Wasabi Events 2010: Fill & Download for Free

My 10/10 movies are:1.)The Perks Of Being A Wallflower(2012):This is one of the best movie(according to me) I have watched till date. It has a decent IMDb rating of 8.0/10.Storyline:This movie is based on the novel written by Stephen Chbosky, and is about a 15-year-old Charlie , an endearing and naive outsider, coping with first love , the suicide of his best friend, and his own mental illness while struggling to find a group of people with whom he belongs. The introvert freshman is taken under the wings of two seniors, Sam and Patrick, who welcome him to the real world.2.)Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009):It is based on a true story of a faithful Akita Inu the titular Hachiko, about the unconditional love a Dog offers. It’s IMDB rating is 8.1/10.Storyline:In Bedridge, Professor Parker Wilson finds an abandoned dog at the train station and takes it home with the intention of returning the animal to its owner. He finds that the dog is an Akita and names it Hachiko. However, nobody claims the dog so his family decides to keep Hachi.3.)Rang De Basanti(2006):One of the best Bollywood movie. What true friends can do to get you justice. It holds 8.3/10 as the IMDb rating.Storyline:A young idealistic English filmmaker, Sue, arrives in India to make a film on Indian revolutionaries Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and their contemporaries and their fight for freedom from the British Raj. Owing to a lack of funds, she recruits students from Delhi University to act in her docu-drama. She finds DJ, who graduated five years ago but still wants to be a part of the University because he doesn't think there's too much out there in the real world to look forward to. Karan, the son of Industrialist Rajnath Singhania, who shares an uncomfortable relationship with his father, but continues to live off him, albeit very grudgingly. Aslam, is a middle class Muslim boy, who lives in the by-lanes near Jama Masjid, poet, philosopher and guide to his friends. Sukhi, the group's baby, innocent, vulnerable and with a weakness for only one thing - girls. Laxman Pandey, the fundamentalist in the group, the only one who still believes that politics can make the world a better place ...4.)Fight Club(1999):Fight Club, well the name is enough.IMDb rating 8.8/10.Storyline:A nameless first person narrator (Edward Norton) attends support groups in attempt to subdue his emotional state and relieve his insomniac state. When he meets Marla (Helena Bonham Carter), another fake attendee of support groups, his life seems to become a little more bearable. However when he associates himself with Tyler (Brad Pitt) he is dragged into an underground fight club and soap making scheme. Together the two men spiral out of control and engage in competitive rivalry for love and power. When the narrator is exposed to the hidden agenda of Tyler's fight club, he must accept the awful truth that Tyler may not be who he says he is.5.)Inception(2010):I literally watched this movie on repeat for Three Times, To Be Honest, the first time I watched it, I was like “ What the Fuck did just happen! ” but when i watched it for the second time, I was like “Ohh, Fuck this is awesome, I should watch it once more.” It’s IMDb rating is 8.8/10.Storyline:Dom Cobb is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb's rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible - inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming.6.)Big Hero 6(2014):“We are never too Old For a Disney Movie”. Big hero 6 is my favorite animated movie, 7.8/10 is the IMDb rating of this movie.Storyline:When a devastating event befalls the city of San Fransokyo and catapults Hiro into the midst of danger, he turns to Baymax and his close friends adrenaline junkie Go Go Tomago, neatnik Wasabi, chemistry whiz Honey Lemon and fanboy Fred. Determined to uncover the mystery, Hiro transforms his friends into a band of high-tech heroes called "Big Hero 6."7.)The Wolf of Wall Street(2013):Do i really have to tell you about “THE WOLF OF WALL STREET”! Holds the IMDb rating of 8.2/10.Storyline:Jordan Belfort is a Long Island penny stockbroker