Big in Japan: TV crew captures world’s longest flight by a flying fish

by Matthew Firestone on

This may be one of the coolest things you’ll see today…

Unless you’re a science and nature dork like me, you might not be aware that flying fish are real creatures, and they actually do fly (well, sort of). You might also be surprised to hear that their roe tastes great when sprinkled on top of California rolls, and that their flesh is divine with a dab of wasabi and splash of soy sauce!

Anyway, back to the lecture at hand – earlier this week, a Japanese television crew captured some seriously kick-ass footage of a flying fish off the southern coast of Kyushu island in Japan. As you can see in the video below, the fish spends an astounding 45 seconds out of the water, which is now being regarded as the longest ever recorded flight by this species.

As I said before, I’m a bit of a science and nature dork despite my father’s best attempts at teaching me sports – sorry Dad, I did try! – though I think you’ll all agree that flying fish are pretty freakin’ cool creatures. After all, how many fish out there have the power to soar through the air at speeds up to 30 miles per hour, and can escape hungry predators with aerial acrobatics?

First question: What is a flying fish?

The Exocoetidae or flying fish are found the world over, though they’re especially common in the warm tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Even if you’re not a marine biologist, their distinguishing features are pretty obvious, namely the huge pectoral fins that look like they were taken straight from a F-22 Raptor!

Second question: How do flying fish fly?

Actually, they don’t fly, but rather use their tail fins to accelerate rapidly towards the surface of the water to achieve lift-off, thus escaping the mouths of hungry predators. Once airborne, they spread their wings, er…fins, and glide along the thermals with the type of grace and elegance that is only found in nature. While gliding, flying fish can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, and can cover about 50 yards in a single bound.

In this particular record-breaking jump, the fish was able to stay aloft by occasionally beating the surface of the water with its tail fin. This produces the additional thrust needed for multiple jumps, which enables flying fish to cover distances equal to several football fields

Awesome.

Third and final question: How do flying fish taste?

Delicious. Flying fish roe is known in Japanese as tobiko (とびこ), though it most commonly appears in Californian style sushi as those bright orange eggs on your roll. They’re salty, have a unique tang not unlike caviar, and pop in the mouth like little seaweed-scented bubbles. And, while the flesh of the fish itself is an expensive delicacy that is hard to find outside Japan, it has a soft and refined texture that justifies the high price tag.

On that note, I think it’s time to head out for a sushi lunch…

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

Big in Japan: Hello Kitty is Japan’s new tourism ambassador

by Matthew Firestone on

If you thought that the political world of international diplomacy was dry and boring, then guess again….

This week in Japan, government leaders shocked the media by announcing that their latest ambassador to the world is a giant anime cat. Of course, we’re not just talking about any old cat, but none other than Hello Kitty ( ??????????????????; Har? Kiti), that lovable feline that has appeared on everything from bento boxes and chopsticks to cell phones and designer tennis shoes.

According to the Japanese government, Hello Kitty will soon begin serving as the tourism ambassador to China and Hong Kong in a bid to attract more foreign visitors. At a light-hearted public event, a kimono-clad Hello Kitty received a certificate to commemorate her appointment from Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Tetsuzo Fuyushiba.

Hello Kitty is no stranger to politics. Since 1983, she’s served as the Children’s Ambassador for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). However, her new appointment is much more monetary in focus, especially since Japan is hoping to raise its tourism revenue by attracting more than 10 million overseas visitors each year. At present, tourists from China and Hong Kong comprise more than 15 percent of foreign visitors to Japan.

Hello Kitty was created in 1974 by Sanrio – the very first product was a clear vinyl coin purse bearing the face of Hello Kitty, which sold for 240 yen or approximately two dollars. Surprisingly, Hello Kitty was intended to be named ‘Kitty White’ after one of Alice’s cats in the Lewis Carroll classic Through the Looking-Glass. At the time, British culture was the height of fashion amongst Japanese girls, and Hello Kitty was never intended to have any appeal beyond the pre-adolescent female market.

