For the most part, the variety of Japanese beer leaves little to be desired. Most grocery stores offer a selection of Asahi, Sapporo, and Kirin (i.e. Bud, Coors, and Miller), and beyond the basic varieties within each label there isn't much diversity. But recently, I've discovered a brand that has risen above the rest... Yebisu Premium Beer.
Yebisu offers a selection of four beers. The most popular, which is also served on tap in some restaurants, is the gold can, 'All Malt Beer'. It's pretty good, but not really all that different from either of the big 3 mentioned above. 'The Hop' is supposed to offer a hoppier flavor from choice hops, but to be honest, I don't think it's much different from the 'All Malt'. The dark can, obviously the dark option, is Yebisu's black beer and is actually really good.
But the winner goes to the Yebisu in the red can. It's new to the shelves, and quickly became my favorite. It's a pretty flavorful pilsner with a bit of a hoppier taste.
The downside with Yebisu is that the price is a little steeper than the already high prices for Japanese beer. However, it's a good break from the ordinary every once in a while, and worth the few extra Yen.
Vending machines are deeply ingrained in Japan life as both my wife and I have conveyed in past blogs. Automated convenience everywhere you look for just about anything you want - drinks in a cup, drinks in a can, snacks, batteries, ice cream, etc. But on our walk home from dinner last week, we stumbled upon this vending machine slice of Christmas heaven. It's the Christmas gift that keeps on giving all year round!
While the baseball playoffs are well underway back in the States, this weekend brings the beginning of the Japan baseball league playoffs. Better known here as the "Climax Series."
There are a total of twelve professional baseball teams here in Japan, and much like the US's Major League Baseball there is an American League and a National League. Only they are called the Pacific League and the Central League (six teams in each). Each year, these teams battle to reach their climax. Sorry, to reach the Climax Series.
The top three teams in each league's standings by year's end move on. In the first round of the Climax Series, the 2nd and 3rd place teams fight in a three-game series for the right to move on to round two where the 1st place team is waiting. Round two is a six-game series, which seems odd because usually you need an odd even of games to determine a series winner. But not in Japan. For winning your league during the regular season, not only do you get an automatic pass to round two, but you start with an automatic one game lead in the six-game series. The winner is the first to four wins. Confusing, but fun nonetheless, especially with all the climaxing.
Finally, the winner of the Pacific League Climax Series moves on to face the winner of the Central League Climax Series in the Japan Series best of seven. The winner is the champion of Japan.
I'm hoping a Japan Series playoff run by our adopted Japan team will make up for the void left by our precious Detroit Tiger's late-season collapse back in the States. But enough moping, it's time to Climax!!!
Well, it's finally happened. I had to spend the last week wearing one of these...
One of my co-workers - my boss in fact - came down with the H1N1 flu last week. He was visibly sick the two days he came to work prior to finally going to the hospital, which made the news that he did, in fact, have the H1N1 flu that much worse. Let me just say, in general, it sucks when people come to work sick. I get it. You can't imagine how the company would survive without you...and all that work would just pile up. But for crying out loud, the company is going to be in worse shape when more people get sick from the virus you bring to work. Stay home people!
Ok, now that I've got that off of my chest...I promise, no more yelling.
As you might imagine, there's a lot of panic and tension in the air, and the company has gone into containment mode. Everyone is following the procedures laid out in a memo sent a few weeks ago. The H1N1 prevention policy was issued reminding us of general precautions to take on a day-to-day basis. There are rules for who must wear masks depending on the proximity to co-workers and family members, how long we should wash our hands, and gentle reminders to cover mouths and such.
Now, we're putting it to the test. So far so good. Only one other person on our floor was diagnosed and had to miss a few days. Of course, he was in close proximity to the original carrier during those two courageous days he came to work, so it shouldn't count against our preventative measures. I've also heard of other cases on other floors, but nothing crazy. I've since been able to stop wearing my mask temporarily - oh darn - but now there are now spray bottles of disinfectant at every entrance and exit. I won't miss the masks (I'm still reserving judgment on the effectiveness of those things), and part of me wants to joke about all of the policies and procedures, but I just don't want to jinx myself...oh, who am I kidding? The flu hits us all, and we're probably better off once we've gotten it. If only I could only guarantee that these policies and preventions work until after this next weekend because I have a date with my wife...oh, and maybe the weekend after that because we have visitors coming into town...oh oh, and it's not going to work in November because of that trip we have planned...and come to think of it, December's not so good because we're going back to the States for a visit and that would just ruin everything...
I guess there's just no good time to be sick! Until then, I'll enjoy smelling my own breath!!!
"Huh, that's funny. At least we got ourselves a new umbrella out of all of this!" was my first thought this morning after opening the door wall in the main room.
And here's what it sounded like when I went outside to retrieve our new-found treasure...
In all honestly, it wasn't all that much different than a tornado, but then again, we had only a small point of view. The whipping winds and thoughts of what to do in an emergency kind of added some extra anxiety, but all-in-all it was more invigorating than anything.
The major winds and rains had passed through our area by the time I had to leave for work, but my ride was eerily empty. Usually, there's a lot of hustle and bustle, but most people delayed their starts. Trains weren't operating due to the heavy winds (many people dependent on the train at work arrived after 10 or so). Besides the lack of traffic, the streets were littered with branches and leaves, which seemed odd if only because the streets are always immaculate. And for those of you who have been to Japan, you know how all the bridges you pass or walk over seem oddly shallow and almost overgrown? And you then wonder why in the heck they are built up on either side by 10-20 foot walls...? Well, this morning I saw the reason. Those little trickles turned into fast-moving rapids. Quite a sight!
Here's a snapshot from the Japan meteorological agency whilst all this was happening. Our home is the little Google mark in the middle!
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