Beer paradise America

KIRIN ICHIBAN SHIBORI 24CANS 12.OZ.X24  $20.05(1543 yen) in the U.S.

KIRIN ICHIBAN SHIBORI 24CANS 12.OZ.X24  $57.01(4390 yen) in Japan.

Can you believe the differences?

As you know, the U.S is known for beer paradise country along with Germany and American people enjoy drinking a lot of kinds of beers with cheaper price compared to Japanese people. Since I came here in LA, I don't care about beer price and enjoy drinking beer every day.

The U.S had a history of dry law and then the major brewers created a monopoly. How did the U.S become beer paradise country?

The big differences between the U.S and Japan are mainly …

① Self brewing is possible in the U.S

Self brewing is accepted in the federal law from title 78.

Brewers increased explosively since this law was enforced.

Most American brewers like Samuel Adams started from home brewers.

They created a variety of beer such as American Peer yells.

The beer lovers make beer and that means their beer is really delicious.

② The beer tax is really low in the U.S

As for the beer tax burden rate, of course Japan is the top 41.7% and California is 10%, as for in Germany it's only 6%.

In addition, If their brewing is in small quantities, their beer tax is really cheaper in the U.S. Meanwhile, Japanese beer tax uses a unified rate regardless of it's quantities. Moreover, there is 30% of liquor tax reduction system for small brewers of sake, shouchu and wine.  I think that making beer has the side of the industrial products in the manufacturing method and if making beer a lot, it makes the profit a lot. Therefore, the taxation system depending on brewing quantities is considerably logical. It's the same system as income tax in Japan.

③ There is not a limit of the minimum brewing in the U.S

In Japan, brewers have to make beer more than 60 kl per year otherwise, Japanese government don't allow them to make beer.

It seems strange rule at all.

These are three big differences between the U.S and Japan.

Can Japan do a similar way, too?

I don't think so, because Japanese government wouldn't change the current rule.If it's changed, they need to find other tax revenue.15years ago, one of Japanese brewer-Suntory released a low-malt beer (Happou shu) called "Suntory Hops", because its tax was much cheaper than beer.It became popular among beer lovers. However, Japanese government increased the low malt beer tax. Even Japanese brewers released a new type of low malt beer called (Daisan-no beer), Japanese government changed tax rate again.

With these in mind, I don't think Japanese people can enjoy beer with cheaper price like the U.S in the future.

In addition, more young Japanese are moving away from drinking beer.

So, I'm worried that Japanese beer industry will decline under the present system. I heard a lot of micro brewers went bankrupt already.

Japanese government should accept the self brewing.

Japanese government should change the beer tax rate much cheaper.

Japanese government should abolish with a limit of the minimum brewing.

I think it's urgent to call back Japanese beer lovers and revitalize the beer consumption by easing regulations and promoting free competition.

Revised on Nov 29

American Heroes

Speaking of American heroes, I can hardly discuss it without existence of big two comic labels which are DC comics and Marvel comics. Superman and Batman are heroes representing DC comics and Captain America and Spider man are known as Marvel's super heroes. All of these heroes have several missions and fight alone. In addition, these heroes are all muscular.

   

Meanwhile, speaking of Japanese heroes, many Japanese people may think that Ultra man are the most popular heroes. However, Power rangers are much popular in the U.S. According to Wikipedia, Power rangers series debuted on April, 1975 in Japan(Goranger) and exported to the U.S on August, 1993. As of 2011 the show consists of 19 television seasons of 16 different series and two theatrical films. They feature teams of costumed heroes and they are not muscular.

Interesting things are that the main fighting scenes with wearing costume are carried over from the original film that was filmed in Japan, but the other scenes are retaken by American actors. Of course it's composed of various races as well as a white. Also they use the huge robot to beat enemy monsters.

I feel that there are big differences in definition of the hero between the U.S and Japan. Why do American heroes fight alone and why do Japanese heroes fight with fellows?  I know there are exceptions such as X-men in the U.S and the Masked Rider(Kamen Rider) in Japan, but generally speaking, I think there is no room for doubt.

Why is there such differences between two countries?

