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<channel>
	<title>LinguaLift blog</title>
	
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		<title>Taking the subway in the Japan</title>
		<link>http://feeds.lingualift.com/~r/japanese-blog/~3/lhMwnJr3HEk/</link>
		<comments>http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japan-subway/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 19 May 2012 03:15:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Philip Seyfi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/?p=4530</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[All major Japanese cities have an efficient and cost-effective rapid transit system, and are often interlinked. <h3>Related Posts</h3>
<ol>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japan-house-of-councillors-parliamentary-system/" rel="bookmark">Japan’s Parliamentary System: The House of Councillors</a><!-- (2.1)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/gothic-lolita-fashion-japan/" rel="bookmark">Tōkyō&#8217;s dark princesses: Gothic lolita fashion in Japan</a><!-- (2)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/france-and-japan/" rel="bookmark">France and Japan</a><!-- (1.9)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/on-kawara/" rel="bookmark">On Kawara: Obsessed with dates</a><!-- (1.7)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/tomorrow-will-glow-by-machaco/" rel="bookmark">Tomorrow Will Glow by Machaco</a><!-- (1.5)--></li>
	</ol>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>All major Japanese cities have an efficient and cost-effective rapid transit system. They are often linked to other rail systems such as commuter <a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/train-in-japan/">trains</a> and <em>shinkansen</em>.</p>
<p><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/05/Shibuya1.jpg" alt="" width="560" height="394" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4533" /><br />
<span class="img-credit">Photo by <a rel="nofollow" href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2F-soundwave-%2F3952958746%2F&sref=rss">soundwave</a></span></p>
<h4><strong>Tōkyō subway</strong></h4>
<p>The Tōkyō rapid transit system is operated by two different companies; Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway. Ticket prices start at ¥160 and most lines start at around 5 AM and stop service between midnight and 1 AM.</p>
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Tokyo Metro subway consists of nine subway lines—Ginza, Marunouchi, Hibiya, Tozai, Chiyoda, Yurakucho, Hanzomon, Namboku, and Fukutoshin Lines—that cover the area of Tokyo’s 23 wards and carry some 6.36 million passengers per day. It is the most used subway system in the world in terms of annual passenger rides.
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The four Toei Subway lines are operated by the Tōkyō metropolitan government. Tokyo Metro and Toei trains form completely separate networks. While users of prepaid rail passes can freely interchange between the two networks, regular ticket holders must purchase a separate ticket.
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<h4><strong>Ōsaka subway</strong></h4>
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Ōsaka subway has eight lines, including the Nankō Port Town Line, which is a completely automated, driverless train system. The network covers most of the city, fares begin at ¥200 for a single journey, and the subway is open between 5 AM and midnight.
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<h4><strong>Nagoya subway</strong></h4>
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Nagoya subway has six lines and together with commuter rail forms an extensive network of 47 lines covering most of the Greater Nagoya region. The fares begin at ¥200 for a single journey, most lines start at around 5 AM and finish at midnight.
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<h4><strong>Sapporo subway</strong></h4>
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The Sapporo subway has three lines, the first of which, the Namboku Line, was opened in 1971 prior to the 1972 Winter Olympics. The system is unique in that the trains are guided by a central rail with rubber tires on two narrow steel tracks. Fares begin at ¥200, services start at around 5 AM and finish at midnight.
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<h4><strong>Sendai subway</strong></h4>
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The Sendai subway system consists of just one line (a second line is scheduled to open in 2015). Fares start from ¥200 for a single journey, the subway is open from around 5 AM till midnight.
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<h4><strong>Kyōto subway</strong></h4>
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Kyōto’s subway has two lines. Archaeological artifacts found during the construction of the subway are displayed at Karasuma Oike Station. Fares start from ¥210 for a single journey, the subway runs from 5:30 AM until 11:30 PM.
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<h4><strong>Fukuoka subway</strong></h4>
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The Fukuoka City subway has three lines, all of the trains are completely automated, and each station has a unique logo. Ticket prices start from ¥100 for a single journey, the subway runs from 5:30 AM until 11:30 PM.
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<h4><strong>Yokohama subway</strong></h4>
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The Fukuoka City subway has three lines, all of the trains are completely automated, and each station has a unique logo. Ticket prices start from ¥100 for a single journey, the subway runs from 5:30 AM until 11:30 PM.
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<h4><strong>Kōbe subway</strong></h4>
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The Kobe Municipal Subway has two lines. Apart from the subway and several commuter rail lines there are two automated elevated rubber-tyred light metro lines which connect the mainland to two islands. Fares start from ¥200 for a single journey, the subway opens at 5:30 AM and closes at midnight.
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<h3>Women-only carriages</h3>
<p><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/05/Women-only-carriage5.jpg" alt="" width="560" height="420" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4615" /><br />
<span class="img-credit">Photo by <a rel="nofollow" href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fmonicamuller%2F4026600075&sref=rss">monicamuller</a></span></p>
<p>To counter groping in the cars by male perverts, known as <em>chikan</em>, some Japanese subways have introduced women-only carriages running during the rush hour. They are indicated with a pink sign and a guard is usually present to enforce the rule, politely asking any man who fails to read the notice to get in a different carriage.</p>
<h3>Tōkyō Subway Museum</h3>
<p><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/05/Subway-Museum2.jpg" alt="" width="560" height="420" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4605" /><br />
<span class="img-credit">Photo by <a rel="nofollow" href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fvcdaxus%2F464552033%2F&sref=rss">tie78reu</a></span></p>
<p>If you are interested in Japanese subway systems, some of which are unique and logistically breathtaking, the Tōkyō Subway Museum is definitely worth a visit. The museum, located underneath the Tōzai line, has everything from historic carriages, through video displays and poster exhibitions, up to model train layouts and even hands-on driving simulators. The museum also has displays on tunnelling technology, subway maintenance cars, and is overall a must-visit if you love trains and subways.</p>
<h3>Shopping</h3>
<p>One thing that may positively surprise you about taking underground trains in Japan is that underground shopping complexes have been built surrounding the underground stations, making the whole experience somewhat more pleasurable and glamorous.</p>
<p>Have you ever taken the subway in Japan? How did it go for you? Let me know in the comments!</p>