who served 22 months in prison for defrauding investors in a massive 1990s securities scam that involved widespread corruption on Wall Street and in the corporate banking world, including shoe designer Steve Madden.8.)Masaan(2015):A MUST WATCH Bollywood movie(IMDb rating 8.1/10). Two different stories, in a single movie.One follows the journey of a young couple from different castes, and the other involves a father and daughter who are tormented by the orthodox architecture of a small-town. These Stories meander along the shores of the Ganges, as the river of life touches them in different ways.Storyline:Four lives intersect along the Ganges: a low caste boy hopelessly in love, a daughter ridden with guilt of a sexual encounter ending in a tragedy, a hapless father with fading morality, and a spirited child yearning for a family, long to escape the moral constructs of a small-town.9.)It’s Kind of a Funny Story(2010):This movie is about a teenager life. IMDb rating of this movie is 7.2/10.Storyline:Craig is a high-school junior, in the gifted program, infatuated with his best friend's girl. When he realizes he's suicidal, he checks himself into the psychiatric ward of a hospital, thinking they'll do an observation, help him, and send him home in time for school the next day. Once in, however, he must stay for a week; the juvenile ward is being renovated, so he's in with adults as well as a few youths. Bobby, a man with a young daughter, shows him around; Craig notices Noelle, about his age. He tries to keep his friends from finding out where he is. Little things: he draws, goes to therapy, sings, helps Bobby rehearse an interview. Is this the stuff of insight?10.) Friends With Benefits(2011):Because I love Mila Kunis. Though this movie’s IMDb rating is only 6.6/10, but it’s a good watch.Storyline:Jamie Rellis (Mila Kunis) is a New York City head-hunter trying to sign Los Angeles-based art director Dylan Harper (Justin Timberlake) for her client. When he takes the job and makes the move, they quickly become friends. Their friendship turns into a friendship with benefits, but with Jamie's emotionally damaged past and Dylan's history of being emotionally unavailable, they have to try to not fall for each other the way Hollywood romantic comedies dictate.Image and Storyline Credits: Google & IMDb.Edit: Thank You Rushabh Lunawat for the edit.

I have seen this question beforehere is one in englishMcDonald’s in Japan – 35 Unique Menu ItemsInes Smaili · Last updated : Mar. 22, 2017Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of McDonald's in Japan. From burgers to fries to pies, we've listed 35 unique menu items.Photo Credit: Achim Hepp via Flickr ccJapan has the second highest density of McDonald’s restaurants in the world: roughly 3,600 branches nationwide and a planned 10,000 restaurants by 2020. It’s safe to say, therefore, that Japan has a taste for McDonald’s.McDonald’s always tries to reflect the regional specificities of wherever it sets up shop, Japan included. The McDonald’s menu in Japan, therefore, is a little different to that which you’d find in the US or Europe. Besides the classics, there’s a whole load of items that you won’t find elsewhere; from the relatively mundane to the genuinely baffling. Let us introduce you to the best of it.Everyday Japanese McDonald’s MenuValue BurgersPhoto Credit: toshifukuoka via Flickr ccPriced at 200 yen each, the chiki-chee burger (chicken cheeseburger), eggu-chee burger (egg cheeseburger) and babepo burger (barbecue pork burger) are the closest alternatives to the dollar menu.Teriyaki BurgerPhoto Credit: Byron Villegas via Flickr ccThis sauce-drenched burger is a staple of McDonald’s menus here in Japan.Ebi (Shrimp) Filet-OPhoto Credit: Yann via Flickr ccFrom crackers to tempura, Japan’s fascination with shrimp has led to the ever-popular Ebi Filet-O.McDonald’s Shaka Shaka ChickenPhoto Credit: David Pursehouse via Flickr ccJapan loves fried chicken. This is reflected in the Shaka Shaka Chicken which was added to the regular menu in 2008.Seasonal BurgersMcDonald’s Japan periodically introduces limited edition burgers themed around a particular season, event or theme. Take a look at