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Yomiuri Shimbun
3 days ago
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
2025 Expo ‘a Mirror of the Times' That Highlights International Affairs
The Yomiuri Shimbun King Frederik X of Denmark, fourth from left, walks on the Grand Ring at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo. More than 50 days have passed since the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo began. Exhibits that evoke the future of society are popular, and the number of visitors is increasing after an initially slow start. Although they tend to be overlooked amid the spectacular exhibits, some events and activities during this 50-day period have reflected the complex state of the world today. The king's sales A procession led by the king of Denmark passed along the Grand Ring, the world's largest wooden structure and the symbol of the Expo, and made its way to the Japan Pavilion. Visitors held up their smartphones to record the scene. On April 24, it was Denmark's turn to mark 'National Day,' in which countries participating in the Expo showcase their cultures. King Frederik X — the successor to Queen Margrethe II, who enjoyed immense popularity during her 52-year reign — led the party, which included Danish corporate leaders. King Frederik chose Japan as the first Asian country to visit after his accession to the throne in January last year, accompanied by a business delegation including Danish Crown, his nation's largest meat producer. One of the accompanying members wrote in an email before arriving in Japan that she considered this visit to Japan to be 'particularly important.' One reason why is the Trump administration's tariff policy. Japan is gaining importance as a market amidst the instability of the global free trade system, and it has 'a long-standing partnership [with Denmark] grounded in mutual respect and values,' as King Frederik said in a speech at the Expo. The day before arriving in Osaka, the king stopped by Ippudo, a ramen chain restaurant in Ginza, Tokyo, that uses pork supplied by Danish Crown. He enjoyed a bowl in front of the press, helping to promote Danish products. 'A window to the world' Denmark has a population of just under 6 million, which is less than Chiba Prefecture. Two-thirds of its food production is exported, and the country relies on international trade to support its economy. 'We are a small country in a big world. So, we are a strong believer of free trade,' stressed delegation member Soren Sondergaard, who is president of the Danish Agriculture & Food Council. 'We don't like tariffs at all. For Denmark, Japan is a big, big, big export market for us where we would like to export more. ' After leaving the Expo site, Mr. Sondergaard and the delegation went to the head office of Suntory Holdings in Kita Ward, Osaka, which obtained beer manufacturing technology from Carlsberg in Denmark. They met with members of Japanese companies, with the 52 Danish participants exceeding the 42 from Japan. Following the event, a lively reception was held at the PRONTO bar on the ground floor of the building. Business exchange events related to Denmark are often held in Tokyo, so holding one in Osaka is a rare occurrence. Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Jacob Jensen emphasized, 'I believe that a small country like Denmark, with an open economy, we have huge interest in having loyal and long partnerships with good friends like Japan.' 'When you look at a map, you have Japan here, you have Denmark, long way, 13 hours in a plane directly, but still, we are very close in the way that we do business, in the way that we have values, democracies,' Jensen said. 'We have an open society, and we have also trust as a keyword in our society. Even though … we are far from each other in geography, I think we are very close in our mindset. The Expo is a window to the world.' A diplomatic stage The Expo also serves as a diplomatic stage in connection with ongoing global conflicts. Israel is exhibiting a 2,000-year-old building stone weighing approximately 1.5 tons from the Old City of East Jerusalem that dates back to the early Hasmonean Kingdom, a Jewish dynasty. The dynasty was established when the Jews regained their independence from Hellenistic rule. Gilad Cohen, Israel's ambassador to Japan, stated at the opening ceremony on April 23 that 'the pavilion expresses the connection between the people of Israel, their homeland and their capital, Jerusalem.' However, East Jerusalem is an area that Israel occupied after the 1967 Six-Day War. The Palestinian side considers it to be the capital of a future state. Most of the international community, which supports the 'two-state solution' between Israel and a future Palestinian state, does not recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and maintains that the status of Jerusalem should be decided through peace talks between Israel and Palestine. An expert on Middle Eastern politics said, 'Israel's exhibition at the Expo could cause controversy over its claim to the territory.' The Palestinian pavilion at the Expo site had not directly addressed the Gaza conflict. However, as the Israeli Army restarted its military operations in Gaza, the pavilion displayed QR codes at the end of May that link to information about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to visitors. 