Superman debuted on the first issue of comics magazine DC Action Comic in 1938. The setting was that he came over from a planet, but he didn't have a place to return, because his planet became extinct. The setting caught the heart of the common people in the emigrant society. Batman confronted a crime because his parents were murdered when he was young. Then he decided to fight against evil for the revenge whereas Superman fought against freedom for justice. Then a lot of super heroes who fought against evil in comics came up. The super heroes were dependable men for the people who were suffering from hard life for the Great Depression era at that time.

Captain America also fought with Japanese troops with the hope of American people's expectation in World war 2. 

These two heroes were strong and isolated existence. It looks like an epitome of American society. People have to try everything with their own risk.

If you succeed, you can be hero. it's the best always win world. 

Meanwhile, Japanese team style heroes seem to be a diversification risk style for good or ill. it's a way of thinking that everybody tries to cooperate together and succeed. Also, they aren't muscular, so they need to use the strategy of " flexibility is stronger than stiffness". It seems like an epitome of Japanese society. In addition, they finally use their huge super robot and beat monsters. it's also a Japanese-style idea of winning by technology for a strong enemy.

Actually, Japanese version of Spider man use the huge robot called Leopardon

Further more, the latest Japanese hero "Tiger and Bunny" fight with fellows and they contract with an agent and receives many sponsor's help. So, they put their logo on their power suits. New Japanese heroes are company employees and cooperation with other employees to carry out their missions.

Yes, cooperation is the virtue in Japan.

With these in mind, I think these differences came from their cultural and historical back ground. I personally think that American heroes are strong and courageous compared to Japanese heroes without doubt. However, I prefer the Japanese team style heroes to the U.S one, because we can see a lot of different characters and we can learn that everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. In addition, it's fun to see the fighting scene that is based on the flexibility is stronger than stiffness.

I can't say which heroes are good. I hope these heroes should keep to improve their works based on their cultural and historical back ground in the future.

I want to see the collaboration movie that the U.S and Japanese heroes fight together. It's fantastic!!

Written in Nov 22 2011 and revised Nov 23 2011

Reference web pages

Power Rangers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe-tmfBZhXw&feature=related

Tiger & Bunny

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id4yghHNsUQ

Spider man Japanese version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MxGtH-2duM&feature=player_embedded

http://anti.dmz-plus.com/2009/03/07/marvel_com_japanese_toei_spiderman/

Sense of humor in the U.S and Japan

The Japanese version of the American popular comedy TV program "Saturday Night Live" has started on the air from Jun in Japan.

This show is a long-running show that was loved by American people since 1975. As the title said, this is live show every Saturday night.

Each week, the show features a host who delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast. A musical guest also performs.

A lot of comedians such as Eddie Murphy became famous through this show.

I watched both versions on You tube and I realized that their concept and style were almost the same, but their sense of humor were completely different.

Japanese comedians didn't use a sarcastic sense of humor compared to American comedians. Meanwhile, Japanese style sketch comedies were really well-wrought.

As you know, there are a lot of cultural exchanges between the U.S and Japan like animations, movies and arts. However, sense of humor is still difficult to understand with each other.

Trend Research Institute conducted "an attitude survey about the Japan-U.S. sense of humor " for 100 20-59-year-old men and women who used to live in the U.S. more than one year. Eighty nine people said that there are big differences between the U.S and Japan in sense of humor.

"The American sense of humor seems direct and Japanese style seems indirect. In addition, some people said that American humor has irony in their words.

As for comedy and variety TV show, seventy nine people feel differences between the two.

American style focuses on talking comedy and Japanese style focuses on physical comedy. The most popular American comedy program that they answered on the survey was Saturday Night Live. The reasons were that well-known guests participate in a short comedy by regulars without sense of incongruity and gaps were really interesting. One women said that the joke with American wit was fun, and a comedy was zip along.

Yes, I also understand the reason why this show was widely accepted in the U.S. It has a good format and their stand-up comedy are simple and easy to understand. However, I felt the big gap in sense of humor.

Why sense of humor can't exchange with each countries?

One comedian group consist of one American and one Japanese called Pakkun-Makkun tried to introduce their Japanese style stand-up comedy "Manzai" to American audience like below.

