There are a few things I’ve learned about Japan over the years. The Japanese love to pay homage to other countries by building replicas of their famous icons, like Tokyo Tower, a scale replica of the Eifel Tower, or the Statue of Liberty that stands in Tokyo Bay. There’s even a replica of the Sphinx located near J-List (it’s a pachinko parlor, naturally). For some reason, Japanese seem hard-wired to dislike root beer, saying that it tastes like the muscle cream Salonpas…except in Okinawa, where A&W restaurants outnumber McDonald’s two to one. The Japanese never developed a taste for turkey, making it all but impossible to find in Japan…yet there are many restaurants selling basashi, that is, horse sashimi…er, best to not think about that. The Japanese are the politest, most considerate people in the world, which can make it a drag when I travel to countries where the same can’t be said of the locals. And yet, the “correct” way to eat ramen and soba noodles in Japan is to slurp them loudly, and Westerners often get amused comments when we eat our noodles too quietly. Finally, some strange things can be considered lucky in Japan, including “poop,” since the word for it is unchi, similar to unki meaning “good fortune.” Some might argue that the success of the Asahi Beer Company has been a result of the giant golden poop that adorns its corporate headquarters in Tokyo. no doubt bringing in lots of good luck for the company.
If you want to be lucky in Japan, you need a giant golden poop.