some of the past greats:Big AmericaPhoto Credit: [email protected] via Flickr ccThe Big America burger campaign first ran in 2010. The burgers reflect different American cities or states and have proven highly popular. The Idaho Burger, Texas Burger, Miami Burger, Manhattan Burger, Las Vegas Burger and the Grand Canyon Burger are among our favourites.German Sausage Chicken SandwichPhoto Credit: hirotomo t via Flickr ccThis German-themed burger consists of a piece of fried chicken, pork sausage patty and sauerkraut topping.Loco Moco BurgerProvided by photozouHawaiin dish loco moco consists of a hamburger patty, fried egg, rice and brown gravy. Replace the rice with buns and you get this Hawaii-inspired McDonald’s sandwich.McPorkPhoto Credit: Cory Doctorow via Flickr ccMcPork’s simplicity made it popular during its run at McDonald’s. Find between the buns shredded lettuce and a sausage patty doused in garlic and black pepper sauce.Sakura Teritama BurgerPhoto Credit: hirotomo t via Flickr ccEverything about this burger is pink, even the bun. Only available during sakura season, Sakura Teritama Burger is made up of a ginger teriyaki pork patty, fried egg and special sakura sauce.The Full Moon Cheese Tsukimi BurgerPhoto Credit: Cookie M via Flickr ccOnly available in autumn, this burger was inspired by tsukimi, the harvest moon festival. The Cheese Tsukimi Burger’s main ingredients, other than the beef patty, are cheese and an egg which is said to represent the full moon.Mega MacPhoto Credit: Toshiyuki IMAI via Flickr ccImagine a Big Mac but doubled in size. Fit for a sumo wrestler.Mega TamagoProvided by WikipediaReplace the patty in a Mega Mac with an egg and pieces of bacon and the result is the Mega Tamago.Mega MuffinPhoto Credit: Tennen-Gas (Own Work) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia CommonsThis classic breakfast sandwich mega-sized is the breakfast of champions.Chicken TatsutaProvided by commons.wikimediaChicken Tatsuta Burger is not just any ordinary chicken sandwich. The chicken patty is breaded with potato starch then deep fried—producing this delicious burger.Black Squid Ink Burger and Camembert Chicken FiletThese promotional sandwiches were first launched during Halloween 2014.50 McDonald's Menu Items Only in JapanNote: Some of these items were limited edition only and are no longer sold.1. Cheese Tsukimi BurgersatokohdaSesame seed buns, 2 slices bacon, eggs fried over easy, aurora sauce (ketchup and mayonnaise), cheddar cheese, chicken patty2. Idaho Burgerkyu3Potato patty, beef patty, onion-flavored buns, bacon, cheese, mustard seed sauce, deep pepper sauce3. Diner Honey MustardyamazstoreHoney mustard sauce, bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce, special buns, chicken4. Diner Double Beefsakey1292 beef patties, cheese, sunny-side-up egg, pepper steak sauce, onion5. German Sausage ChickenLemon flavor chicken patty, bologna sausage, steamed rye buns, dill mustard, pickled cabbage, mozzarella cheeseDec 23, 201516 Unique Places in Japan that are Not Widely Known but are Absolutely MesmerisingThere are places not so popular to be on top of guidebooks as touristic destinations, but appreciated among those in the know. Visiting these pl...6. Manhattan BurgerkushiiiMozzarella cheese, lettuce, onion, sour cream sauce, pastrami, beef patty7. Hawaiian BurgerfrasebambinoGravy sauce, 1/4 pound beef patty, egg, bacon, cheese, lettuce, special buns topped with grated cheese8. Le Gran Tomato : Japan Editionhirotomo t/FlickrCiabatta, beef patty, butter sauce, tomato9. Le Gran Sausage : Japan Editionbetty_1003Ciabatta, pepper sausage, beef patty, mustard10. American Funky BBQ Chickenkanyeezy22Chicken patty, cheddar cheese, lettuce, pickles, barbecue sauce, mustard relishOct 02, 201560 Sightseeing Spots for Short Trips from OsakaHow can you efficiently visit the tourist destinations scattered all over Japan? In this article, we will introduce 60 tourists spots that you can visi...11. New York Burgerくーさん/Flickr1/4 pound beef patty, Monterey Jack cheese, bacon, tomato, lettuce, mustard seed sauce, whole wheat buns12. Mega TamagoKici/Wikimedia CommonsSesame buns, eggs fried over easy, bun in the middle, sauce