Interesting Facts!! #27

27. The Japanese Fishing Industry

Fish, Fish , Fish and more FISH! Japan is the land of fish...I'm just joking but there is a large selection of fish on the islands of Japan. As I said Islands meaning it is surrounded by a large mass of water full of fish. Japan is one of the world's largest consumers of marine products. It is the largest fish-eating nation in the world, consuming 7.5 billion tons of fish a year, or about 10 percent of the world's catch. This is the equivalent of 30 kilograms a year per person. The total aquaculture production in 2003 was estimated at 1,301,437 tonnes, worth $4,199 million, which corresponds to 22 percent of total national fisheries production and 31 percent of the total value produced in Japan. Marine aquaculture accounts for 96 percent of total aquaculture production and 90 percent of the total value produced. Japan is home to a $14 billion commercial fishing industry. Fish and a variety of other sea creatures are caught by local fishermen. 

There are more than 60 species included in the annual fisheries statistics. Of these, the main species are Nori (27 percent of total aquaculture production, and 18 percent of the value produced), yesso scallop (20 and 7 percent), oyster (17 and 8 percent), Japanese amberjack (12 and 25 percent), red seabream (6 and 11 percent), and sea mustard (5 and 2 percent). The number of fishmongers in Tokyo declined 53 percent to 1,130 between 1980 and 2000.  Worried about supplies and high prices, the Japanese government is urging people to eat more locally-caught fish to reduce Japan’s dependency on imported fish and especially encouraging people to eat seasonal fishes such as bonito in the spring, squid and saury the autumn and yellowtail snapper in the summer---whose catches are usually abundant.

Japan and China are the largest fishing nations. By some measures China has surpassed Japan in recent years but most of the fish that the Chinese consume are freshwater fish raised in fish farms. The Japanese eat mostly sea fish.By other measures Japan is still the largest fishing nation. According to a National Geographic survey the largest harvesters of fish (metric tons) were: 1- Japan (7.5 million); 2- China (7 million); 3- Peru (6.7 million); 4- Chile (6.5 million); 5- Russia (5.2 million); 6- the U.S. (5 million). Still the Japanese fishing industry is on the decline. Japan caught 12.8 million tons of fish in 1984 but only 6.35 million tons in 2000 and 5.52 million tons in 2002. In 2000, it imported 3.54 million tons of fish, double what it imported in 1984.  Fish consumption dropped around 15 percent in the 1990s, largely because of the time and difficulty in preparing it. The number of fishmongers in Tokyo declined 53 percent to 1,130 between 1980 and 2000.

Over fishing is becoming a serious a problem in Japan. Areas recorded lower than usual catches. Over fishing in coastal areas have stopped catches and caused fishing villages to shrink to the edge of disappearance. Cod has been fished out in many places and salmon, saury, cuttlefish and crab are less than they used to be. Over fishing is becoming such a problem that fish that have been traditionally been regarded unwanted are now been given a second look and turned into various food products. For example, small lizardfish, small horse mackerel, young yellowtail, deep-sea fish, dorado, Japanese butterfish and small blue mackerel, which in the past were thrown out, are now being pressed into things like fish paste, fish sausages, skewered fish balls, and fish burgers. Lower catches have led to an overwhelming dependency on expensive fish farms and imports, driving up costs.

-The more you know~

Interesting Facts!! #26

26. The 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan

On March 11, 2011 at 2:46 PM a great catastrophe struck Japan. A 9.0 magnitude earthquake took place 231 miles northeast of Tokyo, Japan, at a depth of 15.2 miles. The earthquake caused a tsunami with 30 ft waves that damage several nuclear reactors in that area. It is the fourth largest earthquake on record (since 1900) and is the largest to have hit Japan. On February 10, 2014 the confirmed death toll is 15,884 people. Most died by drowning.

Japan had 54 nuclear reactors, with two under construction, and 17 power plants, that produced about 30% of Japan's electricity at the time of the earthquake. Radioactive water was recently discovered leaking from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which suffered a level 7 nuclear meltdown after the tsunami. A microsievert is an internationally recognized unit measuring radiation dosage.Normal people are typically exposed to a total of about 1,000 microsieverts in one year.

