Food and Drink

Japan may well be one of the world’s most affluent nations, but the current food crisis is still being felt by the country’s cost-conscious consumers. Butter for example has actually been absent from supermarket shelves in some places, and even the single man with his loyal companions of instant noodles and lager has had to suffer his first price rise in years.

However, if such a fella should sensibly supplement his diet with some fresh but far from exotic fruit, heaven forbid that costs in this department should increase, as a (yes a) measly mango can set a salary man back a phenomenally fruity 8,400 yen (81 dollars).

A figure that arguably makes these similarly priced grapes appear something of a bargain — them coming in a box and numbering more than one.

Cherries on the other hand are another matter all together, as pretty packaging aside, for 12,600 yen (121 dollars), a young man could probably pay less to actually pop his cherry than purchase one.

Although Japanese youngsters already have a considerable choice of kids’ beer to choose from, the majority of it, while relatively convincing, does lack a little in the looks department.

However, for the child (kodomo) intent on imbibing a beverage that at least bears a passing resemblance to a brew possibly popular with its parents, this cleverly converted but copyright infringing concoction could well be ideal.

Japan’s love of mayonnaise appears to know no bounds, as preposterous amounts of the stuff is seemingly plopped onto everything, with pizzas in particular being popular. Plus, for those without a care in the world as far as their cholesterol count is concerned, there are even restaurants dedicated to the dressing.

So, with this in mind, it perhaps shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise to discover these presumably far from delectable Mayonnaise Drops.

Which are no doubt ideal for those in need of a quick dose before dinner.

Although that said, they are arguably less repulsive looking than their ramen-based relative.

(images from here)

With the Japanese school year now almost a month old, many students will be steadily settling in to a new system and surroundings. For others though, things may not be so simple, with the likes of bullying and baffling bureaucracy a constant bane.

But thankfully help is at hand, as worried youngsters can now simply look to the stressed-out salary men that sired them, and lunge straight for the lager — or at least a lovingly created likeness.

Which, as well as being welcome both before and after school, is luckily in plentiful supply,

and is positively perfect for parties with similarly persecuted peers.

Binge drinking in my native Britain is seemingly always in the news, with beer-fuelled bother a tried and trusted source for the tabloids. And now in Japan, with April’s fresh intake of staff partaking in plenty of welcome parties, there is a new campaign designed to help protect those not wanting to get totally wasted.

An approach that means the common call of “ikki ikki” to coerce someone into downing their drink in one, can now be countered by The Ikki Harassment Prevention Committee’s new collection of coasters.

The suitably cute creations protecting their owners with four sensible and sober slogans: “I don’t do ikki – I like to savour my drink”; “I can’t drink – it’s not in my DNA”; “I’m not drinking, I’m driving – so I’m not joining in” and “I’m not drinking, I’ve got limits – one drink is quite enough”.

Which, in the midst of drink-induced debauchery, should definitely do the trick.

Especially so when one is tucked into a top pocket.

(via the FG Forums)