Hanami

Hanami. The Japanese tradition of sitting under the Sakura tree, watching the pink blooms while drinking beer or sake.

Yes, alcohol.

Yes, it's awesome!

Because Beer Foam is Cool!

In the Philippines, we don't really give much importance to beer foam. It just occupies a significant amount of space in our beer glass where good, golden liquid of love from heaven should be, instead.

But here in Japan, beer foam is an essential to every glass of beer you drink. A good glass should have sufficient amount of dense, rich froth on top and an decent bar tender should know how to make that possible. And it might just be the reason why beer is so goddamn expensive here! XD

So it's such a great technological marvel that this self-frothing beer glass was invented. Check out the video and see how amazing it is!

Cheeza!

Seriously, if I were made to choose one item to bring to heaven when I die at this moment, it'll be cheeza! It sounds like it came straight from an anime but trust me, it's awesome!

It's a Japanese otsumami (snack that goes with alcoholic drink). It's basically a very crunchy biscuit made of 51-52% cheese. The flavor is so strong, it just blows you away. In fact, it's so potent, you can top it on your pasta or use it to make grilled cheese sandwiches. But those things, I haven't really tried.

It comes in three varieties: Cheddar, Camembert,and Smoked Cheese. More info on their (Japanese) website!

The Japanese Make Up Skills

I thought you guys should know, the Nihon ladies have mastery on the art of applying make-up. They can literally transform their bland, non-flattering morning look into the epitome of kawaii!

Just like an evolving Pokemon, right?

The Japanese Toilet Obsession

The Land of the Rising Sun is also the Land of Complex and Amazing Toilets. They perfected a lot of technologies to make your inglorious habits much more comfortable...and enjoyable?

They have bidets for washing those parts of you which you don't want to particularly touch...

And they install nice and graphic control buttons too!

They throw in a seat warmer to toast your buns during those cruelly cold winter nights.

But worry not, they still have (tons of) toilet paper ready for you. 

Amazing, eh? If there one solid proof that the Japanese People are really more evolved that the rest of mankind, Toilet Technology is it.

That Green Thing on Bento Boxes

Sure, the Bento is an awesome Japanese invention. You buy one (either at your local bento place or in a combini), heat it up in the microwave (if necessary), and you’ll get an instant complete meal — with protein, rice, and side dishes (yes, plural).  Plus the variety is excellent. You can get chicken, pork, beef, fish, in different flavors and colors. Awesome!

But what really disturbs me is why the hell do they put these things in it?! For the uninitiated, they’re cutouts of striped green plastic, resembling a elementary student’s drawing of grass. Why on Earth are they there?! They aren’t yummy, or edible for that matter. They’re not even pretty! Why would I want grass on my food? XD

Is this supposed to be grass?

Of Black Eggs

Somewhere South of Tokyo, there's a volcano called Mt. Hakone. You know what they use it for? Cooking eggs. They cook these chicks-to-be in scalding hot water with natural sulfur. They cook them too well, the shell turns black. Yeah, weird.

Here's what's weirder: Legends say that eating one will make your life longer by 7 years. No wonder the Japanese has the longest life expectancy. XD

Tastes like (aborted) chicken!