<h3>Related Posts</h3>
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		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japan-house-of-councillors-parliamentary-system/" rel="bookmark">Japan’s Parliamentary System: The House of Councillors</a><!-- (2.1)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/gothic-lolita-fashion-japan/" rel="bookmark">Tōkyō&#8217;s dark princesses: Gothic lolita fashion in Japan</a><!-- (2)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/france-and-japan/" rel="bookmark">France and Japan</a><!-- (1.9)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/on-kawara/" rel="bookmark">On Kawara: Obsessed with dates</a><!-- (1.7)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/tomorrow-will-glow-by-machaco/" rel="bookmark">Tomorrow Will Glow by Machaco</a><!-- (1.5)--></li>
	</ol>
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/japanese-blog/~4/lhMwnJr3HEk" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>Recipe: Nattō with raw egg, scallion, nori &amp; rice</title>
		<link>http://feeds.lingualift.com/~r/japanese-blog/~3/bRDvrYxMmiQ/</link>
		<comments>http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/natto-egg-scallion-nori-recipe/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 16:56:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Philip Seyfi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Cuisine]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/?p=4541</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are countless ways to eat nattō, raw or cooked, but one of the most popular is with raw egg, scallions, rice, soy sauce and nori.<h3>Related Posts</h3>
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		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-diet/" rel="bookmark">7 reasons why the Japanese diet is so healthy</a><!-- (6.2)--></li>
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	</ol>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You’ve probably heard many stories about nattō, and how these fermented beans are the most repulsive food you can find in Japan, if not in the world.</p>
<p><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/05/05.2012-027571-560x314.jpg" alt="Natto rice bowl" title="Natto rice bowl" width="560" height="314" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-4544" /></p>
<p>Indeed, not everyone is fond of the taste, looks or odour of this slimey staple of Japanese cuisine, but you should definitely give it a try, as it might just happen to be one of the tastiest meals you’ve ever had. On top of that, nattō is <a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-diet/">incredibly healthy</a> and cheap, so you could really hit the jackpot if you become a fan.</p>
<p><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/05/05.2012-027231-560x314.jpg" alt="Natto ingredients" title="Natto ingredients" width="560" height="314" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-4549" /></p>
<p>While there are <a href="there are countless ways to eat nattō, raw or cooked">countless ways to eat nattō</a>, raw or cooked (heating it does reduce the health benefits but a toast with nattō &#038; parmesan or mozzarella is too scrumptious to think about that), one of the more popular variations is mixed with raw egg &#038; scallions, over white rice, seasoned with some soy sauce, mustard and nori.</p>
<p><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/05/05.2012-027511-560x314.jpg" alt="Natto, raw egg and scallion" title="Natto, raw egg and scallion" width="560" height="314" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-4551" /></p>
<p>This makes for a hearty, delicious breakfast which doesn’t cost much and is relatively easy to make.</p>
<h3>Nattō with raw egg, scallion, nori seaweed &#038; rice</h3>
<p><strong>Serves:</strong> 1-2<br />
<strong>Cooking time:</strong> 25 min<br />
<strong>Ingredients:</strong><br />
½ cup short-grain rice<br />
1 egg<br />
1 green onion<br />
<strong>Garnish:</strong><br />
mustard, shōyu, chopped nori seaweed, sliced okra</p>
<p>Boil ½ cup Japanese short-grain rice. In the meantime, open one pack of your favourite brand of nattō and stir vigorously with chopsticks, at least 50 times.</p>
<blockquote><p><strong>Why stir nattō?</strong><br />
<em>As you stir, Natto bacillus, a thread-forming aerobic bacteria, will get activated and form lots of sticky gossamer-like strings. The gooey nature of nattō is called nebaneba in Japanese, and increasing this quality, and thus improving the taste, is the goal of every nattō aficionado.</em></p></blockquote>
<p><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/05/05.2012-027451-560x314.jpg" alt="Stirring natto" title="Stirring natto" width="560" height="314" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-4550" /></p>
<blockquote><p><em>Other tips for increasing nebaneba include using a special bumpy stirring stick (nebabō), textured bowls, or poking a few holes in the foil covering the beans and leaving the package out of the fridge overnight.</p>
<p>In any case, try not to heat the nattō, or add shōyu before stirring it well, as that might reduce the nebaneba, and even kill the healthy bacterial colonies altogether.</em></p></blockquote>
<p>Wash one raw egg, chop the scallions, and mix well with nattō. When the rice is cooked, put it in a bowl and pour the mixture on top of it. Season to taste with shōyu, mustard, chopped nori and okra.</p>
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		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-diet/" rel="bookmark">7 reasons why the Japanese diet is so healthy</a><!-- (6.2)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/chilli-matcha-chocolate-recipe/" rel="bookmark">Recipe: Chilli matcha chocolate</a><!-- (6.1)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/recipe-mushroom-miso-soup/" rel="bookmark">Recipe: Mushroom miso soup</a><!-- (5.7)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/recipe-matcha-pancakes-matcha-latte/" rel="bookmark">Recipe: Matcha pancakes &amp; matcha latte</a><!-- (4.6)--></li>
	</ol>
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/japanese-blog/~4/bRDvrYxMmiQ" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>7</slash:comments>
		<feedburner:origLink>http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/natto-egg-scallion-nori-recipe/</feedburner:origLink></item>
		<item>
		<title>The oldest hotel in Japan—and the world</title>
		<link>http://feeds.lingualift.com/~r/japanese-blog/~3/_hLiQYdypP8/</link>
		<comments>http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/oldest-hotel-japan-world/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 05:00:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Greg Scott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/?p=4497</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan is a ryokan in Yamanashi Prefecture that's in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's oldest hotel.<h3>Related Posts</h3>
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		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/hikikomori/" rel="bookmark">Hikikomori: Shut away from the world</a><!-- (3.9)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/peko-peko-charity-cookbook-japan/" rel="bookmark">Peko Peko: A charity cookbook for Japan</a><!-- (2.9)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/zen-gardens-kyoto/" rel="bookmark">4 of Kyoto&#8217;s must-see Zen gardens</a><!-- (2.6)--></li>
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	</ol>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>No, it&#8217;s not the crusty old hotel by the highway that you thought was nice and cheap and turned out to be a sleazy <a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/love-hotels-japan/">love hotel</a>. It&#8217;s a <em>ryokan</em> (旅館 – Japanese-style inn) in Yamanashi Prefecture that&#8217;s in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world&#8217;s oldest hotel.</p>
<p><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/05/Keiunkan2.jpg" alt="" width="560" height="374" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4513" /><br />
