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The lunch period is a learning period in Japanese schools and is used to inculcate the essence of the Japanese culture.
Lunch time is more than just eating. It provides an opportunity for the children to learn discipline, proper manners, hygiene and courtesy before, during and after a meal.
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US campaign to diminish the seriousness of the accident at Fukushima continues, allowing the beef from Fukushima province to be imported and sold in US restaurants. US citizens should demand this be stopped, and start asking where their food is coming from. – Dr Helen Caldicott
On Sunday, October 14, cattle farmers in Fukushima Prefecture celebrated with a ceremony the shipment of three cattle to the United States.
In 2010 after an outburst of foot-and-mouth disease in southern Japan the US stopped exporting beef from Japan. Now, the suspension removed in August, Japan has resumed the export of beef to the US for the first time in two and half years.
The livestock farmers in Japan believe that the resumption of exports would possibly help remove anxieties about radioactive contamination. The headman of a local agricultural cooperative stated the resumption is a blessing for Fukushima farmers who have recently been struggling with the consequences of the nuclear accident.
Cattle in Fukushima go through radiation checks before shipment. After processing, the Japanese beef would be offered to premier restaurants, food services and fast food outlets in the US.
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My son Subas, his friend Joe and Joe’s wife Annie took my wife and me to a Japanese steak, seafood and sushi restaurant named Sakura in Ellicott City, Maryland. At first, my wife and I were a bit reluctant to go to a Japanese restaurant since we had never tasted Japanese food in our life.
The atmosphere was very congenial, and we liked it. Subas and Joe went through the menu card and ordered a variety of dishes.
The brisk and cheerful Japanese chef prepared the main course then and there in front of us.
Since I am not familiar with Japanese cuisine, I am sorry for not being able to recall the names of the food that we ate. But the food though unfamiliar to us was very tasty and we enjoyed the evening munching.
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Impressions 