with mustard and black pepper, cheese, lettuce, bacon13. Sesame Ebi Filet-O Sesame Bunsmattyaneko0703Sesame buns, shrimp cutlet, lettuce, cheese, Thousand Island sauce14. Cheese Fondue ChickenBuns with grated cheese, chicken steak, lettuce, bacon15. Mega McMuffinTennen-Gas/Wikimedia CommonsBuns, eggs fried over easy, 2 patties, cheese, ketchupJul 07, 201420 Japanese Seasonings and Sauces You Should KnowJapanese food lovers, have you ever wondered why Japanese foods taste so good and unique? While most of the seasonings in Japan are based o...16. Carbonara ChickenCreamy sauce with black pepper and cheese, chicken, steamed buns with black pepper, scrambled eggs, bacon, mozzarella cheese17. Chicken TatsutaKento0701/Wikimedia CommonsBuns, chicken patty, shredded cabbage, sauce18. Chicken Tatsuta with wasabi and tartare sauceGinger and soy sauce flavor chicken patty, wasabi tartar sauce, original steamed buns, lettuce19. Grand Canyon Burger7'o'7/Wikimedia CommonsSesame buns, beef patty, cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, egg, steak sauce, onion sauce, lettuce, bun in middle20. Mega Beef Macshotaro.rulerzSesame buns, 4 beef patties, pickles, cheese, lettuce, bun in the middleApr 26, 201510 Japanese Chu-hai You Can Buy at Convenience StoresWant to get buzzed during your stay in Japan or just have a sweet alcoholic beverage that isn't too strong? Here are 10 chu-hi options for y...21. Mega Teriyaki BurgerKici/Wikimedia Commons2 pork patties, 2 sesame buns, 1 bun in the middle, lettuce, cheese, teriyaki sauce22. Demi-glace and Cheese Gratin Korokke Burgersalmon_muBuns, cheddar cheese, demi-glace sauce, finely chopped onion, cabbage, mayo sauce, gratin croquette23. American Funky BBQ Beefatshow2 100% beef patties, cheddar cheese, 2 strips of grilled bacon, lettuce, pickles, barbecue sauce, mustard relish24. Hot and Groovy Beeftakubonchanwhite cheddar cheese, tartar sauce, lettuce25. Hot and Groovy Chickenmau384eGarlic flavored chicken patty, cheddar cheese, salsa, jalapeno sauceJun 26, 201515 Takoyaki Shops You Must Try in OsakaHave you ever eaten Takoyaki? Takoyaki is a fast food that's representative of Osaka. If you visit Osaka, here are 15 takoyaki stands you should defin...26. Texas Burgercutie_style_bgBarbecue sauce, mustard seed relish, 1/4 pound beef patty, special 3 layered buns, fried onions, cheese, bacon27. Texas Burger 23 layers of sesame seed buns, 1/4 pound beef patty, chili beans, mustard seed relish, onions, bacon, cheese28. Las Vegas Burgertaq_nPatty, sliced beef, onion, cream cheese sauce29. Broadway Burgernegizashi_ninjaBacon, lettuce, peppers, cream cheese sauce, patty, mustard sauce30. California Burger1/4 pound patty, special red wine sauce, tomato, lettuce, bacon, Monterey Jack cheese, special buns topped with grated cheeseJul 09, 201513 Facts You Probably Didn't Know About TatamiTatami mats are a traditional flooring unique to Japan. Here are 13 facts about these mats to enlighten you the next time you enter a room of Tat...31. Beverly Hills Burgerkeeichiro_posts1/4 100% beef patty, lettuce, onion, avocado sauce, rich Caesar salad sauce32. Miami Burgerbana68Shredded lettuce, tomato chili sauce, taco meat, buns, cheese, beef patty33. Hot Gold Masala : Japan Editionstarman___Chicken, tomato, curry sauce, buns, lettuce34. Mild Gold Masala : Japan EditionvvvlovekaelavvvChicken, curry sauce, buns, lettuce, mayonnaise, cheese35. Cheese Aussie Deli : Japan EditionssjpnThinly sliced pastrami, cheese, lettuceJan 19, 20157 must see places in KanazawaKanazawa is one of the most beautiful cities in Japan. Thanks to the new shinkansen, it will be easier to get there. Why don't you visit the historic...36. Doble Beef Salsa Burgeroyaji315Tomato, Red/Yellow/Green paprika, onion, salsa sauce, jalapeno cheese sauce, 2 beef patty, cheese, lettuce37. Chicken Salsa Burgeroyaji315Tomato, Red/Yellow/Green paprika, onion, salsa sauce, jalapeno cheese sauce, chicken patty, lettuce38. Shrimp Salsa Burger445hoshiTomato, Red/Yellow/Green paprika, onion, salsa sauce, jalapeno cheese sauce, shrinp patty, lettuce39. Sakura Teritama Burgerheart_saorinPork patty, eggs fried over easy, buns with flavor of sakura(cherry blossom), mayo