<span class="img-credit">Photo by <a rel="nofollow" href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fkozyndan%2F2404487992%2F&sref=rss">kozyndan</a></span></p>
<p>Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan (西山温泉慶雲館) was founded in 705. It has been operated continuously since then, although it has changed hands over 50 times (reasonable when you consider that&#8217;s over 1,300 years). It&#8217;s located in the city of Hayakawa in Yamanashi Prefecture.</p>
<h3>What the Earth&#8217;s oldest hotel offers</h3>
<p>Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan is a completely natural <em>onsen</em> (温泉 – hot springs). All of its hot water is created deep in the bowels of the earth through natural processes and not artificially heated. It consists of six different types of baths that all treat different health conditions, in addition to just making you feel good.</p>
<p>Located in a mountainous area near Kyoto, the hotel provides views down into the mountain valleys. The Minobu River runs right behind the hotel and there are views of the river from many of its rooms.</p>
<p>Although it is a <em>ryokan</em> with traditional tatami mat-floored rooms, it&#8217;s mixed with elements of modern hotel design. Still, many parts of the hotel complex remain unchanged from its earliest days.</p>
<p><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/05/2394222438_d5ea2feec8_b1.jpg" alt="" width="560" height="374" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4525" /><br />
<span class="img-credit">Photo by <a rel="nofollow" href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fkozyndan%2F2394222438%2F&sref=rss">kozyndan</a></span></p>
<h3>Then and now</h3>
<p>Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan was established by Fujiwara Mahito, son of Fujiwara Kamatari, who was an aid to Emperor Tenji in the seventh century. The hotel was built deep in the mountains near Kyoto and was used for centuries by Kyoto residents and visitors. It was especially popular among the military class and artists.</p>
<p>The hotel made its entrance into the Guinness Book of World Records in February 2011. It received lots of recognition but unfortunately didn&#8217;t get the crowds it was expecting. The Great Tohoku Earthquake of March 11th hurt tourism everywhere in Japan, and this included its oldest inn. Although there were a record number of phone calls inquiring about the hotel, there were also a record number of cancellations.</p>
<p>The owners are now trying to get back into the book for another record—the hot spring with the largest amount of water produced per minute. Several years ago, the hotel dug a hot spring that penetrated 888 meters into the earth. It now produces 1,630 liters of water per minute at a flesh-sizzling 52 degrees.</p>
<p><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/05/hot-spring2.jpg" alt="" width="560" height="420" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4527" /><br />
<span class="img-credit">Photo by <a rel="nofollow" href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcerebralboinkfest.blogspot.com%2F2011_09_04_archive.html&sref=rss">Cerebral Boinkfest</a></span></p>
<p>Japan also boasts the world&#8217;s second oldest hotel, Hoshi Ryokan, located in the Awazu Onsen area of Komatsu in Ishikawa Prefecture. Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan and Hoshi Ryokan are the two oldest companies on Earth. Japanese companies hold six spots in the list of top ten oldest continuously run companies in the world.</p>
<h3>Related Posts</h3>
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		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japan-house-of-councillors-parliamentary-system/" rel="bookmark">Japan’s Parliamentary System: The House of Councillors</a><!-- (2.5)--></li>
	</ol>
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/japanese-blog/~4/_hLiQYdypP8" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>The unbelievably delicious food of Hokkaido</title>
		<link>http://feeds.lingualift.com/~r/japanese-blog/~3/MVKctUjama4/</link>
		<comments>http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/hokkaido-food/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2012 01:23:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Greg Scott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Cuisine]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/?p=4472</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hokkaido is the northernmost island of Japan and is known for its amazingly delicious culinary treats.<h3>Related Posts</h3>
<ol>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/delicious-seafood-japan/" rel="bookmark">Delicious things the Japanese pull out of the ocean</a><!-- (11.2)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-chinese-food/" rel="bookmark">How Chinese is Japanese Chinese food?</a><!-- (6.5)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-seaweed-superfood/" rel="bookmark">The joys of seaweed: Japan&#8217;s healthy and delicious superfood</a><!-- (5.6)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-pizza/" rel="bookmark">What the Japanese put on pizza</a><!-- (5.2)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/foods-try-or-avoid-japan/" rel="bookmark">8 foods you must try (or try to avoid) in Japan</a><!-- (3.6)--></li>
	</ol>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hokkaido is the northernmost island of Japan, known for its winter sports, pristine beauty, and old-time pioneer feeling. </p>
<p><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/05/shiofuki12.jpg" alt="" width="560" height="420" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4476" /></p>
<p>It&#8217;s also known for its amazingly delicious culinary treats and no trip to <a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/hokkaido/">Hokkaido</a> would be complete without stuffing massive amounts of it down your throat. Here&#8217;s just a quick sampling of some of its best.</p>
<h3>Seafood Straight from the Ocean</h3>
<p>When Japanese folks think of Hokkaido, they think of <a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/delicious-seafood-japan/">seafood</a>. It has some of the freshest seafood you&#8217;ll find anywhere—shrimp, squid, crab, scallops, sea urchin, salmon and tough-to-identify things with no English translation that seem kind of half-alive still.</p>
<p>The highlights for me are salmon and squid. Salmon is served up in thick, chunky steaks that are naturally salty and juicy. Squid is eaten in more ways than you can imagine and my personal favorite is <em>ika-shiokara </em>(イカ塩辛). I know this sounds gross, but it&#8217;s strips of squid fermented in its own guts. <em>Shio</em> (塩) means salt and kara (辛) is from <em>karai</em> (辛い), which means spicy. Trust me, it&#8217;s good.</p>
<p>One of the legendary stories of my wife&#8217;s extended family in Hokkaido is that sometimes when they&#8217;re drinking and run out of <em>otsumame</em> (乙豆 – snacks to be eaten while drinking), they would take their nets down to the wharf and get something to eat straight out of the ocean. Now, that&#8217;s fresh.</p>
<p><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/05/Seafood1.jpg" alt="" width="560" height="373" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4480" /><br />
<span class="img-credit">Photo by <a rel="nofollow" href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fronaldtanhn%2F3642384669%2F&sref=rss">Ronald HN Tan</a></span></p>
<h3>Barbecued Sheep, Mongol-Style</h3>
<p>Another Hokkaido tradition is <em>jingisu-kan</em> (ジンギスカン – Genghis Khan). Named after the founder of history&#8217;s longest-running empire, this is a type of Mongolian barbecue where cuts of mutton and lamb are grilled and dipped in <em>tare</em> (タレ – sauce for dipping made of soy sauce, vinegar, mirin and dashi). Whether it really has anything to do with Mongolian food or not, I don&#8217;t know, but it&#8217;s yummy.</p>
<p>The way to eat <em>jingisu-kan</em> is to keep barbecuing and gorging yourself until you feel like you can hardly move and wash it all down with copious amounts of beer.</p>
<h3>A Hearty Bowl of Ramen</h3>
