Dolphines on a diet loss plan - also in Japan !

Some two months ago I read in Reuters that Monkeys on a Japan zoo are put under severe diet for diet loss. It seems Japan is too conscious on the dieting and weight loss evedr since the proposed law for waist trim and metabolic identification and imposing more tax on them.

Now it is the turn of Dolphins. Today morning I came across this news in AFP. This is their full report:

Fatty food isn't a problem just for humans. A Japanese aquarium is putting its dolphins on a diet after their portly figures got in the way of their water tricks.

"These days animals at the sealand are a bit ... fat!!!" a zookeeper confided on the website of Kinosaki Marine World in western Hyogo prefecture.

Audiences have apparently noticed, with the dolphins failing to jump into the air as high as before, he said.

"But we ask you, please be lenient with them as they are making efforts to lose weight," he said.
The problem lies in their diet of mackerels, which are popular at this time of year in Japan. Mackerels are known in Japan for their rich taste but also their high fat content.

"We are trying to make them return to their best weight by feeding them other kinds of fish with less fat or by offering fewer mackerels," the zookeeper said.

The marine park offers audiences shows by dolphins, sea lions and other marine animals.

Dolphins are popular attractions in Japan, even though the country has come under fire abroad over the annual tradition of slaughtering thousands of dolphins for meat in the western town of Taiji.

It is exciting to know that Japan care its animal community for a better health and living along !

Japan care her elder citizens – New airbag to protect fall victims

Japan has always been a step ahead of others in declaring new inventions. Many times it prompts us feel that is that all really necessary for us to live ? But to a great surprising extent, Japanese people think well ahead of the problems and possible solutions.

The air bag to protect those people who may fall, especially the elder citizens, is such an invention from Japan. Prop, a Tokyo-based company, demonstrated such an airbag that can inflate in 0.1 seconds if it starts moving quickly towards the ground.

Many times while travelling in trains, we may feel like falling behind. If we wear this airbag and travel and if we are not really falling behind, will this airbag inflates? This will surely put us in an embarrassing condition with an inflated air bag at our back in the crowded train. However, the cushions that suddenly inflate only work if the fall victim slides backwards.

The device is strapped around the body thereby giving protection to the head and hips while falling on the ground.

President of Prop. company Mr. Mitsuya Uchida, said the invention was targeted for old people with epilepsy, who were particularly vulnerable to such sudden and dangerous falls.

Cushions of this airbag weighs 2.5 pounds and are to be tied around the waist. They will be activated by means of electric sensors that can feel a sudden movement.

Once the alarm is set off, 15 litres of compressed air will be injected into the inflatable pads puffing them up to protect the most vulnerable parts of the body.

With a price of around $1,400, the new invention is only available for those with a big pension - or rich children with a strong sense of parental duty.

Japan is famous for her highest life expectancy rates, which is attributed to a mix of factors including a traditional healthy diet with plenty of vegetables.

People aged 65 or older accounted for 21.5 percent of the total population of 127 million last year, according to the government. More than 36,000 people are aged over 100.

Watch the demo in You Tube video:

My Kitchen in Japan - McDonald's Outlets in Japan

When I start from my country to Japan, I could not imagine how I am going to manage food at Japan. I was told by friends that you are going to face problem with food and language. Language problem may be to some extent overcome as I will be posted at the office where many of my Japanese colleagues can communicate in English.

Food was really a nightmare for me! I depended on bread and jam for the initial days, tried some Japanese food. Many Japanese food tasted OK for me, but nothing came out my way to be a regular food. My mother at homeland was also worried as anybody's mothers do.

My problems was the lunch! We have one hour lunch break. Initially I tried at our company canteen. I treid Japanese food eventhough it tastes totally new to me. Within one week, I found my kitchen at Ito Yokado at Kiba.

There is my Kitchen - The McDonald's ! Yes, the McDonald's at Ito Yokado near Gatharia, Kiba, Koto ku, Tokyo.

Who told foreigners will face problem for food in Japan. Rather, I will think these all are a part of propaganda against Japan. Japan has the maximum number of McDonald outlets in the world except U.S.

Japanese people are crazy to eat McDonald burgers. My favorite burger is the recently introduced Shrimp burger which costs 270 Yen. The set (Setho in Japanese) which consists of Shrimp Burger, Fried potatoes (I like to call it fried potatoes instead of french fries) and medium size Coca cola, costs me 650 Yen. That is the cost of my lunch. And my 'lunch box 'setho' will be waiting for me at McDonald at 12 Noon every Monday to Friday.

At the middle of all my food problems, my friends criticize me for having lunch at McDonald, for having 'junk food' daily. This is what they have been informed through media against McDonald ! Now my eating out at McDonald outlet at Kiba is a matter of discussion at our Japanese class on every Saturday.

McDonald showed me a way to live in Japan, if I am not exaggerating the taste of McDonald food. The Ebi-Fileto, which I take on atleast 3 days a week along with fried potatoes keep me alive in Japan. Then there is a natural question, why you can't cook ? The answer is this blogger currently have some problems with health, which prevent him straining the body. Cooking is a strain?

Yes, cooking is a strain when McDonald is there around you !

McDonald's Japan official site says: Since 2004, adoption of world-wide success cases to Japan, re-introduction and continuation of proactive investments, full-implementation of customer base expansion strategies, and driving of company reform through the enhancement of personnel awareness were implemented to further drive globalization. In addition, the following initiatives were implemented during the period: (1) further enhancement of QSC (2) introduction of new products, such as ‘Premium Roast Coffee’, ‘Premium Roast Iced Coffee’ and ‘Mega Muffin’ (3) reinforcement of 100 yen Mac menu with ‘Shaka-Shaka chicken’ (4) expansion of 24hr drive-thru & front counter operation (5) refurbishment of stores to provide comfortable dining area (6) investment for people development (7) expansion of e-marketing, and (8) franchising program. These initiatives generated great synergistic effects and resulted in further expanding our customer base. During the period, the highest daily sales record was renewed twice (June 28 & 29, 2008). Monthly sales record is growing for 18 consecutive months, and system-wide sales is showing positive growth, year-on-year, for 29 straight months.All these brought about the following strong consolidated performance during the FY 2008 interim: consolidated sales of 202.891 billion yen, consolidated current profit of 6.854 billion yen, and 6.192 billion yen net profit for the period.

All these McDonald food is consumed by Japanese people. And still Japanese people are the most healthier people in the world, and Japanese people live more than people from any other contry live. Many times, I will have a seventy plus year old Japanese grandma near to me tasting her McDonald burger!

Still, you search in the google or Yahoo! about Japanese McDonald outlets, you will get the negative propaganda news about McDonald at the front pages. They are so powerful to make their presence at the front pages of search engines!

But, tomorrow, I will have my Ebi Fileto!