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"Where's the Beef?" might be the most apt question of the moment
in Japan these days as the mad cow disease scare continues to
blow out of proportion. With the facts that no one has been diagnosed
with the disease and to date only one infected cow has been discovered,
a writer to the Daily Yomiuri raised a very pertinent question:
why all the panic about buying such a low-risk product while every
day tens of millions of Japanese puff away on known carcinogens?
The fact is that more people will die as a result of inhaling
other people's smoke than from BSE. Makes you think.
Mark McBennett
Webmaster, Japan Zone
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Contents
1. What's going on in Japan
2. Sports news
3. Gei-noh news
4. Links we like
5. Japan Zone updates
6. Unsubscribe
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1. What's going on in Japan
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The BSE (mad cow disease) situation continues to vie with the
war in Afghanistan for the top news headlines. The focus has been
less on the potential for an outbreak than on the government's
poor handling of the situation. A lot of the confusion originated
from the fact that two ministries - Health, Welfare & Labor and
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries - are responsible for different
aspects of the crisis. Their statements and policies - or lack
thereof - has only added to the public's sense of anxiety.
Ministers seemed desperate to reassure the public beef is safe,
putting on what the media called "performances" of eating tasty-looking
yakiniku (grilled beef) and raving about how delicious it was.
While this falls in line with the recent trend for high-profile
politicians to use the media to make their appeals to the public,
the public are not so easily fooled. The testing of the country's
entire stock of slaughtered cattle for BSE that only started October
18th was obviously interpreted as meaning that beef could not
be guaranteed safe to eat.
Meanwhile, chain restaurants that rely heavily on beef seem to
be fighting for their very survival. Staff of Gyukaku, part of
a major restaurant chain, have been frantically handing out A2-size
color pamphlets full of discount coupons in front of my local
train station over the last few days. The pamphlets say that the
restaurant has temporarily stopped using domestic beef and now
uses only products imported from the US and Australia. Incidentally,
they also mention that profits from sales of the company mascot
(Usshi - a cow, of course) are going to help survivors of the
US terrorist attack.
Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro eased some of the tension between
Japan and Korea and China during recent visits to both countries.
During a visit to a Seoul musuem dedicated to Koreans who opposed
Japan's colonial rule from 1910 to 1945, he apologized for the
damage and suffering caused by Japan. He was the first Japanese
prime minister to visit the museum. Controversy remains over Japanese
history textbook references to Korea. During the APEC summit in
Shanghai, the 21 national leaders' main concern seemed to be their
united stand in the current fight against terrorism. Koizumi seemed
particularly uncomfortable in his traditional silk jacket, worn
by each of the leaders attending. Probably couldn't wait to get
changed back into his usual "salaryman-like" grey suit.
Elsewhere, two bodies have been recovered from the sunken Ehime
Maru. The ship, carrying a group of fisheries school students
from Ehime Prefecture, was accidentally sunk in a collision with
a US submarine off the coast of Hawaii in February. The bodies
were found after the ship was moved to shallower waters to facilitate
salvage efforts.
A judge at Osaka District Court ruled that two members of the
Aum Supreme Truth religious cult be allowed to register in Suita
in Osaka Prefecture . The court also awarded compensation of 400,000
yen to the plaintiffs who had contested the city's decision to
refuse to register them. Two more cases, in Ibaraki Prefecture
and Tokyo are pending. Members of the cult were responsible for
a string of murders and the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway
system in 1995.
Meanwhile in the continuing trial of Aum founder Matsumoto Chizuo
(46), the case for the prosecution is expected to close by the
end of the year. At that time, the defense case is supposed to
begin. The defense counsel have requested a one-year hiatus in
order to prepare, citing Matsumoto's lack of cooperation as having
hindered their preparation. The case has already lasted five and
a half years and the request is expected to be denied.
In what was called a landmark decision, Osaka District Court slapped
a restraining order on a man in his 60s who had reportedly been
beating his wife and two children for almost 20 years. The decision
follows the introduction of the new "Law on the Prevention of
Spousal Violence and the Protection of Victims". The law went
into effect on October 13th.
This year's Nobel Prize in chemistry was shared between Noyori
Ryoji and two US scientists, whose research into how better to
control chemical reactions paved the way for a treatment for Parkinson's
disease. It's the second year in a row that a Japanese has won
the award. The stern Noyori, a professor at Nagoya University,
is known by his students as "The Fiend".
Four of a group of ten youths were arrested for extorting 2.8
million yen from a 16-year old high school student in Fukuoka.
Unlike in other cases, where those bullied would usually get the
money from parents, this boy withdrew the money from his own postal
savings account that contained some 7 million yen (about $60,000)!