'The world must see and acknowledge the truth. It's time for awareness to turn into action,' a Palestinian official said. 'Gaza has endured over 600 days of relentless suffering — children's lives lost, civilians bombed out of their shelters, famine ravaging communities and aid being misused for military purposes. It's a humanitarian crisis that demands urgent attention and tangible steps to end the suffering,' the official said. Russia withdrew from the Expo, but Ukraine is holding an exhibition to convey its position. To show their solidarity, a representative from the European Union visited the pavilion on May 9, followed by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden on the 14th and Norwegian foreign minister Espen Barth Eide on June 2. Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory, is participating in the Expo under the name of a private company. The absence of the word 'Taiwan' in the exhibition area is seen as an attempt to avoid China's objections by framing it as a 'non-governmental' activity. While the Olympic Games, known as the 'Festival of Peace,' uphold political neutrality in the Olympic Charter, the Convention Relating to International Exhibitions that defines the nature of the Expo does not include neutrality provisions. Therefore, politics is not strictly off-limits. The Expo is often referred to as 'a mirror of the times.' With just over four months remaining, we will witness more realities of the global situation at this festive event. Political Pulse appears every Saturday. Kenji Nakanishi Kenji Nakanishi is a deputy editor in the City News Department of the Yomiuri Shimbun Osaka.
The Age
3 days ago
- General
- The Age
Beyond the big bowls: Three extra-special ramens to seek out in Melbourne this winter
Melbourne's ramen love affair is evolving. For the past decade or so, the ramen scene has been dominated by franchises such as Hakata Gensuke, Ippudo and Mensho – places often with broad menus and flavour bombs to capture the masses. However, more refined, single-minded shops are beginning to emerge. These shops dive into one specific broth, sauce base, and noodles, based on regional produce in Japan, and you can expect nuanced slurps with personal inspiration from the chef. For monthly innovations and Ginza-esque cool: Suupaa Cremorne's brand new Suupaa, from the Future Future team, serves a monthly rotating ramen with a slick convenient store twist. Its current bowl is a chicken and pork broth mixed with a base of two types of miso rendered in pork mince and fat, and boosted by scallop powder. Wagyu brisket slices also make an appearance, marinated overnight in salt koji and slow-cooked for 36 hours. The black garlic and sesame tan tan, a soup-less 'abura' style vegetarian ramen with burnt-garlic chilli oil and crunchy broad bean furikake, is also a standout.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
Beyond the big bowls: Three extra-special ramens to seek out in Melbourne this winter
Melbourne's ramen love affair is evolving. For the past decade or so, the ramen scene has been dominated by franchises such as Hakata Gensuke, Ippudo and Mensho – places often with broad menus and flavour bombs to capture the masses. However, more refined, single-minded shops are beginning to emerge. These shops dive into one specific broth, sauce base, and noodles, based on regional produce in Japan, and you can expect nuanced slurps with personal inspiration from the chef. For monthly innovations and Ginza-esque cool: Suupaa Cremorne's brand new Suupaa, from the Future Future team, serves a monthly rotating ramen with a slick convenient store twist. Its current bowl is a chicken and pork broth mixed with a base of two types of miso rendered in pork mince and fat, and boosted by scallop powder. Wagyu brisket slices also make an appearance, marinated overnight in salt koji and slow-cooked for 36 hours. The black garlic and sesame tan tan, a soup-less 'abura' style vegetarian ramen with burnt-garlic chilli oil and crunchy broad bean furikake, is also a standout.
CNA
22-05-2025
- Health
- CNA
I used to hate coriander but now I love it – what's the science behind this divisive garnish?