<p>Sapporo is famous for its own style of ramen that uses <em>miso</em> (味噌 – fermented soybeans) instead of the usual soy sauce-based soup. This hearty ramen is great for the cold weather and it has put Sapporo on the map as one of Japan&#8217;s three ramen cities (the others are Hakata in Fukuoka Prefecture and Kitakata in Fukushima Prefecture). There are over a thousand ramen shops in Hokkaido and even a <em>ramen-yokochou </em>(ラーメン横丁- ramen alley) that&#8217;s famous for it in Sapporo.</p>
<p><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/05/Ramen-Alley2.jpg" alt="" width="560" height="420" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4489" /><br />
<span class="img-credit">Photo by <a rel="nofollow" href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fmsnaut%2F2458327213%2F&sref=rss">msnaut</a></span></p>
<h3>Hokkaido Sweets</h3>
<p>Hokkaido is also known for its sweets. The northern island is where much of Japan&#8217;s dairy comes from and they use it to make all kinds of sweet snack foods. Favorite <em>omiyage</em> (お土産 – souvenirs, usually food) staples include the brands Shiroi Koibito, which makes a variety of cookies and similar snacks, and Royce Chocolates.</p>
<p>There are other things to do in Hokkaido besides eating, I&#8217;m sure, but I don&#8217;t usually get around to them when I visit.</p>
<h3>Related Posts</h3>
<ol>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/delicious-seafood-japan/" rel="bookmark">Delicious things the Japanese pull out of the ocean</a><!-- (11.2)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-chinese-food/" rel="bookmark">How Chinese is Japanese Chinese food?</a><!-- (6.5)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-seaweed-superfood/" rel="bookmark">The joys of seaweed: Japan&#8217;s healthy and delicious superfood</a><!-- (5.6)--></li>
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		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/foods-try-or-avoid-japan/" rel="bookmark">8 foods you must try (or try to avoid) in Japan</a><!-- (3.6)--></li>
	</ol>
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		<title>Hokkaido: The wild west of Japan</title>
		<link>http://feeds.lingualift.com/~r/japanese-blog/~3/iMLkk5N0lK4/</link>
		<comments>http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/hokkaido/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 May 2012 01:35:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Greg Scott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/?p=4459</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hokkaido is Japan's northernmost island and it doesn't feel like Japan at all. It used to be the country's wild frontier.<h3>Related Posts</h3>
<ol>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/great-hanshin-earthquake-1995/" rel="bookmark">The Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995</a><!-- (2.4)--></li>
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		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japan-house-of-councillors-parliamentary-system/" rel="bookmark">Japan’s Parliamentary System: The House of Councillors</a><!-- (1.8)--></li>
	</ol>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hokkaido is Japan&#8217;s northernmost island and it doesn&#8217;t feel like Japan at all. It&#8217;s full of wide open spaces without a cramped urban area to be found. </p>
<p><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/05/DSCN0001-41.jpg" alt="" width="560" height="420" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4467" /></p>
<p>But it&#8217;s not just physically different. Hokkaido has only had a significantly large Japanese population for a little over a century. Before that, it was Japan&#8217;s wild frontier. In many ways it still feels like that, with news stories of hikers getting lost in the mountains each year and bear attacks. A trip to Hokkaido is definitely a unique Japan experience.</p>
<h3>Getting to Hokkaido</h3>
<p>Of course, you can fly to Hokkaido and land at Shin-Chitose Kuukou (新千歳空港 – New Chitose Airport) near Sapporo. But if you&#8217;re a real adventurer, I recommend going by land and taking one of the ferries that cross the Tsugaru Kaikyou (津軽海峡 – Tsugaru Strait) from Aomori Prefecture. There&#8217;s also the JR Tsugaru-Kaikyou train line that goes from Aomori Station to Hakodate Station by bridge.</p>
<h3>What to Do in Hokkaido</h3>
<p>Most people head up to the snowy north to ski or snowboard. During its long winter, Hokkaido gets pounded with dry powder snow that makes it Japan&#8217;s premier spot for winter sports.</p>
<p>Camping is another of Hokkaido&#8217;s attractions. There are pristine areas that are seemingly untouched by humankind, including its northeastern area of Okhotsk (オホーツク), named after the Okhotsk Sea which it faces. This area has plains full of wildflowers and forests to get lost in, as well as the wonders of the seaside with its clear, blue water and occasional drifting ice. The area includes Shiretoko National Park, one of Japan&#8217;s most remote areas. The name Shiretoko comes from the Ainu word sir <em>etok</em>, which means &#8216;end of the Earth.&#8217;</p>
<p>Believe it or not, there is also nightlife to be enjoyed, at least in the capital city of Sapporo. Sapporo has an area called Susukino that&#8217;s as lively as Shinjuku (okay, that&#8217;s what locals say) with lots of bars, restaurants and clubs.</p>
<h3>The Seaside Village of Shiofuki</h3>
<p><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/05/shiofuki11.jpg" alt="" width="560" height="420" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4470" /></p>
<p>When I visited recently, I stayed away from the big city lights and the bears as well. I stayed with family in a tiny seaside village called Shiofuki (潮吹). I wouldn&#8217;t bother looking for it on a map, but if you decide to, it&#8217;s located on the western edge of Hokkaido near a thriving metropolis called Kami-no-Kuni (上ノ国) which might be on your map.</p>
<p>The town consists of a couple of streets, a couple of shops, a post office, lots of houses (many abandoned) and a giant wharf. That&#8217;s where all the action is. Fishermen are out there at all hours of the day pulling delicious creatures out of the sea.</p>
<p>The coastline is rocky, with cliffs rising high above the calm rolling waves. Like much of Japan&#8217;s habitable space, Shiofuki is a narrow strip of almost flat land that faces the ocean, the only possible place where a settlement could be made. Many of the families that live in this town have been here since the early days of Hokkaido&#8217;s Japanese settlement. A massive cemetery in nearby Kami-no-Kuni attests to this.</p>
<p>Hokkaido is really unique and if you have a chance to visit a place like Shiofuki, there&#8217;s no better way to see real Japanese life. But one word of warning—Japanese fishermen in remote areas speak a dialect that&#8217;s harder to understand than <em>kansai-ben </em>(関西弁 – Kansai dialect, the dialect spoken in southern areas like Osaka and Kobe).</p>
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		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/dekasegi/" rel="bookmark">Dekasegi: Japan&#8217;s abandoned people</a><!-- (2.4)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/kit-kat-japan/" rel="bookmark">Welcome to the world of Kit Kat in Japan</a><!-- (2.1)--></li>
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		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japan-house-of-councillors-parliamentary-system/" rel="bookmark">Japan’s Parliamentary System: The House of Councillors</a><!-- (1.8)--></li>
	</ol>
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/japanese-blog/~4/iMLkk5N0lK4" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>Whaling in Japan</title>
		<link>http://feeds.lingualift.com/~r/japanese-blog/~3/aoiddc8ifbI/</link>
		<comments>http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/whaling-japan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 May 2012 11:23:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gregg Muragishi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[featured]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/?p=4404</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Whaling in Japan continues to gain attention from other countries and organizations all around the world.
