Tofugu Comments - Latest Comments in Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

noni123 — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 23:28:10 -0000

I read somewhere that fugu is so dangerous that the emperor is forbidden to eat it. Dunno if it's true though.

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

Eevee — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 23:34:27 -0000

hum.. that much money? First, I'd buy everything I've wanted in the past couple years, then I'd save the rest for college/future expenses... then later on in life I'd be like, "so much for that fish!"
Honestly, way better ways to spend your money. Although... if that's what the guy's dream was, buy a fish for a ridiculous amount of money, I say go ahead!
The origami? I seriously have no idea of the ramifications of entering the earth's atmosphere, even at a slow speed, so I cannot say. Don't you think that after they send it out of the shuttle that after awhile it'll just start floating around up there? o.o I mean, it's got to have some kind of propulsion system to keep going... they going to attach a tiny rocket or something?
No, Water Horse, bad. I'm already scared of Ogo Pogo and the Lock Ness Monster! Why would I torture myself further?
hm, just the thought of eating something called "blowfish" turns me off.
Plus, spiky...
I'm not a big fan of seafood in the first place. Maybe one time for fun. Never again, unless I somehow became addicted.

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

MaverickMeg — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 01:04:35 -0000

Would ever pay $55,000 for a fish? Any kind of fish?

Only if it was a magic fish, that also sang and granted wishes.

First wish, to have my 55,000 back. Hah, now I have a FREE magic fish.

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

Jesse — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 18:50:37 -0000

Would ever pay $55,000 for a fish? Any kind of fish?
Only if it was a shark I could control with my mind.

Will the origami airplane ever make it to Earth?
I'm intrested in whether or not it is even heavy enough to fall back into Earth's orbit, let alone fall through the atmosphere.

Have you seen that Water Horse movie?
No I haven't, but I hope they leave that the hologram there as a tourist attraction. It would be a great part of the Tokyo night life.

Would you ever try fugu? Would it be a one time thing or would you constantly eat it without fear of death?
Sure even though I hate seafood. I force myself to try seafood all the time I just can't adjust to the taste. But you only live once, and I'm open to trying new things. I have confidence that it would be prepared properly.

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

Elsa — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:51:53 -0000

Here's info on "water screen" technology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Projection_screen#...

And I have seen Water Horse. It's basically Pan's Labyrinth without the violence--i.e., child dealing with magical realism in a war setting, "war is bad," etc. The baby monster is pretty cute though.

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

zattsu-ooru — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 11:40:17 -0000

Thanks. It's odd but i don't see it being pointed out as often as l&r.

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

Tofugu_Erin — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:51:02 -0000

Yeah, "v" is pronounced "b" in Japan. It is very much like l&r.

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

zattsu-ooru — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:44:38 -0000

I have a question that is by no means related to any of the topics... The japanese pronunciation of the letter -V-.Now i know that in hiragana and katakana it is represented as -b- but whenever i hear it being pronounced i get buffled. I' ve almost come to think that it is similar to the l - r phoneme. Am i right?

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

aliene — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 04:52:37 -0000

Would ever pay $55,000 for a fish? Any kind of fish?
>>>Nope! No way!

Will the origami airplane ever make it to Earth?
>>>How would anyone even know when it arrives? It's so tiny?

Have you seen that Water Horse movie?
>>>I only know about sea horses O_O

Would you ever try fugu? Would it be a one time thing or would you constantly eat it without fear of death?
>>I just had a full fugu meal in December in Tokyo. All 3 of us survived, yes, even after fugu testicle sashimi.

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

shy guy — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 10:54:28 -0000

First time visit this blog..
Fun to see your blog..
DOnt know when to go Japan..

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

fredydb327 — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 02:14:17 -0000

Ahh! I didn't think there would be such a big response on the IB. Viet, I'm sorry you didn't get much credit. I'm happy I live in Texas where IB is given credit. As for its difficulty, like many things, it depends on how much work effort you put into studying and just doing work. Me, I did not put much effort to studying chemistry and did horribly in my exam. I'm retaking it though and am studying. Internal Asessments are a pain, at least for Business! I have to find a business... If not I will have to use the wonderful saying, "IB therefore I BS." This was useful in TOK. As much as I hate IB, I still like it and its wierd concepts or attempts to do good things! :D Plus, the acronyms are fun. My music teacher makes a bunch of IB jokes. They're dumb, but "IB thinkin' they're funny." Oh, and as for how it's going, I think it's going well yet I don't. Procrastination and the fact that everything is due isn't cool. :D I'll be okay, I hope. :D Ahh.. life of the IBDC.

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

mmnessa — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 21:54:06 -0000

Sardines smell funky ><
Mom used to make me eat sardines all the time!! she used to say it would 'help my brain' and my marks at school...
I guess she was right?

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

buratto — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 12:35:29 -0000

I am taking IB too, altho i dont think its hard. IB credits are more acknowledged in europe i think, whereas AP is more North American centered. Just finished my midterms, were easy, dont expect a good mark in anything other than spanish.
Fish is good for you brain they say, even tho i had no idea why. I prefer salmon :p

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

buratto — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 12:24:27 -0000

Yeah, ofcourse. "The more you spend on your fish the better your food is" - ancient japanese proverb. NOT. Publicity and advertising is a part of it for sure.

