US Beef - 10/06

Japan lifted a ban on U.S. beef in July. The first ban was in December 2003 when U.S. mad cow disease case was found. That ban lasted two years. I remember the temper tantrums the U.S. government was having over the restrictions back then. The Japanese stood their ground and insisted on strict guidelines. As a result importing was reinstated; that is until Japanese inspectors found naughty banned material in a New York shipment in January 2006, which was only one month later. ~ Oops.

When we returned in July 06, all the reports were about U.S. beef being available again. Beef is very costly, so it was thought that the Japanese would be thrilled with the less expensive stuff. Instead, the public has been shunning the beef and is very skeptical of its safety.

I'm happy to buy U.S. beef here. I figure with the level of scrutiny the Japanese give it, it's probably safer than what I can buy at home. Unfortunately, my local grocery store doesn't carry unpopular products.

Since I can't afford Japanese beef, we're eating a lot of fish.

Japanese real estate- 9/06

The housing market is an interesting study. Japanese homes are designed to last 30 years. As the house ages, it becomes less valuable because it is deemed old. The property appreciates, but I guess the house is kind of like a car; the more miles, the less it's worth.

There are lots of empty lots in our older, established neighborhood. We watched a house being demolished, thinking that the new construction was right behind it, but then we saw the 'for sale' sign go up for the property.

There seems to be quite an aversion to used, I mean, previously owned, things. Try as I might, I just can't find a second-hand kimono store here. So it stands to reason that a previously lived-in house would not be appealing. Our house is a rental, and I'm sure, will always be a rental. Until it meets its maker, that is.

There's a big push by the government to build houses that last longer. A ten-year goal has been announced to produce houses that last 40 years. The long term idea is to build homes that are around 200 years by using flexible floor plans that can be changed as the family size/needs change.

Could be the right time to import some of those lovely modular homes that dot the US landscape.
Hmmm, on second thought, they might not pass the earthquake regs.