Big in Japan: Sumo wrestlers diagnosed with reefer madness

by Matthew Firestone on

Believe it or not, some of Japan’s most famous sumo wrestlers have just been diagnosed with a ‘chronic’ case of reefer madness…

Last month, Big in Japan reported on how an increasing number of Japanese people have been tuning in and dropping out, thanks to the easy availability of marijuana seeds on the Internet for home cultivation.

Back in July, a government worker was arrested after police raided his personal greenhouse in western Japan. In May, customs officers at Tokyo Narita International airport accidently lost US$10,000 worth of hash after it had been slipped illegally into a random traveler’s luggage – they were foolishly attempting to test the noses of the canine sniffers.

And now, Japan’s national sport of sumo, which dates back hundreds and hundreds of years, is being rocked by a drugs scandal. Indeed, sumo has historically been an extremely conservative sport, and wrestlers are obliged to conform to the highest possible Japanese standards of morality.

Two weeks ago, a 20-year-old Russian known by his fighting name of Wakanoho, was arrested for possession of cannabis, and now faces up to five years in prison with forced labor. The Sumo Association immediately banned him for life, the first time an active wrestler has been kicked out of the sport.

Oh, but the reefer madness doesn’t stop here – keep reading!

Following the banning of Wakanoho, random drug tests were carried out on 69 other wrestlers in the top two divisions. As if things couldn’t get worse, two more Russians, Roho and Hakurozan, both tested positive for cannabis.

The two have denied smoking bud, and police searches of their private quarters did not yield any illegal plant matter. Since Japan’s Cannabis Control Law outlaws possession, but not the use of the drug, the two wrestlers cannot be prosecuted. However, the Sumo Association was somewhat less forgiving, and immediately banned both wrestlers. A second test has also confirmed the initial findings.

And again, as if things couldn’t get any worse, this week the Chairman of the Sumo Association, Kitanoumi, stepped down to take responsibility for the scandal. The former grand champion, who mentored the Russian wrestlers, issued this humble and apologetic statement:

“I bear the responsibility. I am offering my resignation out of my own volition because I have troubled the Sumo Association and its fans. I must reflect deeply by myself.”

Sadly, the reefer madness sweeping across the world of sumo isn’t the only affliction threatening to unravel Japan’s national sport.

Earlier this year, a coach and three wrestlers were charged over the death of a trainee. According to prosecutors, they are accused of beating a 17 year-old kid, who later collapsed and died in hospital, as a punishment for running away.

Mongolian-born Grand Champion Asashoryu, the so-called “bad boy of sumo,” has also garnered his unwanted share of the media spotlight. Last year, he was temporarily suspended, the first such move in the sport’s history, for missing a training tournament.

While a fair number of sports commentators are sounding death knells, I’m fairly optimistic that sumo can bounce back. After all, if American baseball players can get away with lying before a Congressional panel over their alleged steroid use, then why can’t a few wrestlers toke a little herb to help them relax?

Puff, puff, pass.

** All images are courtesy of the WikiCommons Media Project **

Fungus in plane ketchup and air conditioning. Tutut.

by Abha Malpani on

Two fungus-in-aircraft stories are worth note and worry: An Indian Airlines flight served a passenger snacks with ketchup that had fungus on it. The passenger noted the contaminated packet and made a complaint, the airline dutifully apologized.

Fungus can be hazardous to health and can cause allergies, asthma, and even cardiac arrest. There would probably have been a grand issue should the fungus-ketchup have been consumed by a child or an elderly person. The airline said that they will investigate the situation and the suppliers from which they receive products.

That’s all fine but I don’t understand how the cabin crew member who served the fungus laden ketchup, didn’t notice it. And, if the fungus is on the pouch of the ketchup, it’s probably because it’s old and/or expired, which has nothing to do with the supplier. This was an easily avoidable situation.

Another fungus situation was in Ryanair: A flight from Hungary to Ireland had to divert because fungus laden ice started to drip onto a passenger from an overhead locker, triggering an allergic reaction in the passenger who started coughing. It was discovered that the fungus had contaminated the aircraft’s air conditioning system.

Thanks to jackhynes for the flickr photo.

Big in Japan: Tokyo’s top 5 easy-to-miss spots

by Matthew Firestone on

Quite simply, Tokyo is an amazing tourist destination…

From the manicured gardens of the Imperial Palace and the frozen tuna carcasses in Tsukiji’s markets, to the neon lights of Shibuya and the street fashions of Harajuku, Tokyo really does seem to have it all.

Of course, while tourists are quick to check off Tokyo’s top spots on their itinerary, there are plenty of other easy-to-miss spots that locals and resident ex-pats love to visit.

True, these destinations don’t have as much historical grace or cultural pizzazz as others. However, they’re still great places to soak up the ebb and flow of the city, and there is a good chance that you won’t see too many other foreign tourists milling about.

