There has been some discussion recently among the newly arrived JETs and myself as to why the it's so damn easy to get a hangover in Japan. I myself encountered this phenomenon back in the University days, when I could drink my own weight in vodka and be fine the next morning but if I had even a few (read: 4-5) store bought beers I would feel like a Optimus Prime had parked on my face. At any rate, I decided to solve this mystery once and for all, and now present my findings.
The common rumor is that it is because Japanese beers contain far more starch than the average US brews. It is true that Japanese "beers" contain more starch, among other things. The reason for the "" marks is that one must be careful when using the word "beer" in Japan. In 1994, as a result to a beer tax that was based solely on percentage of malt in a beer, companies began to lower their malt percentage to below 67%, with the remaining 33% including rice, corn, sorghum, potato, starch, and sugar. The result was the now super-popular Happoshu. The Government, realizing that they were missing out on a tons of tax income, quickly levied higher taxes on beverages containing between 50-25% malt. The alcohol giants fired back with even less "beery" beers, even replacing malts altogether with artificially non-malts, that are known as "beer-flavored beverages" or "third generation beer." Leave it to the Japanese, masters of the ancient art of tax evasion, to sabotage the last great real on this sad planet, a good beer, to save a buck or two. Bloody heathens.
Well, it turns out that it's not the starch that's the problem; its all the other crap they've thrown in there. Just as mixing alcohols is likely to increase the urge to punch everything that makes noise the next morning, giving your body tons of extra chemicals to process and elimate is a sure-fire recipe for the hangover to end all hangovers. Taken on it's own, the starch can actually help soften the alcohol's impact. But of course, the Japanese never eat anything starchy when they drink, just edamame and raw fish. Oh and horse heart, they LOVE that. The also force you to chase your beers with an equal amount of shochu (a form of rice or barley whiskey). Come to think of it, that's probably the real problem...
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Comparative Analysis
So as you may have noticed the postings here at NTE have dropped off considerably. Due to circumstances beyond my control (and plenty that were within) I have had neither the time nor the ability to post recently. For that I apologize.
After a two week jaunt home to good old Pacific Northwest, I find myself strangely rejuvinated. While dodging the unbearable humidity here I was also able to consume my own weight in REAL beer, eat REAL Mexican food, then eat at Taco Bell, and many other gloriously nostalgic events that I will not waste time here cataloging. As an interesting after effect of this trip, I find myself much more aware of the differences between my two countries of residence and realize that up until now I have been a bit harsh on Japan in my blogging. Well that's all going to change. For one post, at least.
A fairly common question I get asked (aside from size of both body and...other things) is, "Sir, what do you enjoy about Japan?" While there are many, one item stands tall among the rest: Festivals. The US may do a rockin' 4th of July, but when it comes to the actual art of holding a festival, we come up severely lacking. It's hard to say what part of the Japanese condition leads to the innate ability to throw a great festival, but whatever it is they have it in spades. If I had to wager a guess, I would say spirit. I'm not talking God, morals, or any of that mumbojumbo, but rather the spirit of getting into the festival. In Japan festivals are for everyone and occur at every level of society. I recently had the chance to participate in the Nebuta festival. Fellow Portlanders, let me tell you that this thing puts the Rose Festival to shame. There are few things more entertaining that watching a 4 year old girl, a 6'5" white man, and a 75 year old Japanese man standing side by side, jumping and flailing to the beat. It's almost like a mindset; people don't come to watch the festival, they come to celebrate the festival. The best part is, this is true from the biggest regional festivals down to the smallest local ones. Everyone has a role that they play with the utmost duty and enthusiasm.
So Japan, I salute you for a tradition well maintained. In my limited travels I have encountered no place more embracing of what it truly means to celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music, oh yeah. I will say, though, that your festivals would be a whole lot more kickin' if you would import some damn PBR.
After a two week jaunt home to good old Pacific Northwest, I find myself strangely rejuvinated. While dodging the unbearable humidity here I was also able to consume my own weight in REAL beer, eat REAL Mexican food, then eat at Taco Bell, and many other gloriously nostalgic events that I will not waste time here cataloging. As an interesting after effect of this trip, I find myself much more aware of the differences between my two countries of residence and realize that up until now I have been a bit harsh on Japan in my blogging. Well that's all going to change. For one post, at least.
A fairly common question I get asked (aside from size of both body and...other things) is, "Sir, what do you enjoy about Japan?" While there are many, one item stands tall among the rest: Festivals. The US may do a rockin' 4th of July, but when it comes to the actual art of holding a festival, we come up severely lacking. It's hard to say what part of the Japanese condition leads to the innate ability to throw a great festival, but whatever it is they have it in spades. If I had to wager a guess, I would say spirit. I'm not talking God, morals, or any of that mumbojumbo, but rather the spirit of getting into the festival. In Japan festivals are for everyone and occur at every level of society. I recently had the chance to participate in the Nebuta festival. Fellow Portlanders, let me tell you that this thing puts the Rose Festival to shame. There are few things more entertaining that watching a 4 year old girl, a 6'5" white man, and a 75 year old Japanese man standing side by side, jumping and flailing to the beat. It's almost like a mindset; people don't come to watch the festival, they come to celebrate the festival. The best part is, this is true from the biggest regional festivals down to the smallest local ones. Everyone has a role that they play with the utmost duty and enthusiasm.
So Japan, I salute you for a tradition well maintained. In my limited travels I have encountered no place more embracing of what it truly means to celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music, oh yeah. I will say, though, that your festivals would be a whole lot more kickin' if you would import some damn PBR.
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