Saturday, October 14, 2006
Badly-clad despots and the truth about Japan's shellfish imports
Naturally enough, this week's hot topic in Japan is the nuclear-testing tomfoolery of neighbouring North Korea. My Japanese teacher was wailing about it last night. I pointed out that all this talk of nuclear tests was simply a plea for attention from the world's most drably-dressed dictator.
ME: Why does he always wear such dowdy clothes? African dictators are always so well dressed.
SHE: Hmmm...
I was delighted with this nugget of wisdom received on gmail from Andrew (late of these shores):
Japan bans North Korean imports. Tonight, millions of Japanese children will go without their bark and dirt soup. Stop the madness.
Good point, I thought, just what the hell does Japan actually get from North Korea. I did a quick web search and found the answer on asahi.com
...The government also required dealers to specify the origin of imported clams.
North Korean clams accounted for a large market share in Japan.
Other imports listed were crabs, sea urchins, mushrooms and, until last summer, smokeless coal.
How many did you guess?
5: North Korean farmer
3-4: Sound knowledge of Asian trade affairs
1-2: Useful in a pub quiz
0: Japanese person
ME: Why does he always wear such dowdy clothes? African dictators are always so well dressed.
SHE: Hmmm...
I was delighted with this nugget of wisdom received on gmail from Andrew (late of these shores):
Japan bans North Korean imports. Tonight, millions of Japanese children will go without their bark and dirt soup. Stop the madness.
Good point, I thought, just what the hell does Japan actually get from North Korea. I did a quick web search and found the answer on asahi.com
...The government also required dealers to specify the origin of imported clams.
North Korean clams accounted for a large market share in Japan.
Other imports listed were crabs, sea urchins, mushrooms and, until last summer, smokeless coal.
How many did you guess?
5: North Korean farmer
3-4: Sound knowledge of Asian trade affairs
1-2: Useful in a pub quiz
0: Japanese person
