CATS!!!!!

       Ok, so, to start I love all animals but I need a topic for this blog and I’m looking at my cat memed binder so today it’s cat blog day.

      Out of all the animals in the world, I think cats are most like humans. Mostly it’s because no two cat have the same personality like people. Some like to lie in the sunlight, others are lazy, most can be nasty, and the wonderful few are the friendliest you’ll ever meet. See! Just like people! They’re also enthusiastic eaters like us! Ok, we don’t hunt down our food and leave it’s guts on our masters’ front steps.....but that’s not the point.

      Here’s the Japanese aspect in this blog today. Japanese bobtails are very prized in Japan usually because many Emperor have owned one. There’s a well known legend that tells the tale of why they have short tails. Apparently, a cat was sleeping by a hearth (fireplace) when it’s tail caught on fire. Panicking it ran through the whole city liking all the wooden buildings on fire and destroying the city. The Emperor was so angry, that he decreed that all cats have their tails cut off. Note: this is a legend and probably not true so there’s no need to worry about the poor kitty cats.

      Another famous cat in Japan is the Maneki Neko meaning ‘beckoning cat’. Perhaps you’ve seen it. It is the waving cat that stores put in the front window. Depending on which paw is waving, it means wealth, luck, or just welcoming a customer. One of the most well known stories about the origin of Maneki Neko goes like this:

“A feudal lord - some say it was Naotaka Li, lord of Hikone district - was passing Gotoku-ji when it started to rain. As the lord took shelter under a tree on the grounds, the priest's cat peeked out of the temple and raised a paw to invite the lord inside. The lord was curious about this unusual behavior and walked to the temple courtyard for a closer look. When Naotaka Li was standing in front of Tama in the courtyard, lightening struck the tree under which he had been sheltering. The lord's life had been saved, and he immediately believed the cat to be an incarnation of the Goddess of Mercy.” That’s why they are considered lucky. This is why I love cats, they aren’t all nasty hissing wild animals. They can be helpful and fun.

Sources:

• http://manekinekomusic.com/legend.html

Japanese Vending Machines

Random blog post time!

It is quite clear that the US has fallen behind in the technology of vending machines. It’s a bit harder to find one especially if you live in a small town like I do. Not that many care, I just think it’s interesting and this is a post about them.  When people go to Japan, they are amazed by how many vending machines there are. They are very popular and some of them are highly advanced in their technology.

The first vending machines in Japan were wooden and dispensed stamps and postcards. Since then, the mechanics involved have been dramatically advanced. Now, many of them have electronic screens. A vending machine company can collect information from a machine like at what time of day what drinks sell the most. In the morning, coffee and juice sells the most and at night soft drinks are usually purchased. Even more advanced machines with look at someone walking up to it, analyse their face structure to determine age, and recommend a certain drink for their age type. That might seem kind of creepy (and it is) but many don’t care or actually like it. They can learn what others their age are drinking and join the trend or try something new that many like. Kind of makes me feel sad for American vending machines that are broken down or grey.
It might seem silly but it’s nothing to sneeze at. In 2008, vending income was around $6 trillion. I’m not sure if that’s in yen or dollars but if it’s in yen that’s still about $10,626,996.72 today. (yeah I put that into a converter, whatchu gonna do ‘bout it?)
In America, it’s pretty rare to find a vending machine that sells things besides drinks and food. Personally, it feels like I’ve accidentally discovered a dinosaur. I stare at it with surprise then get on with my life. In Japan, it’s not so hard to find cigarettes in a vending machine. According to eHow, “..underwear, socks, instant and cooked noodles, and eggs. Even Rhinoceros Beetles have been dispensed from Japanese vending machines.”
When the first vending machines came out in Japan, other machines like it were created as more and more became interested in them. Machines that would play a clip of a movie if you put a quarter in them came about and others. Of course the movies were in black and white but they were still quite popular especially among kids. There aren’t any around now, sorry.

Really it’s amazing the kinds of things you can find in Japan, so, until next time, see ya! :)

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B_qJFMXp-w- Vending Machines History and How they work

Read more: Information About Japanese Vending Machines | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_5530362_information-japanese-vending-machines.html#ixzz2MsqgB5ac- Stats on Vending Machines