Things Go Wrong, Things Go Right in JAPAN

The Wizard told me I could on occasion link to an article on my web site. I just got back from 16 days in Japan. I hope you enjoy my commentary on my trip.

http://frankscoblete.com/travel/things-go-wrong-things-go-right-in-japan/

I've had gout for 20 years, Frank. Why are you taking that
crap Uloric. Allopurinol is the original gout drug and it works
great. Why weren't you taking ibuprofin for the pain? Take
4 tabs every 4 hours and it works fantastic. They say its
the miracle drug for gout sufferers. Japan's food is terrible
on gout. All that raw fish and seafood. Gout is horrible, I
get twinges if I eat the wrong food. The meds aren't a cure,
they only work with the right diet. Stay away from anchovies
and liver and beef.

I bet your doc pushed Uloric on you. Mine tried and I told him
to go screw himself. They get kickbacks for pushing new drugs.
My pharmacist says Uloric is a very slow seller, gout patients
aren't liking it and are sticking with Allopurinol. My first gout
attack 20 years ago and I was on crutches for a week. People
who've never had it don't realize the pain involved. Its paralyzing.

As I said in my article, when the pain is in the nine to 10 category, air wafting over your gout hurts like hell.

Just let me add somethng about fish in Japan. I think the fatty fish such as salmon are high in purines (a gout precipitator) but the white fish such as halibut has far fewer purines. I ate a lot of fish in Japan of the white variety (oh, yes, I do love salmon so it kills me not to eat it) and my gout did clear up after a few days. Of course, I had steak only once, my last day, Kobe - which is a delicious type. Interestingly enough, Japan has a vast variety of restaurants from traditional Japanese to Italian (excellent Italian too).

What a great story, thanks for sharing! Took me 2 days' lunch breaks to read - I can't imagine how long it took you to sort through notes and memories and write that.

Quote: FrankScoblete

Just let me add somethng about fish in Japan. I think the fatty fish such as salmon are high in purines (a gout precipitator) but the white fish such as halibut has far fewer purines. I ate a lot of fish in Japan of the white variety (oh, yes, I do love salmon so it kills me not to eat it) and my gout did clear up after a few days. Of course, I had steak only once, my last day, Kobe - which is a delicious type. Interestingly enough, Japan has a vast variety of restaurants from traditional Japanese to Italian (excellent Italian too).

Interestingly enough salmon is overtaking tuna in becoming the most popular sashimi. It has more flavor so that must be the reason. Anyway Frank I'm still working on your blog (always interesting to read a foreigners perspective of Japan since I am Japanese). If you haven't mentioned it at all, how do you feel about the different variety of snacks? I've always been a pocky fan myself.

Also how do you feel about casinos in Japan? Sounds like a great excuse for a vacation there when it happens.

DJATC, I'm not a snack eater so I really don't know about them.

I didn't bother going to casinos --- after 25 years of almost constant play, I'd rather tour and see the other sights. That's one of the reasons I retired from GTC. After a quarter century, the casino world just seems too confining. Instead of constantly going to casinos an average of a week+ a month, I am now going to states and countries to see the world before it disappears (meaning before I disappear).

I'd be interested in reading what you have to say about my article.

Quote: FrankScoblete

DJATC, I'm not a snack eater so I really don't know about them.

I didn't bother going to casinos --- after 25 years of almost constant play, I'd rather tour and see the other sights. That's one of the reasons I retired from GTC. After a quarter century, the casino world just seems too confining. Instead of constantly going to casinos an average of a week+ a month, I am now going to states and countries to see the world before it disappears (meaning before I disappear).

I'd be interested in reading what you have to say about my article.

Currently Japan is limited to Pachinko (slots with metal balls, kinda like pinball), Racing, and Mahjong. My grandma owns a small apartment and leased out the ground floor to a mahjong room. Basically it's like poker where the house gets a drop and plays wager with each other. I am following the legalization of casinos in Japan closely as I'd like to burn out oops I mean enjoy the games when I visit.

Quote: djatc

I am following the legalization of casinos in Japan closely as I'd like to burn out oops I mean enjoy the games when I visit.

I thought gambling was a cultural no no in Japan.
Thats why they go to Vegas and do it.

Quote: EvenBob

I thought gambling was a cultural no no in Japan.
Thats why they go to Vegas and do it.

They have small joints here and there but no full blown casinos. You can go to a Yakuza run casino but getting paid might be a problem.....

Frank,

Regarding paper towls in bathrooms: Most Japanese carry a handkerchief. Many old customs are still practiced today. I don't prefer to carry a cloth I wiped my hands on after the toilet but what do I know.

Hole in the wall bathrooms: I hate these things. You have to pop a squat and position your pants so you don't get crap all over them. I also hate the fact many modern Japanese buildings and restaurants have these as I can only use the Western ones.

Didn't know about okonomiyaki. I just assumed it was a bastardization of Western cooking and not from the post-war days. I enjoy the sauce they use since it is sweet and compliments the food well.

And now I've spent a good 10 minutes of my Saturday evening reading about Eastern toilets. Oh, the horror!

Not as horrifying as trying to use one. And my wife the Beautiful A.P. used them on trains! That's the real horror.

If you're 5 5 which I think is the average height in Japan,
those toilets work great. If you have long Westerner legs
they are a nightmare.

Quote: EvenBob

If you're 5 5 which I think is the average height in Japan,
those toilets work great. If you have long Westerner legs
they are a nightmare.

I'm 5 6 and it still sucks. Don't like working out my legs when trying to relax my tender areas.

Just got back from Cape May and read this. Here is one thing some of us enjoy --- reading while we (you know what). I find that a relaxing time. I can't see how you can possibly read newspapers or books while using those Japanese toilets.