Violinist Goto Midori was awarded the Avery Fisher Prize, one
of the most prestigious for a solo performer. The award has previously
gone to such high profile musicians as cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
In the latest figures, there were about 31,900 marriages between
Japanese and foreigners in 1999. 76% of these were between Japanese
men and mostly Asian women. Of the foreign men with Japanese brides,
about half were American or Korean.
The Tokyo Motor Show is set to take place between October 27th
and November 7th.
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2. Sports news
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Formula One driver Jean Alesi (37) wanted to retire from the sport
with a flourish at the Japan Grand Prix. He clocked the fastest
qualifying time but spun out of the main event after hitting another
car. Alesi became particularly popular in Japan after his marriage
to beautiful actress Goto Kumiko (27), who was constantly on his
arm at the Suzuka circuit (except when he was driving, of course!).
The couple have two children, Helena (4) and Giuliano (2).
The Seattle Mariners failed to put the gloss on one of the greatest
seasons in the history of Major League baseball. After winning
an amazing 116 games in the regular season and getting through
the first round of the playoffs, the Mariners fell in five games
to the reigning champions, the New York Yankees. While he shone
in the 3-2 series win over the Cleveland Indians, batting a record
.600, even Ichiro (28) couldn't find the spark needed to get his
team all the way to the World Series.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/suzuki_ichiro.shmtl
After three games in baseball's Japan Series, Tokyo's Yakult Swallows
lead the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes 2-1. Game 4 is at Jingu Stadium
in Tokyo tonight. Buffaloes and Japan home run king Tuffy Rhodes
was presented with a certificate of mayoral commendation by Osaka
Mayor Isomura Takafumi last week. Rhodes, who tied Oh Sadaharu's
home run record this season, is the first foreigner to receive
the award. With his efforts to learn Japanese and his infectious
humor and enthusiasm, he is extremely popular with baseball fans.
https://www.japan-zone.com/omnibus/baseball.shtml
Former Yokohama F Marinos goalkeeper Kawaguchi Yoshikatsu (26)
arrived in the UK this week and is expected to make his debut
for Premier League team Portsmouth on the 27th.
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3. Gei-noh news
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Sugawara Kaoru (31), son of the famous yakuza movie actor Sugawara
Bunta, died after being hit by an Odakyu Line train near Shimo-Kitazawa
station in Tokyo last night. He had tried to cross the line by
ducking under a barrier at a road crossing after a train had passed.
He didn't notice another train coming in the opposite direction.
Actor Ishida Issei (26) was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment
in relation to drugs charges. There will be another hearing on
further charges. Court proceedings included questions about whether
Ishida loved his mother. Indeed, in Japan filial piety and a son's
love for his mother are still regarded as among the great redeeming
virtues. There are rumors that actress Okuna Megumi (22) was seen
at a hotel with ishida and also using marijuana. Meanwhile, hallucinogenic
magic mushrooms are legally available from street vendors (at
quite reasonable prices!) on the streets of Shibuya.
In yet another gei-noh drugs case, former Rinken band member Gakiya
Yoshimitsu (49) was arrested on marijuana and barbituate charges.
Gakiya is considered the face of NHK in his native Okinawa. The
Rinken Band were one of the pioneers of the popular "Okinawan
sound".
Taira Tetsuo, founder of the Rising Production talent agency,
was arrested on October 18th along with eight others on charges
of evading over 900 million yen in taxes. The agency's biggest
earner has to be singer Amuro Namie, who became Japan's biggest
music star in the late 1990s.
Child Dream, the youngest group ever in Japan, recently made their
debut with the single Chekira (Check It Out!). Find out more about
the group at the homepage of lead member Ishizaka Miki, who just
turned the ripe old age of 6!
http://www.miki-pro.com/ (Japanese only)
Other bits and bobs:
- Fujita Noriko (53) is set to make her acting comeback after
31 years absence. Fujita recently divorced sumo elder Futagoyama
Oyakata, and is the mother of Yokozuna Takanohana and his now
retired brother Hanada Masaru. She will appear in the popular
political drama series "Let's Go! Nagatacho". Nagatacho is the
area in central Tokyo where the Diet building and ministries are
located.
https://www.japan-zone.com/omnibus/hanada.shtml
- Following the lead of Goto Kumiko (see sports news), retired
tennis star Date Kimiko (31) is to marry a racing driver. Date
and her German fiance, CART racer Michael Krumm are set to marry
on December 1st. (My condolences go out to my friend Marc, who
at one time had his heart set on either - or both of - these two
beauties!)
- Actress Hazuki Riona (26) went to Hawaii this month to get away
from all the stress of her string of failed romances - the one
I remember was her stint as Ichiro's main squeeze. While there,
she met local sushi chef Garret Wong and the pair married after
4 days! But will it last? Hazuki has announced that she will retire
from showbiz.