I remember picking out every leaf and stem of coriander (or cilantro to the Americans) from my food when I was younger. To me, the dastardly rife garnish tasted absolutely foul like insecticide. I might as well spray Baygon into my mouth if I accidentally munched on an unsuspecting leaf. What's the point of adding the herb as a garnish in the first place? By the time the dish reaches my table, it's usually a mess of limp, slimy leaves. Vietnamese food, with its generous use of coriander, was especially a nightmare to me. I can't remember the pivotal moment when I tasted coriander again – and wasn't repelled. Instead, it left a fresh, citrusy, herbaceous flavour akin to eating an aromatic flower in my mouth. Emboldened, I ordered the kusetsuyo salad when I saw it on Ippudo's menu. The server who brought me the dish – and most certainly a coriander hater – couldn't hide the look of disgust on her face as she set the plate of cucumber, avocado and coriander dusted with grated parmesan on the table. It was delicious. WHY DO YOU LOVE OR HATE CORIANDER? As many as one in five people find that coriander has a soapy taste, according to Science Focus. If you do, you are likely to be super-sensitive to aldehydes, chemicals present in coriander, and as you guessed it, in perfumed soaps and detergents as well. Here's where it gets interesting. What makes you hyper-sensitive to aldehydes could be a mutated gene. Yup, mutants don't only exist in comic books and movies, though a coriander aversion is a pretty useless super power. More specifically, the mutation involves the olfactory receptor gene known as Olfactory Receptor Family 6 Subfamily A Member 2. Or simply OR6A2. 'This is a classic case of genetics influencing flavour perception,' said Mary-ann Chiam, the senior principal dietitian at Allium Healthcare. Those with a variant of OR6A2 detect aldehydes, specifically (E)-2-alkenal compounds, as soapy or pungent, she said. Those who don't have the gene variation find aldehyde-containing coriander 'fresh and citrusy'. 'However, genetics only tell part of the story,' said Chiam. 'Culture and upbringing play an enormous role as well. If someone grows up in a household where vegetables are regularly served in tasty, familiar ways, they're more likely to accept and even enjoy them.' WHAT NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS DOES CORIANDER HAVE? The herb contains Vitamins K, A and C, fibre as well as trace amounts of folate, potassium, beta-carotene and lutein, according to Medical News Today. The entire coriander plant, including the leaves, stems, roots and seeds, is nutritious, although the seeds, which are often ground and used as a powder, tend to be less so. Previous studies on coriander have also found limited anti-cancer effects, migraine-quelling benefits, sun damage prevention and some anti-fungal properties. But as 'wow' as the science seems, I'm taking my coriander with a figurative pinch of salt as the findings aren't conclusive. Besides, you would have to eat a lot of the herb, about 50g or half a compact, medium-sized bunch of fresh coriander – leaves and stems – to obtain about 155mcg of vitamin K, said Chiam. For context, men need about 120mcg, and women, 90mcg of vitamin K daily. WHY DOES YOUR FLAVOUR PREFERENCE CHANGE OVER TIME? I still can't figure out why my preference for coriander switched over time. Have my taste buds dulled over the years? 'Some food aversions soften with time,' said Chiam. 'As we age, the number of taste buds decreases and our sense of smell diminishes, leading to a reduced ability to detect some flavours.' Chiam continued: 'Sensory sensitivity is another important factor. The rough, fibrous textures of certain vegetables, especially those with stalks, can be off-putting for some individuals. This is particularly true among those with ADHD, where sensory-processing challenges may contribute to a dislike of vegetables.' Of course, the reverse could be true for other people as well. 'Some may remain sensitive or even become more averse due to health conditions leading to swallowing issues, medications that alter taste perception as a side effect, or changes in oral health (for example, dry mouth and having to wear dentures),' said Chiam. Negative associations, such as food poisoning or finding a half-eaten worm in your salad, could also cause aversions to develop, said Chiam. WANT TO TRY CORIANDER BUT DON'T KNOW HOW? Despite my newfound love for coriander, I'm not about to munch on a bunch as a snack any time soon. But I have opened my heart and mouth to coriander-forward dishes such as a side of coriander salad to go with my poached eggs for brunch. If raw coriander in banh mi is too big a leap for you, try what Chiam suggests: Blending coriander into salsas or chutneys, or incorporating it into curry bases or marinades. 'Doing so can mellow its flavour,' she said. 'For those with sensory aversions, finely chopping coriander and mixing it with yoghurt or oil-based dressings can help mask its intensity. The key is integration – balancing strong flavours with fats, acid or sweetness often improves palatability.' I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try making dishes such as this Dongbei Coriander Salad that is also curiously known as 'Tiger' Vegetables. The salad, dressed in vinegar, soy sauce and sesame oil, is said to be so rousing that eating it would enliven you like the Chinese saying, active like a dragon or tiger. Another story, according to the blogger, suggests that the dish was randomly put together by a woman who didn't know how to cook. Her mother-in-law, upon tasting the dish, commented that it was 'hu', which in Dongbei, is a way of describing something as silly or haphazard. 'Hu' also refers to tiger in Mandarin, which could have contributed to the 'tiger' in the salad's name. Now, would I be brave enough to swipe right on coriander's equally controversial cousin, parsley? Maybe another time. One thing's for sure – I'm not wasting any more time picking out coriander from my food.