And about the promotion thing, for waterhorse, i think its really cool. Would be awesome to see it in life. This kinda "huge" happenings in the media world a veyr well advertised in japan, arent they? Just remember the big shadow thing that was used to promote "blue dragon". I wish they did something like that with Gojira, can you imagine the amazed (or indeed terrified) looks on people's faces when Gojira jumps out the Tokyo Bay?

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

CP — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 05:38:20 -0000

The water horse in Japan looks awsome. I wish we could make something like that in London. Knowing us it would probably be a worse version; stuff here's only of good value if it's been made in Japan

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

Kurisu — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 01:45:43 -0000

My AP classes were definitely hard. I just appreciate that I got my credits from History and English.

An added fish fact: If you're studying for any tests etc. Try eating sardines (preferably canned). Sardines contain large amounts of nucleic acid, which helps repair lost nerve cells in the brain. The nucleic acid rejuvenates the nerve cells allowing information to travel faster in the brain. Prime age before these nerves start to deteriorate is 20; after 20, about 10,000 nerve cells will burn out everyday. I also heard they do this in Japan before exams (Confirmation?). I think they called it 'blue sardine week' or something, not sure.

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

Viet — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 00:47:38 -0000

How is IB working out for you? Around here IB credits aren't weighted as much as AP credits when converting over to college course credits, at least that was the case a few years ago. It was disappointing to do as much work as those AP people and get less return for it :(

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

koichi — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 00:44:27 -0000

oh dangm. I did the IB program. So much better than AP, yeah? haha. I spent a year abroad, though, so I didn't get to take the tests (thankfully?)

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

fredydb327 — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 00:40:04 -0000

Amazing... I don't like fish too much... Am I safe? :D Tuna is okay... like once a semsester...

Chemistry! I need to study that for IB Exams if questions on mercury come up I will remember this! Yay for the free response paper that I left half blank the first time!

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

Viet — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 00:25:30 -0000

I thought it was common knowledge that mercury was toxic to humans? The issues it can do to a person's health isn't debatable like if chicken eggs are good or bad for you or going with an Atkins diet may lead to heart disease. It's pretty clearcut what mercury can do to humans. Maybe I take this knowledge as granted since I deal with these sort of things in my field.

Each species of tuna contains different levels of mercury. It just so happens there is some correlation with the price of tuna and the amount or ppm of mercury it contains. The more expensive the tuna, the more ppm of mercury it contains. Bluefin is no exception to this correlation and is known to carry dangerous amounts of mercury.

The tuna you buy in your local convenience store (canned or "fresh") or at a standard sushi shop contains a lesser amount of mercury, sometimes negligible. Most of the time you are just eating Yellowtail or some lesser tuna, which again has relatively low levels of mercury. Of course, the cliche "eat everything in moderation" is applicable here.

In my previous comment I suggested if someone consumes the ***entire*** bluefin tuna within a reasonable consumption period, then there is a chance of death since the amount of mercury in your system will be insane. I wasn't suggesting that eating your typical tuna will kill you. Tuna has good qualities to it also, like Omega-3 acids.

So to sum it all up, my last message was in the scope of which is safer: eating fugu or eating the entire $55k huge bluefin. Both have the potential of not being safe at all. But with fugu it is extremely safe if handled correctly. With tuna you can't do anything about the mercury.

I apologize if this is too long. I get sort of passionate on topics about chemistry, biology, and some sciences.

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

mmnessa — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 23:34:06 -0000

I think I lost count of how many things will have adverse effects to our health. Tuna is at least tasty and well, I haven't heard anyone dying after eating tuna. Links, anyone?

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

Viet — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:45:59 -0000

Tuna isn't that safe either, granted it isn't as bad as the fugu. Bluefin tuna is known to contain very high levels of mercury. Eating the entire tuna will definitely have adverse effects to your health, maybe even kill you.

So the choices are be in great pain for a few days and die or slowly become mentally retarded or crazy (mad-hatter anyone?)

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

mmnessa — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:15:51 -0000

Believe me, the only awesome thing about that movie is--No wait, the water thing has nothing to do with the movie so, no, there's nothing good about the movie.

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

fredydb327 — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 21:29:03 -0000

This one has improved a lot since the first one!
I think that airplane thing may be a waste of money, but hey, whatever.
I want to watch Waterhorse, I think that water thing was awesome.
I wouldn't try fugu. I would rather have a festive, or any other kind of, tofugu cookie than a fugu.

For some reason I can reply through disqus but not through Tofugu.

Re: Tofugu’s Japan Week in Review 2: Origami in Space, Expensive Fish, (to)Fugu Death

mmnessa — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 21:04:19 -0000

Same here. I don't think I would be able to eat something without ignoring the fact that it could....kill me?
I prefer buying safe $55,000 tuna (which I really like)

Oh yeah, and I watched the Water Horse movie. Okay, maybe just the first half an hour *boring*