Random Japan

Love sushi? Now you can date it, with this romance simulator available in English!

   Casey Baseel

Since most sushi is served raw, the flavor can vary wildly depending on the freshness of the fish and even the season in which you eat it. Granted, most of what’s available in Japan is reasonably tasty, but when all the factors line up just right, the mix of surprise, joy, and satisfaction that come from popping a really good piece of sushi into your mouth can be a borderline emotional experience, almost like falling in love.

If you’re a sushi-loving lady looking to take your relationship with the dish to an even deeper level, there’s now a dating simulator that lets you romance handsome anthropomorphized pieces of sushi.

The game, titled Hei! Renai Iccho!, which translates as Here You Go! One Order of Romance, was released for smartphones on May 28. Players take the role of a young woman who’s the only child of a sushi chef. When her father suddenly accepts a temporary overseas job offer, she’s left to run the family restaurant by herself, since, like all proper anime/video game characters, her mother isn’t in the picture.

STATS

 12

Number of mountain climbers who died during the final four days of Golden Week, according to newspaper reports

26

Number of Japanese college students who have died in binge-drinking incidents since 2004, according to another newspaper report

66.9

Percent of Japanese people who say they’re worried about going broke during their retirement, according to a news organization survey

RIDING THE RAILS

JR Hokkaido unveiled the design of its next-generation shinkansen, which will be able to zip passengers from Tokyo to Hakodate in just over 4 hours. The train will debut in 2016.

Railway enthusiasts in Taiwan are giddy about the restoration of a Japanese-made Class C57 steam locomotive that had been out of commission since 1979.

Researchers in Tokushima say tidal forces in the Naruto Strait are so powerful that they generate as much energy as four nuclear reactors.

Bottom Story of the Week: “Lawyer Aims to Make Constitution ‘Hip’ Through Small Study Sessions” (via Mainichi Japan)

Police, Gun, Keys, Grab

What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

The Doctor Is In

  And, He’s Yellow

Dangerous

Flying

Interview with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy



Mainichi Shinbun

On North Korea

Mainichi: The Japanese government recently announced North Korea’s plans to reopen an inquiry into its abductions of Japanese citizens. Ambassador, you have met the families of victims of abduction in the past. What is your take on the announcement and what do you expect for North Korea on this issue?

Kennedy: The United States supports Japan’s efforts to resolve the abductions issue, and we look forward to continuing our close work. When I met with the Yokota family, I was moved by their courageous and heartbreaking struggle to bring their daughter home, and I know the president was deeply affected as well. Japan has kept the United States informed on its discussions and we look forward to continuing close communication in the future.