- Actress Okuyama Yoshie (27) has just married "hair make artist"
Inaba Kojiro (33). At the obligatory press conference, she also
announced that she was 2 months pregnant.
- The poison-tongued Dewi Sukarno (known as Dewi Fujin), a Japanese
former bar hostess and widow of the Indonesian president, appeared
at a recent special showing of Apocalypse Now Redux at the Tokyo
Film Festival with yet another young western "boyfriend". Sukarno
(61) is one of the most hated (and thus most "popular") people
on TV these days.
- The latest scheduling casualty caused by the recent fear of
terrorism is the new Brad Pitt movie "To the White Sea". Filming
in Japan has been postponed.
- Actress Kikuchi Momoko (33) has given birth to her second child,
a girl.
- The Hori Pro talent agency was said to be furious when the president
of Kintetsu suddenly cancelled the appearance of their star Yuka
(21), who was scheduled to throw out the first ball of the Japan
Series. The series, between the Kintetsu Buffaloes and the Yakult
Swallows, opened on October 20th at Osaka Dome.
- Nakamura Shunta (24) is set to make his acting debut alongside
his father, Nakamura Masatoshi (50). The elder Nakamura doesn't
appear on TV so often these days, other than in the occasional
drama and the Ri-up (hair growth product) commercials. But he
was one of Japan's biggest heart-throbs in the 1970s.
- Recently added Morning Musume member Konno Asami (14) has made
a full recovery from an injury she suffered on the set of the
Utaban TV show. The injury required twelve stitches. Another Musume,
Goto Maki (15) is said to have been labeled with the nickname
"Unko" (Sh*t) by her bandmates due to her constant diarrhea. Ah,
the trials of youth!
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/morning_musume.shtml
- A man was arrested for breaking into the Setagaya, Tokyo home
of the late actor Ishihara Yujiro. He was said to be ranting about
wanting to see his child. Ishihara was Japan's biggest movie star
in the 1950s and 60s and died in 1987. His brother Shintaro is
the current governor of Tokyo.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/ishihara_shintaro.shtml
The latest Pia movie rankings
1. Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (week 14)
2. Onmyoji (week 3)
3. Tomb Raider (week 3)
4. Bridget Jones Diary (week 5)
5. Cats and Dogs (week 1)
The No.1 spot is still held by the hugely popular Miyazaki Hayao
animation Sen to Chiro... It has broken all records in Japan and
is still playing to standing room only audiences (at least this
afternoon in Kichijoji). Onmyoji is based on a series of books
and manga set in the Heian Period. It deals with court shenanigans
and magic during this currently very popular period of Japanese
history. The series are especially popular among young women.
The movie stars rakugo artist Nomura Mansai (35), Itoh Hideaki
(26), the versatile Sanada Hiroyuki (41), former idol Kyoko Koizumi
(35) and Imai Eriko (28) formerly of the pop group Speed.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/miyazaki_hayao.shtml
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/koizumi_kyoko.shtml
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4. Links we like
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Rough Guide to Japan
For anyone planning a trip to Japan, a good guide book makes the
job a lot easier. Jan Dodd, co-author of the Rough Guide to Japan
and the Mini Rough Guide to Tokyo, has produced two such trusty
tools. Her personal website includes info on the books and other
Japan-related stuff.
http://www.jandodd.com/
Time Magazine
The Magic of Make Believe: Japan's director Hayao Miyazaki's animated
films seek truth in fantasy.
http://www.time.com/time/asia/arts/magazine/0,9754,179531,00.html
A Whole Lot at Steak: mad cow disease pops up in Japan, and as
the government fumbles, causes a consumer scare (include last
issue but still relevant).
http://www.time.com/time/asia/news/magazine/0,9754,178476,00.html
Asiaweek Magazine
The Taliban are well liked: A Japanese doctor's upclose observations
contradict overseas reports.
http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/daily/foc/0,8773,180342,00.html
Backtalk: Danger Ahead. Nagano's maverick governor Tanaka Yasuo
can't help criticizing PM Koizumi's terrorism policy.
http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/magazine/yourspace/0,8782,180186,00.html
Japan's Future Phones: DoCoMo's new handset gets tested.
http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/magazine/yourspace/0,8782,180192,00.html
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5. Japan Zone updates
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I've added a new section to the Japan Gallery - Urban Landscapes.
https://www.japan-zone.com/gallery/index.html
I've also added to the movie posters page. There are now 28 posters
in total.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/movie_poster.shtml
New Profile: Tokyo Governor Ishihara Shintaro
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/ishihara_shintaro.shtml
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