japan: Will It Come Down To Food Or Fuel?
- 01/24/08 08:12 PM
A Japanese friend I spoke to the other day was disgruntled because the price of soy sauce is increasing. It's all because we are trying to reduce consumption of fossil fuels .
Interest in using food crops (ethanol is derived from sugar beets, wheat, corn or sugarcane) to produce alternative fuel sources for cars is causing many nations to fear subsequent increases in food prices.For example soy bean oil is heavily relied on to make biofuel - the renewable diesel fuel additive. Cooking oils and many other products prices are increasing because the price of soy beans, corn and cereals are … (5 comments)
japan: The Best Knee Surgery -Ever
- 07/20/07 05:00 PM
I am a maniac. Whenever I start a new hobby or sport I have to do it every day 3 hours a day, I just can't quit. Five years ago I got really into squash, took lessons and competed in regional and national competitions here in Japan. I was a force to be reckoned with until 5 months ago when my knee kept locking suddenly, ANY movement was incredibly painful and worst of all high-heels became a new form of torture. Turns out that in my zeal I torn my meniscus and needed arthroscopic surgery.Now that I am based in Japan … (5 comments)
japan: Golden Week- Let the madness begin!
- 04/27/07 09:33 PM
From today begins the chaos of Golden Week. In Japan everyone, I mean, EVERYONE gets the week off. So basically prices double, roads are packed and line ups are huge. In fact on t.v they have reports on how many hours it takes to leave Tokyo city by any means of tranportation. Ever seen the image of people being pushed onto trains during rush hour by kindly old men wearing white gloves? This year I have done a poll and it seems no one is going anywhere. People are fed up! Todd and I will stay home, spring clean and work 7 … (0 comments)
japan: Land Crunch
- 04/22/07 03:30 PM
Yesterday was my day off so my husband and I went for a bike ride to see a Surrealism exhibit at the Tochigi Prefectural Museum. I remembered I don't like surrealism except for Salvador Dali.On the way there we stopped at an open house by one of the largest home builders in Japan. Seikusui House (pronounced "sexy house"). So for a 1290sqft house we were looking at $400,000, granted it was near the university. This is a suburban area where the houses are jam packed; I mean the neighbour coughs and you hear it. This price is reasonable because it includes … (0 comments)
A Japanese friend I spoke to the other day was disgruntled because the price of soy sauce is increasing. It's all because we are trying to reduce consumption of fossil fuels . 
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