 P: Anyway, tonight we are going perform a traditional Japanese form of comedy called Manzai.

M: Manzai.

P: Manzai is performed by two people. They play opposite roles. One is the straight man and the other is the...

M: "Lesbian woman."

P: No, no, not Lesbian woman.

M: You said we're opposites. You're the straight man!

P: No, I'm the straight man. Not straight man.

M: You're not a straight man? You're a .... Hello, fabulous package....can I touch?

P: Oh stop already. I'm the straight man, you're the funny guy.

M: Oh, the funny guy.

They explained the concept of Manzai with American ironic humor. They said this story made them enchant(pleasure). However, I don't think it can make Japanese audience laugh.

In Manzai, there are two fundamental roles -"Tsukkomi"(the straight man)

who talk normally as much as possible and "Boke" (the funny man) who continues the story with unexpected twists and "tsukkomi person pointed out how strange Boke's attitude is and then it makes the audiences laugh.

However, there isn't a comedy pattern like Boke and Tukkomi in English.

American stand-up comedy control himself like a one-man-show.

I know there were some famous pair comedians in US before, but now, it's not popular.

I think that the humor based on English wordplay and western cultural knowledge might not be accepted in Japan.

Also, sense of humor could be changed to boring when English comedy is translated into Japanese.

There are many races and religions in the U.S.

It seems difficult to make well-wrought story to specific audiences like in Japan.

In conclusion, I think both countries sense of humor don't need to change.

It's impossible to understand their each other's cultural background.

American sense of humor should emphasize simple and ironical laughing.

Japanese sense of humor should emphasize well-wrought and physically laughing.

Oil and water are immiscible.

Written in Nov 13 2011

Reference database :http://news.ameba.jp/20110916-248/

Driving manner-The U.S and Japan

I drive everyday and I feel about how nice the diving manner is in the U.S compared to Japan.

The situation may be different between the city and country side.

However, generally speaking, I feel American people have a good manner than the Japanese.

In the U.S, it's common that when drivers realize pedestrians, they stop and make way for them with a smile.

In contrast, in Japan, some drivers make pedestrians stop and drivers pass through first.

Also in Japan, pedestrian try to walk quickly in an apologetic tone when drivers make way for them, but American people walk slowly in a stately pace.

In addition, American drivers stop at once when signals turn into red, but in Japan a lot of drivers accelerate to pass the cross.

If you stop correctly in Japan, you might get honked or you might be dug a ditch.

Also, If you rush into the inter section with red light in the U.S, you might crash because both signals change at the same time.

When you try to merge into the traffic from the parking lot, most of the U.S drivers let you merge in front of them with smile, but it's rare in Japan.

Instead, some Japanese drivers accelerate with a nasty attitude.

So, with these in mind, I guess that American drivers basically have a good driving manner compared to Japanese.

Why are American drivers' manner so good? I think there are some reasons.

First, the driving situation in The U.S especially in LA is much better than Japan . Roads are really wide and have a lot of lanes.

The parking situation is also nice. Almost all shops and restaurants have  enough space. So American derivers don't have stress in their driving time. However, as you know, the driving situation in Japan is horrible, especially in cities. Roads are really narrow and have few lanes. There are a lot of traffic jam and parking capacity is really poor.

In other words, Most of Japanese drivers have a lot of stress compared to American drivers.

Second, Japanese people are not good at expressing their feelings in their daily life because they are extremely shy.

So, some drivers become more aggressive when they drive.

American people don't need to change, because they can express their feeling easily. And people who lives in CA have a casual attitude, so they don't rush in their driving.

However, I think there are some advantages in Japan. It's an education level for safety driving.

I know basically, American people's driving manner is good, but few drivers are much, much worse. They change lanes without using signals in freeways.

They drive in a reckless manner.

 In Japan, most of people go to a driving school before they receive the test and they have to take some driving lessons if you get a ticket.

In addition, people who are over seventy years old people have to receive the lesson and a deriving test for eligibility.

In conclusion, I think it is ideal that mixing the American people's manner and Japanese driving education system.

However, it seems impossible in the U.S, because this country is based on freedom and self responsibility.

Revised Nov10 2011