 270°...surely it should be possible to tell depending upon which foot arrives first? Nice colours. We're just getting to ...