Of course, the designers at Sanrio failed to fully appreciate the Japanese obsession with all things cute!

Interestingly enough, Hello Kitty is the second anime cat to receive an official government title. This past March, Japan’s foreign minister, namely Masahiko Komura, appointed a giant stuffed Doraemon as Japan’s first ‘anime ambassador,’ tasked with making friends by traveling around the world. According to Mr. Komura: “As an anime ambassador, Doraemon will deepen people’s understanding of Japan so they will become friends with Japan.”

On a serious note, the recent appointments of cartoon cats to government posts couldn’t come at a better time, especially since Japan’s international popularity has waned significantly following a number of controversies including various World War II denial scandals and increased whaling efforts. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Japanese government is extremely keen to promote the country’s strong cultural attributes, such as the weird and wonderful world of manga.

So, I’d like to join the chorus of well-wishers by congratulating Hello Kitty-san on her sexy new job as Japan’s tourism ambassador. 心から本とにおめでとうございます！！

(Special thanks to my sister for uncovering this amusing little news item!)

** Top photo taken by Koji Sasahara (AP)**

Big in Japan: Solar-powered bra can charge your iPod

by Matthew Firestone on

Unless you’re built like Naomi Campbell, you can go ahead and forget about Victoria’s Secret. After all, anybody with an eco-conscious knows that lingerie is about to go green…

This week here in Tokyo, the famous lingerie maker Triumph International Japan unveiled its environmentally friendly Solar Power Bra.

As demonstrated by the striking models of Triumph, the new bra features a solar panel worn around the stomach, which can produce enough electricity to charge your iPod. It is also made of high quality organic cotton that has met the international textile safety standard “Eco-Tex,” and comes in a lovely Earth-friendly shade of green.

Of course, the best part is that that the bra is equipped with two refillable pouches, which can store drinking water, and alleviate the need to carry around environmentally unfriendly plastic bags. And, if you’re feeling a bit insecure about the size of your bust, fret not as the pouches happen to be located right where you need them!

But, don’t take my word for it, but rather the testimony of the oh-so adorable model Yuko Ishida: “It is very comfortable and I can really feel involved in eco-friendly efforts as well.”

Saving the environment never felt so sexy (^_^)

The release of Triumph’s solar-powered bra couldn’t be timelier, especially since the Hokkaido Toyoko Summit is scheduled to take place from July 7-9 on the northernmost island of Japan. Dubbed the ‘environment summit,’ Hokkaido Toyoko will host the ministers from the Group of 8 developed nations, and will address environmental issues that were raised at their previous summit in Bali.

And, in a country where trends and fads can make or break a product, it’s encouraging to note that being eco-friendly is now the height of fashion in Japan. Indeed, Triumph has already released several other green-themed bits of lingerie including include a bra that turns into a reusable shopping bag, and a bra that uses removable metal chopsticks for under-wire.

Although it should go without saying, let’s be clear on one thing: like the concept cars that make the rounds at international auto shows, Triumph’s line of eco-bras is not actually available for purchase in stores. Quite simply, the problem with the Solar Power Bra is that “people usually cannot go outside without wearing clothes over it,” at least according to Triumph spokeswoman Yoshiko Masuda. She also added that you can’t wash the bra, or get it wet in the rain as it does have exposed circuitry.

But, the point is that the Solar Power Bra, regardless of how user-unfriendly it might be, can help reshape consumer demands for products that are more environmentally sound. It can also help launch a mainstream dialog over the importance of highlighting climate change at the individual level by demonstrating how we can all play a small role in protecting Mother Earth.

So ladies, what are you waiting for? Ditch those obsolete sports bras and get ready to go green!

(Special thanks to Emily Loos for uncovering this sultry little news item!)