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	</ol>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Whaling in Japan has been one of the country’s most controversial issues for several years; however there has recently been growing attention on Japan’s practice from various countries and organizations from all over the world.</p>
<p><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/05/Japan_Factory_Ship_Nisshin_Maru_Whaling_Mother_and_Calf.jpg" alt="" width="560" height="420" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4442" /><br />
<span class="img-credit">Photo by <a rel="nofollow" href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.customs.gov.au%2Fwebdata%2Fresources%2Fphotogallery%2FAustralianCustoms-WhalingInTheSouthernOcean_5.jpg&sref=rss">Australian Customs</a></span></p>
<p>The conflicting information that an individual receives through the many blog posts, news reports, and research articles on the topic can be confusing and overwhelming.  This article attempts to remain neutral and provide some background knowledge about whaling in Japan so in order to facilitate you to own opinions on the issue.</p>
<h3>History/ Background Information</h3>
<h4>1946</h4>
<p>During the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, 15 countries signed an agreement to help protect the whale population from being over hunted. However, the convention recognized that scientific research sometimes requires the capturing of a whale; therefore, it authorized countries to issue permits for whale hunting—if it is necessary for scientific research. </p>
<p>The permits are to be reviewed by the International Whaling Commission (IWC), which is made up of 120 scientists who examine the goals and methodology, scientific value, and potential impact on the whale population that the study might cause. The IWC’s review is only advisory however, and each country still retains the power to issue these permits.</p>
<h4>1987</h4>
<p>Forty-two years later, the IWC set a zero quota for commercial whaling (called the moratorium). At first, Japan fought the moratorium but eventually accepted the terms in 1987. In that same year, Japan created the Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR), whose purpose was to provide the IWC with whale data to support Japan’s reason for capturing whales. The institute is comprised of 35 scientist, technicians, and support staff.</p>
<p>The ICR’s goal for research was to improve estimates of the Minke Whale population parameters (weight, age, sex, stomach contents, etc) for whale population management, and unfortunately, the only way to obtain some this data is by killing the whale. Japan argues that through learning about the current state of the Minke Whale population, in the future, we will be able to preserve marine life and better gauge resource management for safe harvest.</p>
<p><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/05/Minke-Whale.jpg" alt="" width="560" height="373" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4447" /><br />
<span class="img-credit">Photo by <a rel="nofollow" href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fsuckamc%2F826716983%2F&sref=rss">Martin Cathrae</a></span></p>
<h4>2000</h4>
<p>The ICR was operating with a budget of $73 Million USD. The research institute gains slightly 50% of their budget through whale meat sales and the balance is paid mostly through the government.</p>
<p>The ICR gained international attention when they announced that they wanted to expand their research program to include Brydes and Sperm Whales, in addition to their research on Minke Whales. Since 1987, the group managed to hunt and capture 400 Minke in the Antarctic and 100 North Pacific Minke between 1994 -1999.</p>
<h4>2005</h4>
<p>Since 1987, Japan’s total of whales killed for research is as follows: 7,900 Minke, 243 Bryde, 140 Sei, and 38 Sperm. Interestingly between 1954-1986 (before moratorium) only 840 whales globally were killed for research by Japan.</p>
<p>The ICR also stated that they plan to expand their research by incorporating additional whale species during the second phase of their research in late 2006. The second phase’s main hypothesis is based on the claim that whales are competing directly for limited resources and the species populations are out of balance. For example, the recovery of the population of the Blue Whales will be negatively affected by the increase of population of Humpback, Fin, and Minke Whales.</p>
<h2>The competing arguments</h2>
<p>New arguments/counter arguments are constantly being made from both sides of the spectrum. Here are summaries on three key points of clash. </p>
<h4>Reasons for Research</h4>
<table border="1" cellpadding="10" width="560">
<col width="280">
 </col>
<col width="280">
<tr>
<td align="center"><strong>Pro-Whaling</strong></td>
<td align="center"><strong>Anti-Whaling</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Whales are competing for resources and it must be managed to protect human food security and to selectively promote whale population recovery.</td>
<td>Most whales do not eat fish, including Blue, Humpback, and Fin. They are baleen (a filter system instead of teeth) whales that feed on krill, plankton, or on small schooling fish. Also human over-fishing is the cause of the decline of fish population, not whales.</td>
</tr>
</col>
</table>
<h4>Research Quality</h4>
<table border="1" cellpadding="10" width="560">
<col width="280">
 </col>
<col width="280">
<tr>
<td align="center"><strong>Pro-Whaling</strong></td>
<td align="center"><strong>Anti-Whaling</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>In 2000, Greg Donovan, biologist, a 20-year employee of the International Whaling Commission’s secretariat in Cambridge, U.K., and editor of its Journal of Cetacean Research and Management stated, “I don’t think anyone can say there aren&#8217;t any scientific results coming out of this.”</td>
<td>In 2005, the ICR’s publication report was very poor. They were only able to produce very few peer-reviewed papers and none have been published in the Journal of Cetacean Research and Management.</td>
</tr>
</col>
</table>
<h4>Economics</h4>
<table border="1" cellpadding="10" width="560">
<col width="280">
 </col>
<col width="280">
<tr>
<td align="center"><strong>Pro-Whaling</strong></td>
<td align="center"><strong>Anti-Whaling</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Economic gain is not the goal of whaling. The proceeds made from whale meat sales are used to support the following year’s endeavors. Non Governmental Organizations (NGO), such as Green Peace, are the most economically dependent. Supporters claim that the campaigns pursued by these NGOs operate on an international scale and are funded by donations equaling to hundreds of millions a year. If these NGOs admit that the ICR’s research is actually achieving their overall goal of stabilizing the whale population, activists would lose interest and stop contributing, forcing the organization to close.
