January 4, 2004

mad cow disease slows fast food

Japanese fast food is very different from American fast food. Sure, there are McDonalds and KFC – though the portions are considerably smaller. Japanese food is its own animal, and, unfortunately, that animal is 90% American beef. Due to fears of mad cow disease the Japanese government is putting a ban on US beef imports. Yoshinoya, Japan’s leading fast food chain, says it only has enough beef in storage for one month. Yoshinoya serves gyudon (known to gaijin as “beef bowl”) which is basically cheap cuts of beef stewed with onions and served over rice. A hot steaming bowl of gyudon can be on the counter within two minutes and can be garnished with a variety of toppings, such as pickled ginger or a tasty raw egg. Besides fast, it is also a cheap meal at 380 yen a bowl (about 3.50 USD). If Yoshinoya runs out of beef before the ban is lifted, many gaijin who are incapable of reading menus are going to go hungry nationwide.

Other than distressing news about beef imports, today was a pretty good day. My loved one felt well enough to go to work. The sun was shining. Traffic was tolerable. And, I got a lot done.

chaos_and_madness

January 5, 2004

This hole “mad cow” bullshit is just that. It was ONE cow…and well nothing else has been found…! Talk about “lets slam the USA for whatever we can, when we can.” But before Japan runs out of beef, the ban will be lifted…our beef is the best in the world, and well people want it…people will get it, one way or another. Why would you put a raw egg on your beef bowl…? Laters…

GypsyWynd

So far, there’s only been one “mad cow”. Let’s hope it was an isolated incident. Beef bowl sounds pretty tasty. And about the same price as most fast food meals here.

pseudonym

what is interesting to note is how, when Canada had an incidence of Mad Cow in the spring and the US stopped importing our beef, we screamed and yelled about their overreaction. Now that the US has had a case, Canada is imposing similar restrictions. I expected a less extreme reaction since we had gone through it ourselves. Ah, governments …

Eeww. on the raw egg.. is it salmonella you get from that? Glad I’m eating homegrown, vaccinated for ‘mad cow’ beef! 🙂 interesting how the states is getting a taste of the ban and how far it really affects people….

BrushStrokes

January 6, 2004

Hope the beef problem is soon resolved and you can all start eating again 🙂

Chameleon.

yer i like to make my life animated 🙂

amysticdragonUK

Greetings and thank you for the note. It’s not surprising that Japan or any other country has put a hold on beef or cow product imports. The “better safe than sorry” rule is in effect and that is understandable for certain. It’ll clear up and things will go back as they were. It’s good you got a lot done. Those kind of productive days are always rewarding. :o)