kenleewrites in 日本

Saw this in the lab next door. At first I thought, well, it’s not that interesting. Just a mouse dressed in a bikini…. until I noticed that it wasn’t wearing a top and it wasn’t a bikini bottom! And here I was thinking that stuff like this weren’t allowed in Japanese working environments; sexual harrasment and all. ^^.

“Aka Pen” or 赤ペン (red pen) is something that you would get alot when revising papers here in academic Japan. I thought it was a Japanese thing, but apparently, it transcends cultural borders! Lots of aka pen in the second frame of this week’s PhD comics. Kinda appropriate, since I’m just about finished with one paper and just about to start on the next. It’s a busy end to 2008…. and probably a busy start to 2009 as well!

I forgot to mention. In Japan, maru (◯) represents a correct answer, not zero. Much similar to the “tick” that most of us with a western education are familiar with. Wrong answers are marked with a batsu (×). I was pretty surprised when I got my Japanese assignment back many years ago; I was shocked at the number of “zeroes” I got! ^^. Are right and wrong answers marked with symbols other than “a tick”, ◯ and × where you are?

An interesting video about the challenges facing Japan from current.com.

Some interesting points from the video:

1. Japan has the lowest average number of sexual intercourse a year in the world. US – 103, Japan – 43; they are tired from work.

2. Mr G and Mrs G.

3. Desensitized from overenthusiastic use of sex toys.

4. Over 50% of women over 30 are still single.

5. More Japanese women placing career first.

6. Host bars. Men paid to look good and entertain their female clientele. Why do hosts all have the hairstyle? Dare I say some even look the same!

7. Graying population. Birthrate plummeting. Workforce to shrink by 70% in 2050.

8. Crime rate increases with more immigrants. Discrimination against foreigners.

9. Is Japan is a racist country?

10. Almost no resistance to accepting robots into society. A side effect from growing up with Astro boy and Gundams.

11. Using robots to deal with labour shortages. Especially caring for senior citizens.

12). Paro. Therapeutic pet robot. Need to get one of those.

Unlike industrial robots, “Mental Commitment Robots” are developed to interact with human beings and to make them feel emotional attachment to the robots.

13. Robot clone with real hair! Not quite a kagebunshin. Is this our future?

Bath salts. Which one is you?

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Tsukemen (つけ麺) has become a rather popular “alternative” to the usual ramen. The noodles and soup are served separately. You dip the noodles into the soup and then into your mouth. スープをつけて食べる。At least that’s the idea.

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