We will have the election again. It would be noisy summer orz...
This site explained very well about this Japan postal reform part1 and part2. A resistance from vested interests in the Liberal Democratic party caused this. Personally that news left me open-mouthed. In Japanese "leave someone open-mouthed" is "Aita Kuchi ga Fusagaranai". Then I checked what is the first "leave someone open-mouthed" topic in Google Japan.
The top result was this (in Japanese). Here is the same news in English. Fusosha started to sell their Crayon Shin-chan clothes in China. Fusosha has all copy right for Crayon Shin-chan goods in Japan. However their clothes were taken away and had to be seized, because knock-off version of Crayon Shin-chan got trademark of clothes already. Exactly strange news. One my my favourite sites "elu-elu" introduced same stuff, this copy wasabi, this is real SB wasabi, look at this Gogono Kocha (afternoon tea) too. (left one is original). Funny part is JETRO (Japan external Trade Organization) has a branch in Beijing, and there is an imitation museum. You can enjoy? Real and imitation both there. As imitation, This Dorae-mon (real Dorae-mon) and Yamuda (Yamaha+Honda/2=?) made me laugh.... I know, I know, it's no laughing matter. Talking of a Japanese case, we have a counterfeit brand issue. And I remember Excelsior Coffee had to change their logo mark from green to blue because Starbucks threatened to sue.
Excelsior looks pretty good!! The copy cat version of doraemon is like a cheap imitation crab leg!
Posted by: AzianBrewer | Wednesday, August 10, 2005 at 10:35 PM
Want some real wasabi? Check this out. They make tasty salad dressing I used to buy in the supermarket when I lived in Denver. One day I will order some real wasabi from them. In the meantime, it's S&B for me...
Posted by: クレア (Claire) | Wednesday, August 10, 2005 at 10:10 AM
Hi There
Regarding to counterfeit brand issue, I am very ashamed that many Japanese use/buy them. Some don't know it was conterfeit, some knew it and buy them on purpose ( cheap, feel easy for daily use). need to Respect for the original, originality.
Posted by: Mari | Wednesday, August 10, 2005 at 07:46 AM
There is also a very good, concise explanation and overview of Japan postal reform on Slate today:
http://slate.msn.com/id/2124035/fr/rss/
Posted by: ben | Tuesday, August 09, 2005 at 04:10 AM
Sounds like an interesting summer of politics for you.
We have "copy cat" products over here (USA) as well. Just remember S&B Wasabi is the only "real" wasabi even for this american idiot.
Posted by: Lumpy | Tuesday, August 09, 2005 at 02:14 AM