So, without further adieu, here is a quick and concise list of Tokyo’s top 5 easy-to-miss spots:

5) Shinjuku National Gardens (????????, Shinjuku-gyoen) This sprawling parkland on the western edge of the Yamanote line is arguably Tokyo’s best leafy retreat. If the weather is cooperating, grab a bento from the convenience store, and have yourself a picnic lunch under the shade of a sakura tree. When you’re done, walk it off while contemplating the Zen-inspired beauty of this classic landscape garden.

Want to know which spots made it to the top of our list? Keep reading!

4) Shinjuku Isetan (新宿伊勢丹) The mother of all department stores, Isetan’s Shinjuku flagship has one of Tokyo’s best depachika (デパ地下) or basement floors. In case you’re new to the whole Japanese department store experience, the depachika is where you can sample all manners of tasty Japanese delicacies. Pick up a few boxes of handmade Japanese sweets for your friends, or just gorge yourself on all the free samples!

3) Ameyoko (アメ横) The glitz and glamour of Ginza is justifiably famous, but you don’t have to flash huge amounts cash to enjoy shopping in Tokyo. On the contrary, Ueno’s Ameyoko Street is something of a dream destination for bargain hunters. Evoking images of pre-war Edo, Ameyoko is a bustling outdoor market where you can get equally good deals on tuna steaks and Nike running shoes.

2) Shimokitazawa (下北沢) Foreigners in Tokyo tend to stick to ex-pat enclaves such as Roppongi for their beer-soaked nightlife, though you don’t have to follow the herd to get your drink on. If you want to be the only foreigner in the bar, then head to this trendy and up-and-coming hipster enclave just west of Shibuya. Shimokitazawa is famous for its tiny hole-in-the wall watering holes, a good number of which only have space for a handful of clients.

1) La Qua (ラクーア) This self-described ‘super spa,’ which is adjacent to the Tokyo Dome in Suidabashi, is an actual Japanese onsen (温泉) or hot spring. While central Tokyo isn’t the first place you’d expect to find hot water bubbling up from the ground, La Qua actually pipes in thermally heated water from the bottom of Tokyo Bay.

You can soak your travel-worn bones in any of La Qua’s luxurious indoor and outdoor baths, which should soften up your skin nicely for the shiatsu massage to follow. Finally, wind down your day on the relaxation floor, where you can drink mango smoothies, sooth your muscles by lying on hot stones, or just read the paper while sipping an herbal tea.

Did we miss anything? Of course we did!

Tokyo is the world’s largest metropolis, so apologies if we left out your favorite destination. On that note, feel free to chime in with your own lists of easy-to-miss spots around Japan’s capital…

Abu Ghraib to be turned into a museum

by Anna Brones on

I’m not sure how many people are choosing Iraq as a travel destination, but when they do there will be a new museum to visit. According to the CBC, the infamous Abu Ghraib prison — which was used as a torture site during Saddam Hussein’s rule — is going to be turned into a museum.

The museum will chronicle the crimes committed under Hussein’s rule; government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement on Thursday that exhibits would include torture chambers and execution materials.

Abu Ghraib was first known as a torture site during Hussein’s rule but it also gained publicity in 2004 after photos depicting American soldiers abusing detainees were released. There was no mention in the official announcement whether the abuses by U.S. soldiers will be covered in the museum.

[Via World Hum]

Crazy Asian mother: Stereotype from the kid’s perspective

by Jamie Rhein on

Aaron’s post this morning with his musings about positive stereotypes reminded me of one of my absolute FAVORITE YouTube videos, “Crazy Asian Mother.” It is a hoot.

Two high school age boys role play what happens when the mother looks over her son’s report card. Listen for the list of classes and the humorous jab at the parenting skills of white American parents. Very funny and illustrates other aspects of stereotyping.

When I first saw this video a year or so ago, I was transported back to my 8th grade English and social studies classroom in Hsinchu, Taiwan. Those students were funny, charming, and the work they turned in on a daily basis was astounding. Grading their papers was a joy. Honestly. They were the kids of high powered very bright parents, and they were under pressure to succeed, although their parents greatly valued the flexibility and creativity found in the American education system. It was the best of both worlds. These two guys would have fit right into my classroom.

Whenever my daughter feels that she’s pressured to succeed because I have ONE MORE TIME AND NOT FOR THE LAST TIME given her the litany of why she must do well in school in that annoying voice that only adults have, I think those Asian mothers who taught me a thing or two when I lived in Taiwan. As I explain to my daughter, I must have been a crazy Asian mother in a past life. Some things do rub off on a person when one travels.

By the way, I actually think there’s a crazy Asian mother in every parent. Even men. That’s why this video has almost 5,000,000 hits.