sauce with Japanese sakura radish(Sakura daikon)40. Cheese Katsu Burgerkabario2202Sesame buns, sliced cabbage, cheese cutlet, brown sauce and sweet lemon sauceMar 19, 201550 Things to Do in HokkaidoHokkaido is a great place to experience the magic and splendor of nature, so why not visit there and enjoy the beautiful greenery and delicious se...41. Bacon and Lettuce BurgeryamafilmcamBeef patty, bacon, lettuce, cheese, yellow mustard sauce42. McPork DoubleBuns, 2 pork patty, lettuce43. Mega SausageBread, mustard sauce, ketchup, sausage44. McDonald's Shaka Shaka Chickennakamurayuya_0607Chicken with tomato and basil powder.Shake the chicken to cover it in the seasoning powder in the package before you eat it.45. Bacon and Potato PiesasayanjpnPie crust, white cream sauce with potato, chopped bacon and onionSep 17, 201512 Best Pancakes in TokyoPancakes are known as `Hotcakes' in Japan. This nation-wide popular sweet and round cake is slightly different from pancakes you find in oth...46. Wasabi McNugget SaucemameyukiyukiMcNuggets with wasabi sauce47. Ume(sower plums) McNugget SauceMcNuggets with ume sauce48. McDonald's Salad Marinade WrapmaminyonTortilla, Tomato, Marine Sauce of Paprika and Onion, Cheese49. McDonald's Mega PotatoNori Norisa/FlickrPotatoes, salt50. Kit Kat and Strawberry Mcflurrytakumi1881

In Japanese, the name “Japan” is Nihon or Nippon, which means “Land of the Rising Sun.” It was once believed that Japan was the first country to see the sun rise in the East in the morning.tJapan has the third longest life expectancy in the world with men living to 81 years old and women living to almost 88 years old. The Japanese live on average four years longer than Americans.tJapan consists of over 6,800 islands.hTwenty-one percent of the Japanese population is elderly (over the age of 65), the highest proportion in the world. There are more elderly than there are children in Japan today.iHome to 33 million people, the Tokyo-Yokohama metropolitan area is the largest populated metropolitan region in the world.hJapan has more than 3,000 McDonald’s restaurants, the largest number in any country outside the U.S.hJapanese director Akira Kurosawa’s film The Hidden Fortresswas the basis for George Lucas’ famous film Star Wars.oEach spring, Japan has a festival that celebrates both the penis and female fertility called Kanamara Matsuri, or “Festival of the Steel Phallus.”lThe Japanese eat more fish than any other people in the world, about 17 million tons per year. Japan is the world’s largest importer of seafood, with shrimp comprising about one third of the total, about four million tons a year. More than 20% of Japanese protein is obtained through fish and fish products.oOver two billion manga, Japanese comic books or graphic novels, are sold in Japan each year.bMore than 5 billion servings of instant ramen noodles are consumed in Japan each year. Chef Momofuku Ando invented the first instant “chicken ramen” in 1958.rSushi has been around since about the second century A.D. It started as a way to preserve fish in China and eventually made its way to Japan. The method of eating raw fish and rice began in the early 17th century. Sushi does not mean raw fish in Japanese. It actually means rice seasoned with vinegar, sugar, and salt. Raw fish sliced and served alone without rice is called sashimi.wJapanese Kobe beef is famous worldwide for its succulence and taste. The Japanese cows this beef comes from receive daily massages and, in summer, are fed a diet of saké and beer mash. True Kobe beef comes from only 262 farms in the Tajima region, of which Kobe is the capital, and each of which raises an average of 5 of the animals at a time. In the United States, Kobe beef is called Wagyu beef.cJapan has around 5.5 million vending machines with one on almost every street corner. There are vending machines that sell beer, hot and cold canned coffee, cigarettes, wine, condoms, comic books, hot dogs, light bulbs, bags of rice, toilet paper, umbrellas, fish bait, fresh eggs, porn magazines, and even used women’s underwear.qJapan has the second lowest homicide rate in the world, but it also home to the spooky “suicide forest” Aokigahara at the base of