Japanese things NOT known to the world

[RadioKid]

**** 立体駐車場：RITTAI-CHUSHAJO；Parking tower ****

As we have many cars to park in small area in the big cities in Japan, we have some tricks to park vertically. Take attention to the turn table in leaving.

start parking at 5:00
leave parking at 9:20

[RadioKid]

**** 軽自動車：KEI-JIDOUSHA；light weight car or K-car ****

After the WWII, Japanese government made a new "light weight" class of car to encourage the car makers could sell low price cars. At the moment, engine size was restricted less than 360 cc.

The "K:light weight" standard is revised sometime and now it is defined 660 cc engine, 3.4 m in length, 1.48 m in width and 2.0 m in height.

Here is the legend of 360 cc "SUBARU 360"(from Wikipedia).



Rear view (Wikipedia)


K-car itself is very useful for row cost commuting or carrying light things. And also K-car makes the base of re-modeling.

Here the old man equipped SUZUKI 1100 cc engine on K-car as "mid-ship". These re-modeled car is illegal to use on public road.



You can find K-car on the road by the yellow "number plate" (for personal use). Black "number plate" with yellow letters also mean K-car for business.

[RadioKid]

**** 素麺：そうめん；SOUMEN ****

RAMEN is already well known Japanese food (originated in China).

These days, SOBA(Buckwheat) and UDON are also known by foreign people.

But SOUMEN is not known to the world yet (I think).



As SOUMEN is white, it imagens clean and cool (in temperature) for Japanese. Japanese love to have SOUMEN in Summer. SOUMEN in hot broth is called "NYUMEN".

Find How they make the SOUMEN in Japan.

[RadioKid]

**** 原付：げんつき；GEN－TSUKI; bicycle with motor ****

It means just small bike with 50 cc engine or 650 W electric motor.

It's restricted in max speed at 30 km/h by law but actually you can ride on it at 60 km/h on flat road.



As one can get the licence automatically when one get driving licence, most of all Japanese can ride on it legally.

However, the makers like as HONDA, YAMAHA an SUZUKI are going to stop making these small bikes because these bikes have not international market. the makers want to move larger class bike.

Also, law is said to be change. when one got driving licence, one can ride on bikes of 125 cc. I'm afraid it is too dangerous for beginners to ride on 125 cc bike.

[RadioKid]

**** おぼろ昆布&とろろ昆布：OBORO-KOMBU & TORORO-KOMBU; Sea Weed Sheets ****

OBORO & TORORO KOMBU are eatable sheet made from seaweed like as NORI (black seaweed).



You can find the difference between OBORO and TORORO in this video. OBORO is hand made and TORORO is machine made.



Though western people do not recognize the value of seaweed, KOMBU is very important material of the Japanese food. Western people might call it as "kelp" which is different seaweed from NORI.

[RadioKid]

**** ウニ：UNI；Sea Urchin ****



This is made of ovaries of sea urchin.Some foreign people hate them because of the smell. I agree. Some cheep UNI are not good. These days, sea urchin fed with cabbage was found less smell.

[RadioKid]

**** ナポリタン スパゲティ：NAPORINTAN SUPAGETTI;Spaghetti Napolitan ****

Spaghetti is Italian food as a matter of course. However, "Spaghetti Napolitan" was invented in Japan and no Italian regards itas Italian food. They say there must not be "spaghetti with tomato taste".

I had been believing "spaghetti Napolitan" is the most major Italian food. And I like it.

[RadioKid]

**** 除雪車：JOSETSUSHA;Snow remover ****

In some area of Japan, we have much snow in winter.

Japan has several most heavy snow area with human being living.

[RadioKid]

Three odd foods which foreigner will not like.

I don't like second one and never eaten the forth one. I eat first one not so often and third one often.

[RadioKid]

羊羹：ようかん；YOUKAN Sweet jerry？

YOUKAN is something like sweet Jerry made from red beans and agar (I don't know the word "agar" which is translated by google).


Tasting in Paris served with Japanese green tea.