 Greetings from J-ListFriday, July 30, 2010 Sumo wrestling is the official sport of Japan, enjoying special status and support by the Japanese government. It's more than a sport, really, since it's closely tied to Shinto religious ceremonies going back centuries, and legendary figures from Japan's history like Hideyoshi and Nobunaga were sumo aficionados, although contestants fought to the death back in those days. Recently the sport hasn't been able to catch a break due to a series of scandals that have rocked the Japan Sumo Association and its fans. It started with a marijuana scandal which resulted in several wrestlers being ejected from the sport for trafficking in illegal substances, and things got worse when a teenage wrestler in training died as a result of bullying by other members of his sumo stable. (Not sure why, but a house where a team of sumo wrestlers lives and practices is always called a 'stable' in English.) Maverick Mongolian wrestler Asashoryu was forced to quit in shame after he smashed in the face of a patron in a bar, which wasn't exactly in keeping with the hinkaku (dignity) required of Grand Sumo Champions. Now the existence of gambling ties to yakuza gangsters has come to light, which has enraged fans and caused NHK to boycott broadcasting the Nagoya tournament. I've always loved the uniquely Japanese character of sumo wrestling, and hope the sport can clean its house and get things back to normal soon.  
The sumo world is facing some big problems; sushi in the U.S. is a little different from Japan. Normally when I come to the U.S. the last thing I want to do is eat Japanese food, since there there are so many other choices here, like Mexican and Thai and Chinese. (Chinese food does exist in Japan, but in a very different form from what you'd find at Panda Express, often melded so closely with everyday Japanese dishes that no one can tell the two apart.) This trip, however, I've been in the U.S. for so long doing stuff with my American family that I started really craving nihonshoku (Japanese cuisine), so last night I took the family out for the best sushi I know of in San Diego. Sushi in California and Japan are naturally a little different. First of all, the most common way to eat sushi in Japan is kaiten-zushi or conveyor belt sushi, which is cheap and convenient, although traditional places are common, too (though they are pricier). We laughed out loud at some of the menu items with names that would never fly in Japan, like Kabuki, Last Samurai, Yakuza and Gaijin Rolls. As is often the case when eating "Japanese" food in the U.S., the Master (the owner of the shop) was Korean. Which was okay with me -- the fish was fresh and good, and he gave us kimchee (Korean pickled cabbage) to eat for free. No matter how long a person lives in Japan, there are always things that can bring on what expats call a "Japan moment," the feeling of utter amazement at something bizarre you've just encountered. Maybe it's something cute, like a big truck playing the Main Street Electrical Street Parade song as it backs up instead of a boring beep-beep-beep sound, or that first time seeing the plastic Colonel Sanders in front of KFC wearing his "Santa Wear" (Santa Claus Suit). Maybe it's a food item, like strawberry and whipped cream sandwiches, or the ham and cheese on French Toast complete with syrup pre-applied to the bread I saw once. You never know what will bring on that sense of "only-in-Japan" next -- driving through an extremely rural town and coming across a replica of the American Statue of Liberty? Seeing a nondescript building with "Oh!" carefully painted on it? Meeting someone who has taught English for 30 years yet has never been outside of Japan, and who asks you "Where is your domicile?" instead of something simple like "Where do you live?"
Today's New Items
|  Animedia June 2010 A nice new issue of Animedia, the amazing anime magazine from Japan, which focuses on K-On!, A Certain Scientific Railgun / Index, and more. Free posters, too! View Product | | |  New Japanese Fashion Magazines Surprise -- more awesome Japanese fashion magazines from J-List. We have the new issue of Egg in, for fans of gyaru fashion culture, plus the new Myojo for fans of male idol culture (Johnny's etc.). View Product |  Anime Cosplay, School Swimsuits There's something about having the actual swimsuit worn by your favorite tsundere anime character materialize on your desk that's just awesome. We're not posting two new school swimsuits to J-List because we like you or anything (ha-ha). View Product | | | | | | | | | | | |  New Snacks from Japan Enjoy Japan-only Mentos in delicious Mango flavor, then taste the Meiji Copan treats in Tuna and Onion flavor, then sample Maruchan Soy Sauce Ramen, which is really delicious! View Product | | | | | | | | | | | |  Great Japanese Pens, Study Items See some great pens from Japan, including the KURU-TOGA Spinning Mechanical Pencil for smooth writing, the Magic Ink Set with retro design, the fun Black Stretch Eraser and the One Piece B5 Notebook. View Product |  Restocked Japanese Snacks Finally, a huge restocking of fun J-snacks, including Morinaga Hi-Chew in Blue Hawaii and Cotton Candy summer flavors, Meiji Wata Pachi cotton candy with pop rocks inside, Azuki Caramel, Black Black Caffeine Gum, Pocari Sweat Powder, Bull-Dog Sauce for all your favorite foods, Royale Milk Tea, Curry Cup Noodle, and awesome Japan-only Doritos flavors. View Product |
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