The unique Japanese taste of umami

For more than 100 years, Japan has claimed the edge over other national cuisines due to a rather unfair advantage. While the rest of the world’s meals rely on the four taste variations of sweet, salty, sour and bitter, Japan claims a unique fifth element which it calls umami.

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Japan govt members consider printing new money

While most of the world’s economies come to terms with the massive crash of the international finance system, Japan instead finds itself in a familiar situation. The world’s second-largest economy had just pulled itself out of fifteen years of stagnant growth when the global financial crisis hit, and its central bank had tried almost everything just to achieve that aim.

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Japan proposes language tests for foreigners

Citing further anti-terrorism intiatives, Japan is set to consider requiring long-term foreign residents and workers to have local language ability. Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura made the statement Tuesday, with a senior Foreign Ministry official confirming to Radio Australia that the department should pursue the terms of the new requirement quickly. The comments have not been taken well in many quarters of Japan’s expatriot community.

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