Mt. Fuji. It is the second most popular place in the world for suicides after San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.nThe Japanese have such a low birth rate that there are more adult diapers sold than baby diapers.gJapanese ganguro (“black face”) fashion was started in the 1990s and has young women tanning their skin as dark as possible, bleaching their hair, and using extremely colorful makeup in contrast to the traditional Japanese pale-skinned, dark-haired standard of beauty.nThe world’s shortest escalator is in the basement of More’s department store in Kawasaki, Japan; it has only 5 steps and is 32.8 inches (83.3 cm) high.yYaeba, or crooked teeth, are considered attractive in Japan—so much so that girls go to the dentist to have their teeth purposefully unstraightened.nHaiku poetry, which was invented in Japan, consists of only three lines and is the world’s shortest poetic form.tWomen in ancient Japan blackened their teeth with dye as white teeth were considered ugly. This practice, called ohaguro, continued until the late 1800s.eShinjuku station, Tokyo’s main train station, is the busiest in the world with over 2 million people passing through it every day.bAnime, or animated Japanese films and television shows, account for 60% of the world’s animation-based entertainment. Animation is so successful in Japan that there are almost 130 voice-acting schools in the country.dNinety percent of all mobile phones sold in Japan are waterproof because youth like to use them even while showering.kWhen Japanese people meet, they traditionally bow instead of shake hands, and the lowest bow shows the deepest respect.hNinety-eight percent of adoptions that take place in Japan are of male adults, so family businesses can stay within those families.oThe sole Japanese man who survived the wreck of the RMS Titanic in 1914, Masabumi Hosono, was called a coward in his country for not dying with the other passengers.uIn Japan, it is acceptable to take a nap, called inemuri, on the job—it is viewed as evidence of exhaustion from working very hard.oDuring World War II, Japan bombed China with fleas infested with Bubonic plague.jJapan and Russia still haven’t signed a peace treaty to end World War II due to a dispute over the Kuril Islands.vIn Japan, Kit Kat candy bars come in flavors like grilled corn, Camembert cheese, Earl Gray tea, grape, and wasabi. The Japanese pronounce Kit Kat like “Kitto Katsu,” which sounds like “You are sure to pass” in Japanese, and so they make a popular gift to students during entrance exam season.cThe world’s largest Pokémon memorabilia collection belongs to Lisa Courtney of the United Kingdom. She has 14,410 items as of October 14, 2010, collected over 14 years. Items from her collection come from Japan, the UK, the U.S., and France.mAround 25 billion pairs of waribashi (disposable chopsticks) are used in Japan each year. This is equivalent to the timber needed to build 17,000 homes.rIn Japan, black cats are considered good luck charms or omens of good luck.hIn Japan, Kentucky Fried Chicken is a typical Christmas Eve feast.nMany hot springs and onsen (public bathhouses) in Japan ban customers with tattoos from entering because the tattoos remind the public of theyakuza, or Japanese mafia, whose members sport full-body tattooing.hCartooning in Japan began in the 12th century, and today more paper is used for comics than for toilet paper in that country.pIn Japan, there is an island full of rabbits called Ōkunoshima. They were brought there during World War II to test the effects of poison gas.nThe biggest Japanese community outside of Japan is in Brazil.tSumo wrestling in Japan can be traced back 1,500 years. Wrestlers weigh 300 pounds or more and train in a heya (room, stable) operated by former sumo champions. Younger sumo wrestlers are traditionally required to clean and bathe the veteran wrestlers, including all the hard-to-reach places.hHello Kitty was born in Japan in 1974 as a plastic coin purse. More than 20,000 Hello Kitty products are on the market today, including toasters, instant noodles, credit cards, and toilet paper. To her Japanese fans, she is known as Kitty Chan.hRaw horse meat is