 </td>
<td>Japan’s economy will be hurt more if the ICR closes. NGO supporters claim that there are more than enough environmental problems to fund their organizations and are not dependent on Japan’s whaling activities.</p>
<p>Anti-Whaling supporters also claim that Japan incorporated the different species of whales in their research back in 2000, so they would be able to lower the market price of whale meat to increase sales. In 2005, the price of Minke whale meat, which is the most popular, decreased from 2400 Yen/kg to 1900 Yen/kg.</td>
</tr>
</col>
</table>
<p>However, Japan countered this argument in February 2010 when they claimed that they are unable to successfully sell their entire whale meat stock, despite the price drop in 2005. At that time, Japan’s whale meat stock had more than doubled since March 2004 from 1614 tons to 3981 tons. They state the reason for this is the high popularity of fish, pork, and chicken; all of which can be sold at a cheaper price than whale meat.</p>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>I hope you are able to see how complicated this issue can get. Some even claim that the anti-whaling support groups’ attempts are actually working against their cause. Radicals that are attacking Japanese ships cause some Japanese to not necessarily become “Pro-Whalers,” but more “Anti-Anti-Whalers.” I’ve only scratched the very surface of this debate. There are a lot more articles on this issue and each piece of information seems to counter any argument from a previous article. One reason that this problem is difficult to manage is because of the different perspectives (ethically, scientifically, culturally) that can be implemented to approach this problem.</p>
<p>What do you think of the whaling issue in Japan? When leaving comments please remember to be respectful to each other’s views. </p>
<h3>Related Posts</h3>
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		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/5-epic-fails-and-controversies-involving-japan/" rel="bookmark">5 epic fails and controversies involving Japan</a><!-- (4.6)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/theremin-in-japan/" rel="bookmark">Theremin in Japan</a><!-- (2.4)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-drinks/" rel="bookmark">Drinks in Japan</a><!-- (2.3)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-seaweed-superfood/" rel="bookmark">The joys of seaweed: Japan&#8217;s healthy and delicious superfood</a><!-- (2.3)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/gothic-lolita-fashion-japan/" rel="bookmark">Tōkyō&#8217;s dark princesses: Gothic lolita fashion in Japan</a><!-- (2.2)--></li>
	</ol>
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		<title>7 reasons why the Japanese diet is so healthy</title>
		<link>http://feeds.lingualift.com/~r/japanese-blog/~3/sfds13vYZtA/</link>
		<comments>http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-diet/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 04 May 2012 05:25:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Greg Scott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Cuisine]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/?p=4366</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Japanese people have the world's highest expectancy, with men living to be 78 and women's average 85.<h3>Related Posts</h3>
<ol>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-seaweed-superfood/" rel="bookmark">The joys of seaweed: Japan&#8217;s healthy and delicious superfood</a><!-- (7.5)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/what-sumo-eat-wrestlers-diet/" rel="bookmark">What sumo eat: The sumo wrestler bulk-up diet</a><!-- (5.5)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/natto-egg-scallion-nori-recipe/" rel="bookmark">Recipe: Nattō with raw egg, scallion, nori &#038; rice</a><!-- (3.9)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/delicious-seafood-japan/" rel="bookmark">Delicious things the Japanese pull out of the ocean</a><!-- (3.3)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/introduction-to-sake/" rel="bookmark">An introduction to sake</a><!-- (3.2)--></li>
	</ol>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Japanese people have the world&#8217;s highest expectancy, with men living to be 78 and women&#8217;s average 85. Even though there are high levels of pollution, stress, smoking and drinking, they still outlive the rest of the world. </p>
<p><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/05/Old-japanese-couple.jpg" alt="" width="560" height="373" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4386" /><br />
<span class="img-credit">Photo by <a rel="nofollow" href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fsilentmind8%2F4580670523%2F&sref=rss">Silentmind8</a></span></p>
<p>Why is this? If you&#8217;ve lived for any length of time in Japan, you know that it&#8217;s all about the diet. The Japanese diet has changed in recent years, but it&#8217;s still among the healthiest in the world.</p>
<h3>Low Cholesterol</h3>
<p>There&#8217;s no chicken-fried steak in Japan, which is either fortunate or unfortunate depending on how you look at it. From the health point of view, it&#8217;s a good thing. Japanese people traditionally eat little red meat and almost no foods that contain saturated fats (the &#8216;bad&#8217; fats). There are dramatically fewer deaths from heart disease and they also add lots of ginger to many dishes, which helps to lower cholesterol.</p>
<h3>Less Cancer</h3>
<p>There is also less cancer in Japan and the reasons aren&#8217;t fully known for this, but it&#8217;s believed that green tea may help lower your risk. It comes from camellia sinsensis, the same plant as black tea, but it&#8217;s unfermented. Because of this it contains a high level of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols, which fight the free radicals that can lead to the abnormal cell growth of cancer.</p>
<h3>Weeds from the Sea</h3>
<p><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/05/Seaweed1.jpg" alt="" width="560" height="420" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4391" /><br />
<span class="img-credit">Photo by <a rel="nofollow" href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fmdid%2F3296870242%2F&sref=rss">mdid</a></span></p>
<p>Japan has always had scant resources, and this undoubtedly led the ancient Japanese to grab whatever stuff they could out of the ocean to eat. The result is the tasty and healthful seaweed that you see everywhere today. Seaweed contains high levels of minerals (especially iodine) and microelements. It&#8217;s also chock full of protein and vitamins A, C, and B12.</p>
<h3>Omega 3</h3>
<p>Many people in Japan eat fish daily. Fish contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are all the rage now in natural health products because they do so much for your body. Health benefits include improved brain functioning, help with growth and development, and most likely preventing serious health conditions like heart disease, arthritis and cancer.</p>
<h3>Filling up on Rice</h3>
<p>White rice, and especially white rice of the short-grain Japanese variety, is high in nutrients. It&#8217;s also fairly high in calories and I&#8217;ve always wondered how Japanese people can eat massive amounts of rice and not put on weight. The key is that the <em>okazu</em> (おかず – side dish to the rice) is usually very low in calories. You end up filling up on rice rather than potatoes, meat or bread.</p>
<h3>The Joys of Soy</h3>
<p><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/05/2429901248_707a1734a8_b1.jpg" alt="" width="560" height="420" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4398" /><br />
<span class="img-credit">Photo by <a rel="nofollow" href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fdlukz1%2F2429901248%2F&sref=rss">Lil&#8217; Dee</a></span></p>
<p>You can find soy as a prominent part of nearly all traditional Japanese meals. It makes an appearance as tofu, <em>edamame</em> (枝豆 – green soybeans), <em>shoyu </em>(醤油 – soy sauce), <a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/natto-egg-scallion-nori-recipe/"><em>natto</em></a> (納豆 – fermented soybeans) and <em>miso</em> (味噌 – bean paste). Soy is high in protein, low in fat and offers all kinds of health benefits. Many people believe that it lowers cholesterol and blood pressure.</p>