Material damage from the earthquake and tsunami is estimated at about 25 trillion yen ($300 billion). The Japanese government estimates that the tsunami swept about five million tons of debris offshore, but that 70 percent sank, leaving 1.5 million tons floating in the Pacific Ocean. Debris continues to wash up on North American beaches two years later.

-The more you know~

Interesting Facts!! #25

25. Driving in Japan.

Japan's large metropolitan areas around Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya are served by highly efficient public transportation systems. Consequently, many residents do not own a car or do not even possess a driver's license. Outside the big cities, however, public transportation tends to be inconvenient or infrequent, and most people rely on cars to get around.

Roads and rules

Unlike America, cars drive on the left side of the road and have the driver's seat and steering wheel on their right side. The legal minimum age for driving is 18 years. Road signs and rules follow international standards, and most signs on major roads are in Japanese and English. Drinking and driving is strictly prohibited like everywhere else (I hope).

The typical speed limits are 80 to 100 km/h on expressways, 40 km/h in urban areas, 30 km/h in side streets and 50 to 60 km/h elsewhere; however, drivers tend to go a little over the posted speed limits.

Most roads in Japan are toll free with the exception of expressways and some scenic driving routes. Road conditions tend to be good, although side streets in the cities can be rather narrow or even impassable to larger vehicles. Traffic congestion is a frequent problem in and around urban centers.

Drivers generally tend to be well mannered and considerate, however some common dangers on Japanese roads include drivers speeding over intersections even well after the traffic light has turned red, people stopping their vehicles at the edge of the road in a way in which they block traffic, and careless cyclists, especially those who ride on the wrong side of the road.

New and used cars are relatively inexpensive in the home country of Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Mazda. Brand new compact cars sell for less than a million yen.

Smaller keisha have yellow license plates while normal sized ones have white plates.

Japanese cars are classified into regular and light (keisha) cars, which are subject to different taxes and regulations. Keisha cars (yellow license plates) are smaller vehicles that must conform to strict size, weight and power restrictions. In return, they enjoy several tax and toll breaks, and relaxed ownership regulations that make them cheaper and easier to own than regular cars (white license plates). Owning and operating a car involves numerous expenses, including compulsory inspections (shaken) every two to three years, yearly automobile taxes, mandatory and optional insurance, high parking fees, toll expressways and gasoline cost.

Gas stations are found all across Japan. They traditionally provide full service, although self service stations have greatly increased over recent years. Many gas stations close during the night, while others are open 24 hours. A liter of regular gasoline costs roughly 150 yen (as of March 2014). High octane gas and diesel are also widely available. Payment is possible by credit card or cash.

-The more you know~

Interesting Facts!! #24

24. Cat Island~

 "Cat Island"wait lets make that Cat Island's because there are at least two islands in Japan that are ruled by cats! Everyday is Caturday on these islands! 

It all started way back when mice ate the silkworms being raised to make silk, so the farmers brought in a few cats.Then, fishermen noticed they were able to make weather forecasts based on the cat’s behavior and considered cats good luck. Though it could have been a (cough)cat-astrophe(cough), all the cats were safe after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, and because of the cats behavior most of the islanders were saved because of their four legged companions.

Perhaps the most well-known "neko shima" (猫島) or "cat island" is Tashirojima, an island in Miyagi Prefecture. In the 1950s, over a thousand people lived on the island. Now, there are around a hundred, with the majority being in their 70s. Cats, however, thrive on the island and apparently outnumber the locals. Dogs are prohibited on Tashirojima, and people feed the felines, believing they bring good luck. Vets check up on them, making sure the animals are healthy. And tourism has sprouted up around the animals, with vacationers visiting the island just to see the cats. 

The island is also home to a Shinto cat shrine.

There's an area of Tashirojima called "Manga Island," because manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori designed cat-shaped lodges for visitors, which houses manga art, and has a gift shop. 

Recently, another "cat island", this one called Aoshima in Ehime Prefecture, has become quite popular. Only sixteen people live on Aoshima, meaning that, like on Tashirojima, these four-legged friends outnumber the humans. 

-The more you know~