SoraNews24
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
New Pokémon x Ippudo collaboration has Pikachu on board as ramen chef
Exclusive goods only available at one Pokémon Center in Japan. On 13 May, the Pokémon Center in Fukuoka closed its original location at Hakata AMU Plaza in order to move to a new, larger location at Hakata Marui, set to open on 27 June. The character mascots for Pokémon Center Fukuoka are Pikachu, Latias, and Latios, chosen for their connection to Kyushu, the island where Fukuoka is located, and which serves as the inspiration for Hoenn, the setting for several main Pokémon games. While the revamp is certain to attract the attention of fans, the Center is adding another perk to draw visitors, with an exclusive collaboration with popular ramen chain Ippudo. Born in Fukuoka, this chain is widely known for its 'Akamaru' ('Red') and 'Shiromaru' ('White') ramen, and these signature dishes form the basis for the collaboration. There are six items to collect, starting with the 'Ippudo Silky Tonkotsu Ramen Shiromaru Original/Akamaru New Flavour 2-Pack Set'. ▼ The pack, like the other items in the range, features the three character mascots, with Pikachu dressed as a ramen chef. Priced at 972 yen (US$6.74), this set contains one serving each of red and white broth, complete with noodles and condiments to give you the authentic Ippudo experience at home. ▼ Next up, we have the Ippudo Akamaru Arita Ware Bowl (6,930 yen)… ▼ … and the Ippudo Shiromaru Arita Ware Bowl (5,940 yen). ▼ Those wanting a less angular bowl that's more like the type used for donburi rice bowls can invest in the Ippudo Mini Donburi, for 3,300 yen. ▼ Pikachu, Latias, and Latios also appear on the Ippudo Chopsticks & Chopstick Rest Set (1,540 yen)… ▼ … and the Ippudo Renge ramen spoon (1,540 yen) Both the Shiromaru, with its classic creamy tonkotsu (pork bone) broth, and the Akamaru, with added spicy red miso paste, have their diehard followers, and this set lets members of each faction enjoy their favourite variety at home, with Pokémon characters on board as dining companions. The ramen, bowls, chopsticks, and soup spoons look sure to be a hit with both ramen and Pokémon lovers, but quantities are limited, so you'll have to act fast to catch 'em. The items can be purchased from 10:00 a.m. on 27 June at Pokémon Center Fukuoka and Pokémon Center Online, although they will be available for sale at a special pre-opening preview event at the store on 26 June. After the official opening, entry restrictions by advance lottery may be implemented to avoid congestion inside the store, so please check the official Pokémon website for updates. Store information Pokémon Center Fukuoka / ポケモンセンターフクオカ Address: Fukuoka-ken, Fukuoka-shi, Hakata-ku, Hakata Eki, Chuo-gai 9-1 Hakata Marui 2F 福岡県福岡市博多区博多駅中央街9−1博多マルイ2F Open: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (from 27 June) Website Source, images: Press release ©2025 Pokémon. ©1995-2025 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc. ポケットモンスター・ポケモン・Pokémonは任天堂・クリーチャーズ・ゲームフリークの登録商標です。 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