considered a delicacy in Japan. It is called basashi and is sliced thinly and eaten raw.hJapanese “love hotels” are short-stay hotels mainly designed for amorous couples and are identified by the presence of heart symbols. They have different room rates: a “rest” rate as well as an overnight rate. An estimated 2% of Japan’s population visits one each day.nJapanese macaques, or snow monkeys, are the fabled animals that “see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil.” The macaques in northern Honshu live farther north than any other monkey in the world.hMt. Fuji, or Fujisan or Fujiyama, is the tallest mountain in Japan at 12,388 feet (3,776 m). It is considered a sacred mountain to many Japanese. More than one million people climb Mt. Fuji every year during the official climbing season of July and August.hIt is appropriate to slurp noodles, especially soba (buckwheat), when eating in Japan. Slurping indicates the dish is delicious. It also cools down the hot noodles.hJapan is the largest automobile producer in the world, and the Japanese company Toyota is the third largest automaker in the world. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda who changed the “da” for “ta” because it sounds clearer. Also, written in Katakana script, “Toyota” uses 8 brush strokes, a number considered to be lucky in Japan.cTsukiji market in Tokyo is the world’s largest fish market, handling over 2,000 tons of marine products daily.rHadaka Matsuri, or Naked Festival, is a kind of festival where thousands of Japanese men remove their clothing in public due to the belief that a naked man has a greater ability to absorb evil spirits. Only the most intimate parts of the body are covered with a cloth called a fundoshi.nGenerally acknowledged to be the world’s first novel, The Tale of Genji, was written by a Japanese noblewoman Murasaki Shikibu in the early 11th century.tThe word Japanese karaoke means “empty orchestra.” Cabaret singer Daisuke Inoue made a coin-operated machine that played his songs on tape so his fans could sing along in the 1970s, but he failed to patent his creation and therefore never cashed in on his invention.cWidespread inbreeding of dogs in Japan has resulted in one of the highest rates of genetic defects for canines in the world.fThe green traffic light in Japan is called ao shingō, or “blue.”iIn Japan, it is considered rude to tear the wrapping paper off of a gift.nThe Japanese have more pets than children.xBaseball is the most popular sport in Japan. Known as yakyū, it was introduced to Japan by an American teacher named Horace Wilson. The first game was played in Japan in 1873 at Tokyo University. Japan has two professional baseball leagues, the Pacific and Central. The game is so popular that even high school games are broadcast on national TV.oThe Japanese invented shibari, or sexual bondage play, which may have begun as the martial art of restraint known as hojōjutsu, in which a samurai practices capturing or detaining his enemy with ropes in the least amount of time possible.aIn a traditional Shinto wedding, the bride wears a special head covering called atsunokakushi (horn cover) to cover the “horns of jealously” she is thought to have for her husband.oThe Japanese word banzai literally means “10 thousand years” and was traditionally used to wish the emperor a long life. Today, it is closer to a cheer like “Hip Hip Hooray!” Travelers are often given a sendoff at the train station or airport by a group of coworkers shouting, “Banzai!” three times while raising their arms over their heads. This chant is also used at celebrations.oThe Japanese avoid the number four (shi) because it sounds the same as the word for death. Tall buildings do not have a fourth floor. Tea and sake sets are sold with five cups. Three or five is the desirable number of guests in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. As a rule, odd numbers are preferred over even numbers in Japan.oWhile Westerners regard the heart as the center of emotions, the Japanese regard thehara (belly) as the center of emotions and thoughts. They value silent communication, which they call haragei (“speaking from the belly”).oThe Japanese word horenso (“spinach”) is similar to the word for horeru (“to fall in love” or “secret love”). When a Japanese person gives another person a gift that is wrapped in the same color green as spinach, he or she is expecting love without using words.oIn Japanese, fugu is the name for the lethally poisonous blowfish. Japanese law requires that it be prepared by professional chefs who have been specially trained and licensed. Law forbids the emperor and the imperial family to eat fugu. Most fugu is eaten between January and March, when it is believed to be least poisonous.oAt midnight on Shōgatsu (New Year’s Eve), the Buddhist temples of Japan ring their bells 108 times to ring in the New Year and drive away the 108 evil desires that humans fall prey to. This event is called Joya no Kane and is carried on Japanese radio.hGeisha in Japanese means “person of the arts,” and the first geishas were actually men called taikomochi and they had a role similar to Western court jesters.nJapanese imperial court orchestra and dance forms, known asgagaku and bugaku, are the oldest continuous music and dance traditions in the world. They were introduced from the Chinese imperial court in the 7th and 8th century A.D. and are still performed in Tokyo by members of the Imperial Court Orchestra today.oGodzilla, a huge monster resembling a dinosaur, made his film debut in 1954. In Japan, he is known as Gojira, where he rose from the sea, after being awakened by atomic bomb testing, and attacked Tokyo.oNoh drama is the oldest surviving theatrical form in the world, dating back to the 14th century. In this drama, all female characters wear elaborate masks while the male characters do not.oKarate is perhaps the best known martial arts form to have come out of Japan. It originated in China but was refined in Okinawa. It literally means “empty hands” and uses trained movements of the hands, arms, and legs for self-defense. An estimated 50 million people worldwide practice karate.hThe first man born outside of Japan to compete as a sumo wrestler was a second-generation Japanese American who went by the sumo ring name Sendagawa. He made his debut in October 1915.oThe term harakiri may be familiar to Westerners as a gruesome Japanese method of suicide which literally means “cutting the belly.” The proper term for suicide performed by cutting one’s abdomen open with a knife is seppuku. According to Bushidō, the code of the warrior, a samurai facing defeat was supposed to save his honor by committing seppuku rather than surrendering to his enemy.oThe Japanese word for a dog’s barking sound is wan-wan instead of “bow-wow.” Japan’s Akita breed was developed in the 1600s and was once called the royal dog because the emperors kept Akitas as pets. The most famous of all Akitas was Hachikō. Legend has it he waited 10 years at the Shibuya train station in Tokyo for his master who had died while at work. A statue of Hachikō now stands outside the station as a tribute to his loyalty.hThe imperial family of Japan descends from an unbroken lineage of nearly 2,000 years. No other royal family in history has held its position for so long. The first Japanese emperor, Jimmu Tennō, ruled about the time of Christ.tIn 1993, Japanese author Yume-Hotaru wrote the world’s first novel written entirely on a cell phone: Maho No I-rando (Magic Island).cTo this day, Japan is the only country to ever have a nuclear bomb detonated on its soil. Kumamoto was the original target of the atomic bomb dropped by the U.S. Air Force on Hiroshima. On the day of the flight in April 1945, Kumamoto was covered in clouds, and the bomber passed it by, dropping the bomb on Hiroshima instead.sThe Japanese religion of Shinto is one of the few religions in the world with a female solar deity.rMany Japanese babies are born with a Mongolian spot (mokohan) on their backs. This harmless birthmark usually fades by the age of 5. It is common in several Asian populations and in Native Americans.rToday, fewer than 200 people in Japan can claim both parents with exclusively Ainu, perhaps the original human inhabitants of Japan, descent. The Ainu do not possess the Y chromosome typically found in the rest of the Japanese population