** Photos taken by Katsumi Kasahara (AP), Junko Kimura (Getty Images) and Yoshikazu Tsuno (AFP/Getty Images) **

Have some sake with your friend Super Mario

by Jeremy Kressmann on

The Gadling crew has been spending a lot of hours in Japan recently. And as I discovered on my recent trip to Tokyo, the Japanese are completely obsessed with video games. The country that is home to Nintendo offers all manner of ways to get your gaming fix. In Tokyo’s Akihabara neighborhood, I discovered a store that sold nothing but vintage video game consoles, where systems like the Sega Game Gear to Neo Geo were available for purchase. Meanwhile, the gaudy neon-lit streets near Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station are lined with huge multi-story arcades, offering everything from head-to-head Tekken gaming stations to a video game where you can be a DJ with turntables.

This fanaticism for all things video game also extends to Japan’s nightlife scene, which is how I stumbled upon Muteki Mario. Located in Tokyo’s Shinjuku neighborhood, Muteki Mario is small bar based around the theme of Nintendo’s most famous video game character, Super Mario. My friends and I went head-to-head on the bar’s Mario Kart Wii game, complete with wireless steering wheels, while imbibing a few of my new favorite cocktail, single-serving glass jars of sake (Japanese rice wine). The bar’s theme even extends to the decor, which includes all manner of Mario and Luigi figurines, power-up mushrooms and star pillows that play the game’s invincible music when you squeeze them.

Part of the fun is trying to find the place…the website isn’t particularly helpful unless you speak Japanese, but I will say that it’s in the neighborhood just northeast of Shinjuku Station. Check the rather plain website and see if your hotel concierge can assist. Whether you’re a video game fanatic or just a casual Mario fan, I promise a hilariously fun night out.

Five myths about traveling in Tokyo

by Grant Martin on

I’ve been wandering around Tokyo for the last week or so and its been an eye opening experience. The culture is rich, the city endless and terrifying and gray and intense. Every day I’m astonished by the differences between our societies and the way that the Japanese operate, horrified by the varieties of food that we eat and warmed by the hospitality around me.

It is an experience far from what I had predicted, I am pleased to say. Back in New York we had broad, naive expectations formed by our guidebook scouring, stories from friends and films we had seen at the theater. They’re beliefs held by many Americans, I feel, and I thought that sharing my experiences would help clear some of these ideas up. Take a look at the biggest five myths I’ve found about traveling in Tokyo:

  • You won’t be a tall monster in Tokyo. While the national height average is a little lower in Japan, tall people do exist here and are not uncommon. Unless you get on a particularly short subway car, you won’t be able to see end-to-end with your friends. Similarly, your feet shouldn’t hang off the bed by 6″ when you check into a hotel. Three out of three of my mattresses so far have been fine for me and I’m pretty tall.
  • Electronics aren’t crazy awesome and cheap. While Electric City does have a ton of electronics with a remarkable variety, much of it is the same as US equipment and the price is also on par. I was looking at an IBM x40 Thinkpad for about 250$ this week, which you can get on Ebay for about 270$. Factor in the Japanese keyboard and having to carry it all of the way back to the States, and it isn’t really worth it.
  • People won’t stop to ask for your pictures. I’ve been with two tall people (over 6’4″), a nerdy African-American lawyer and a blond girl from Long Island, and have yet to be stopped for a picture. Some schoolchildren did ask for a photo at a temple in Osaka, but it was part of their homework assignment.
  • Bowing is nice and polite, but not necessary. Japanese understand that you’re visiting and don’t necessarily subscribe to their culture so don’t expect you to bow at every transaction and conversation. This especially holds true for small things like asking for directions or buying street food.
  • You can get around with English. Subway and rail stations all have English directions so you can navigate without a guide or translator.
  • Matthew Firestone is not the genial Lonely Planet and Gadling writer that you think he is. He is a dangerous, dangerous drunk that will feed you cow intestines and steal your children.

As in any metropolis, culture steps away from the traditional, outlying areas and shifts towards a central, efficient system. Most Tokyo residents wear business suits around town, work hard and party hard into the early hours of the morning. Visit with an open mind and a warm heat and you’ll find it among the most amazing cities in the planet.