<p>Another reason for the healthiness of Japanese people is expressed in the proverb <em>hara-hachibun-me</em> (腹八分目 – a stomach that&#8217;s 80% full). This proverb is a <em>yoji-jukugo</em> (四字熟語 – 4-kanji character proverb) that basically means if you eat until you&#8217;re 100% full, you&#8217;re overdoing it; eat less and you&#8217;ll live longer.</p>
<h3>Related Posts</h3>
<ol>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-seaweed-superfood/" rel="bookmark">The joys of seaweed: Japan&#8217;s healthy and delicious superfood</a><!-- (7.5)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/what-sumo-eat-wrestlers-diet/" rel="bookmark">What sumo eat: The sumo wrestler bulk-up diet</a><!-- (5.5)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/natto-egg-scallion-nori-recipe/" rel="bookmark">Recipe: Nattō with raw egg, scallion, nori &#038; rice</a><!-- (3.9)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/delicious-seafood-japan/" rel="bookmark">Delicious things the Japanese pull out of the ocean</a><!-- (3.3)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/introduction-to-sake/" rel="bookmark">An introduction to sake</a><!-- (3.2)--></li>
	</ol>
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		<item>
		<title>Japanese adjective declension (cheat sheet)</title>
		<link>http://feeds.lingualift.com/~r/japanese-blog/~3/BcdET4mGUXA/</link>
		<comments>http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-adjectives-declension-cheat-sheet/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 May 2012 22:03:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Philip Seyfi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Language]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/?p=4375</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Japanese adjective declension chart.<h3>Related Posts</h3>
<ol>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-verbs-conjugation-cheat-sheet/" rel="bookmark">Japanese verb conjugation (cheat sheet)</a><!-- (18.2)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-color-names/" rel="bookmark">Japanese colour names (cheat sheet)</a><!-- (16.7)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-body-parts/" rel="bookmark">Japanese body parts (cheat sheet)</a><!-- (16.5)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-scripts-hiragana-katakana-cheat-sheet/" rel="bookmark">Japanese scripts: Kana (+ cheat sheet)</a><!-- (13)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/free-japanese-background-patterns/" rel="bookmark">10 free Japanese-style background patterns</a><!-- (3.1)--></li>
	</ol>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Last week we’ve published a <a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-verbs-conjugation-cheat-sheet/">Japanese verb conjugation</a> cheat sheet. Many of you found great use in it, and we’re now releasing the second part in this series—a Japanese adjective declension chart.</p>
<p><a href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjapanese.lingualift.com%2Fjp%2Ffiles%2Fdocs%2Fdeclension.pdf&sref=rss"><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/05/declension1-560x791.png" alt="Japanese adjective inflection" title="Japanese adjective inflection" width="560" height="791" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-4457" /></a></p>
<p>You will need to be able to read hiragana to make good use of the sheet. If you can’t, do head over to <a href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fkana101.com%2F&sref=rss">Kana101</a> (it’s free!) and master it in just two weeks. </p>
<p>Feel free to print, share and use this cheat sheet as much as you please. We don’t ask any money for it, we only ask that you put it to good use, and use it to boost your Japanese studies.</p>
<h3>Download</h3>
<p><strong>PDF:</strong> <a href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjapanese.lingualift.com%2Fjp%2Ffiles%2Fdocs%2Fdeclension.pdf&sref=rss">Download now</a><br />
<strong>PNG:</strong> <a href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjapanese.lingualift.com%2Fjp%2Ffiles%2Fdocs%2Fdeclension.png&sref=rss">Download now</a></p>
<p>If you think that the cheat sheet has been useful, please share it with your friends!</p>
<p>If you have any suggestions as to future cheat sheets that we could create, please let us know in the comments! Also, please check out our <a href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnihongoup.com%2Fblog%2Fjapanese-body-parts%2F&sref=rss">Japanese body parts</a>, <a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-color-names/">Japanese colour names</a> and <a href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnihongoup.com%2Fblog%2Fjapanese-scripts-hiragana-katakana-cheat-sheet%2F&sref=rss">hiragana &#038; katakana cheat sheets</a>.</p>
<h3>Related Posts</h3>
<ol>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-verbs-conjugation-cheat-sheet/" rel="bookmark">Japanese verb conjugation (cheat sheet)</a><!-- (18.2)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-color-names/" rel="bookmark">Japanese colour names (cheat sheet)</a><!-- (16.7)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-body-parts/" rel="bookmark">Japanese body parts (cheat sheet)</a><!-- (16.5)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-scripts-hiragana-katakana-cheat-sheet/" rel="bookmark">Japanese scripts: Kana (+ cheat sheet)</a><!-- (13)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/free-japanese-background-patterns/" rel="bookmark">10 free Japanese-style background patterns</a><!-- (3.1)--></li>
	</ol>
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		<item>
		<title>Quince, the Fukushima robot</title>
		<link>http://feeds.lingualift.com/~r/japanese-blog/~3/nR8Y6RhksQ4/</link>
		<comments>http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/quince-fukushima-robot/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:35:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Greg Scott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/?p=4322</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the nice things about robots is that they can do stuff we humans can't or don't want to do. <h3>Related Posts</h3>
<ol>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/what-is-the-jlpt/" rel="bookmark">What is the JLPT?</a><!-- (1.4)--></li>
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		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/gadget-cat-doraemon/" rel="bookmark">Doraemon: Gadget cat of the future</a><!-- (1.2)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/kyocera-ceramic-knife-review/" rel="bookmark">Kyocera: Knives that will give you an edge</a><!-- (1.1)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/rosetta-stone-japanese-worth-it/" rel="bookmark">Is Rosetta Stone Japanese worth it?</a><!-- (1)--></li>
	</ol>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One of the nice things about <a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japan-robot-honda-asimo/">robots</a> is that they can do stuff we humans can&#8217;t or don&#8217;t want to do. Last year, when the Great Tohoku earthquake damaged the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant and caused the second worst nuclear meltdown in history, robots came in handy. Radiation levels were unsafe for humans, so we sent in the bots.</p>
<p><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/04/packbot1-560x458.jpg" alt="" width="560" height="458" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-4329" /><br />
<span class="img-credit">Photo by <a rel="nofollow" href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fzcopley%2F50423594%2F&sref=rss">zcopley</a></span></p>
<p>Over the last year, a number of different robots have been used for monitoring, collecting data and cleaning up. The situation is far from stable and they&#8217;re still being used today. PackBots, which look a little like Johnny 5 from the movie Short Circuit, were sent in to measure radiation levels and take pictures. Warriors were sent in to clean and decontaminate. Monirobos (short for monitoring robot) went in to get samples and monitor temperature and humidity levels.</p>
<h3>The Quince rescue robot</h3>
<p>Lately, they&#8217;re using the <a href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Ftext%2Fnn20120329a1.html&sref=rss">Quince rescue robot</a>. Developed by Eiji Koyanagi of Chiba Institute of Technology, Quince 1 was first sent into the plant in June 2011 as a surveyor. One of the advantages of this robot is that it can be controlled remotely from up to a mile and a half away.</p>
