Yaki-niku Korean BBQ

One favourite way to eat meat in Japan is to barbecue it. This korean BBQ is called Yaki - Niku and believe me there is nothing yucky about this. Beef was never eaten in Japan as it was considered that farm cows were peoples friends, that helped to do the farm work. The idea of eating cows was outrageous. The japanese once had a saying "Never eat anything you would not kill yourself." This way of thinking may have allowed some people to kill fish and chickens, but most would not have attempted to kill a cow. 

By 1860, due to American influence butchers shops selling meat could be seen in Japan. However even now beef is considered a real treat that can only be afforded every now and then. The cows in Japan that are grown for eating are kept warm in winter with padded quilts and cold in summer with fans. They are fed an amazing array of food which includes bean cakes and rice bran. They are massaged for 15 minutes, 3 times a day with an alcohol rub. 
Overseas breeds were introduced to Japan and crossed with native cattle. Japanese beef is considered some of the tastiest in the world. 

Sizzle,sizzle.

Kimchi or Korean chillied cabbage is great with Yaki-niku.

Yaki-niku pro and rugby fan Takanori shows me how to enjoy a korean BBQ in Japan.

Magnificent Models

Modeling is a popular hobby for many in Japan. For many years Japan has been producing amazing plastic glue-together models. Now many of the models produced are snap-together with little gluing needed. Tamiya still produces amazing models especially second world war fighter planes. Now some of the new models coming out combine metal and wood. 

Himeji Castle Model

World War 2 - Zero Fighter.

A tricky model.

Honda and General Motors Ltd - Eco-Friendly

Honda Japan and General Motors Ltd of American are teaming up to produce eco-friendly cars. The fuel-cell technology has zero carbon dioxide omissions. Honda plans to release the first fuel-cell vehicle for general consumers as early as 2015. The price will be under 10 million Yen, which is under $100 000 dollars. Toyota and BMW are teaming up too, so the race is on to produce the worlds ultimate eco-friendly car.

How Yummy is it?

If you travel to another country, you can always find interesting food that is very different to what you're use to. Here are just a few items that I have found lately. "Unagi" (oo na gee) or eel as it is known in English is quite a delicacy in Japan. It is usually grilled with a sweet sauce and served on hot rice. So it only seems reasonable that there should be eel flavoured chips. The best I've found so far in the chip flavour race was salami flavour and pizza flavour. 

The snails and wieners in a can look tasty and the canned puffer fish "Fugu" (Foo-goo) must be a winner too. 

Wieners and snails. What a combination!

Canned Fugu.

Eel Chips.

Big Buildings in Nagoya City

These buildings tower over you like giant, metallic spaceships. These are all around Nagoya station. The Toyota building is the biggest. Maybe you can find out how tall it is?

Who's that guy?

 An amazing spiral building with helicopter pad to the right.

Nagoya twin towers.

The Toyota building.

Go shopping with the Flintstones.

Have you ever thought of buying a dinosaur's head or wooly mammoth tooth? How about a prehistoric shark tooth? Well save your pocket money and anything is possible.

 Must have been a regular tooth brusher.

Try and convert the price online to work out the cost in NZ dollars.

Some unusual fish.

 Mammoth tooth anyone? 

 Wow only 158,000 yen.

Frog in epoxy.

Anybody got the dental floss?

Lost In Space.

Should you find yourself planning a trip into outer space then you should try shopping at Toukyuu Hands.  This store has a variety of space foods to keep your stomach happy on your next trip to far away galaxies. At about $10.00 a meal you can afford to eat like a king in space. I guess you will need a few other items before heading off. The best place for them is probably N.A.S.A.

 Yummy space food.

 Gravity free ice-cream.

After eating this you can safely operate space equipment.