<p>Quince has a flat chassis and rotating caterpillar tracks that let it climb stairs. On top of its chassis is mounted a variety of gadgets for monitoring that includes a camera. It also has an arm that can be used to remove debris or obstacles and the body is waterproof.  </p>
<h3>The demise of Quince 1</h3>
<p>Robots can be adversely affected by radiation just like humans and researchers weren&#8217;t sure how it would fare the first time it was sent in. Quince can only function for a few hours while exposed to the high radiation levels inside the plant. This makes it tough for them to get the samples and take the readings they need.</p>
<p>Initially, Quince made it in and out with no trouble. Unfortunately, while roaming around somewhere on the third floor of the reactor in October 2011, it disappeared. All contact was lost. It turns out that the robot worked exactly as it was designed to but it was stopped by a faulty cord.</p>
<p><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/04/160824_4-11.jpg" alt="" width="560" height="420" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4339" /><br />
<span class="img-credit">Photo by <a rel="nofollow" href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.responsejp.com%2Farticle%2Fimg%2F2011%2F08%2F11%2F160824%2F128743.html&sref=rss">resonsejp</a></span></p>
<p>This led to the development of Quince 2 and 3, which were sent into the reactor in February 2012. They&#8217;re both improved versions of Quince 1. Quince 2 is equipped with a dust sampler and Quince 3 has a 3D scanner. One of the biggest improvements is that they operate on the buddy system. If one of them disappears, the other will automatically go to its aid and supply the power it needs to get moving again.</p>
<h3>The Fukushima robot today</h3>
<p>In late March 2012, one of the Quince robots was sent in to check on an unusual thermal reading in a certain area of the reactor. While inside, they checked the radiation levels as well. </p>
<p>According to an article in the Japan Times, radiation levels were much higher inside the plant than previously assumed. With the help of Quince, it&#8217;s much easier for Tepco officials to understand what&#8217;s going on in the stricken plant.</p>
<h3>Related Posts</h3>
<ol>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/what-is-the-jlpt/" rel="bookmark">What is the JLPT?</a><!-- (1.4)--></li>
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		<title>Grand Golden Week reverse sale!</title>
		<link>http://feeds.lingualift.com/~r/japanese-blog/~3/raqN1ZiUn7E/</link>
		<comments>http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/golden-week-reverse-sale/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 29 Apr 2012 08:15:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ollie Capehorn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/?p=4218</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[To celebrate Golden Week, we’re proud to be hosting our best ever sale. We are offering the most substantial discount we've ever given.<h3>Related Posts</h3>
<ol>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/golden-week/" rel="bookmark">Golden Week</a><!-- (13.2)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/new-year-lingualift-special/" rel="bookmark">Celebrate the new year with LinguaLift at an unbeatable price</a><!-- (2.9)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-adjectives-declension-cheat-sheet/" rel="bookmark">Japanese adjective declension (cheat sheet)</a><!-- (1.1)--></li>
	</ol>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>To celebrate <a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/golden-week/">Golden Week</a>, we’re proud to be hosting our best ever sale. It’s great, not only because we are offering the <strong>most substantial discount we have ever given</strong>, meaning that <a href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjapanese.lingualift.com%2F&sref=rss">learning Japanese using LinguaLift</a> is that much more affordable, but also because we’re straying from the orthodox in how we conduct the sale!</p>
<p><img src="http://cdn.lingualift.com/blog/wp-content/files/2012/04/header-goldenweek.png" alt="Golden week discount" title="Golden week discount" width="560" height="120" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4303" /></p>
<p>We hate it when companies don’t treat their existing customers as well as new ones. This is why we will always focus our efforts on making our product better, and making our users happy rather than devoting all of our time to marketing. Our sales are few and far inbetween, so we like to make them special :)</p>
<p>We also hate the feeling when you buy something in a sale, only to find that it becomes further reduced a day or two later. Shouldn’t you be rewarded for acting quickly? For this reason, <strong>we’re going to do the opposite of most companies, and structure our Golden Week sale in reverse</strong>. After all, 「早起きの鳥は虫を捕らえる」 right?</p>
<p>So, starting this Sunday, we will be holding our <strong>Grand Golden Week sale</strong>. Those who get there first will benefit from a sweet 40% discount on our Japanese yearly package. This takes the price down to the equivalent of just $13 a month—less than half the usual monthly amount. <strong>We will <em>never</em> offer a reduction like this again</strong>.</p>
<p>Then, we will reduce the discount by 5% every day until the end of Golden week (May 5th), when there will be a 10% reduction, a saving of $26.10 on the asking price. Still a nice little saving, but obviously not as substantial as you could get at the start of the week&#8230;</p>
<p><em>Please note that the change of date is measured according to GMT+1<br />
</em></p>
<h3>Coupon codes</h3>
<h5>Until 29th April: 40% off</h5>
<p><del datetime="2012-04-30T00:04:40+00:00">golden-40</del></p>
<h5>Until 30th April: 35% off</h5>
<p><del datetime="2012-04-30T11:27:09+00:00">golden-35</del></p>
<h5>Until 1st May: 30% off</h5>
<p><del datetime="2012-05-03T22:16:13+00:00">golden-30</del></p>
<h5>Until 2nd May: 25% off</h5>
<p><del datetime="2012-05-03T22:16:13+00:00">golden-25</del></p>
<h5>Until 3rd May: 20% off</h5>
<p><del datetime="2012-05-03T22:16:13+00:00">golden-20</del></p>
<h5>Until 4th May: 15% off</h5>
<p><del datetime="2012-05-03T22:16:13+00:00">golden-15</del></p>
<h4>Until 5th May: 10% off</h4>
<p><strong>golden-10</strong></p>
<p>Just use any of the codes during subscription to get a discount of your choosing. If you have got there in time, by all means go for the biggest discount possible! There’s a little box on the payment page saying ‘got a coupon?’. Type it in there, apply, and it’ll let you know if the coupon has expired. If so, just jump to the next best saving!</p>
<p>You can sign up at any point during your free trial, so there is nothing stopping you from signing up to the free trial right now, seeing if LinguaLift is right for you, and then applying the discount when you’re ready.</p>
<p>If you’re not quite ready to commit to a full year of LinguaLift, you may also use the code <strong>golden-5 on a monthly subscription</strong>. This will give you 5% off the usual $29 charge for the lifetime of your subscription. This means that for as long as you are learning Japanese, you’ll always benefit from the Golden Week sun shining :)</p>
<p>So, get ready to save big on LinguaLift this Sunday! <a href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjapanese.lingualift.com%2F&sref=rss">Click here</a> to head to LinguaLift now and kick-start your Japanese learning today!</p>
<p>If any existing subscriber wants to take advantage of this offer, and extend their subscription by a year, then do <a href="http://go.lingualift.com?id=27037X856314&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjapanese.lingualift.com%2Fcontact&sref=rss">drop us an email</a> and we’ll be happy to sort you out.</p>
<h3>Related Posts</h3>
<ol>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/golden-week/" rel="bookmark">Golden Week</a><!-- (13.2)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/new-year-lingualift-special/" rel="bookmark">Celebrate the new year with LinguaLift at an unbeatable price</a><!-- (2.9)--></li>
		<li><a href="http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/japanese-adjectives-declension-cheat-sheet/" rel="bookmark">Japanese adjective declension (cheat sheet)</a><!-- (1.1)--></li>
	</ol>
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