I think you should just throw it out and invest in a new one.

I use a Zojirushi rice cooker, though it's not the same one as yours. The manual for mine suggests that one shouldn't keep the rice warm for more than 12 hours in the regular mode and 24 hours on the lower temperature mode to prevent it from drying out, smelling funny, and/or yellowing. It doesn't really tell you to not do it to prevent spoiling, but rice turning into blue mush the next day doesn't sound... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 6:28 PM on July 23, 2008

Actually, in the OP's defense, it's not that uncommon for rice to be kept warm in the cooker for a couple of days if the cooker has the mode to do so. But the rice going bad so quickly is definitely weird.
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 6:34 PM on July 23, 2008

Oh, man, I totally missed that part about unplugging the thing! Gosh, don't unplug it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 6:37 PM on July 23, 2008

Hamsters! Heh. That's cute. We make big fat hamsters with our rice, too. Microwave for a minute and a half on one side, flip it over and do the same for the other side.
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 3:24 PM on July 24, 2008

It's not great. It's all about crazy game shows and Johnny's idol groups and Studio Ghibli and Pokemon and video games and electronics. And earthquakes. There was a huge one just last night up north. Lots of random killings seemingly on the rise, too, it feels like. There was another incident a couple of days ago, which is still just a little short of two months from the random mass killing by a lunatic in the Akihabara electronic district in June. So, not as safe as people make it out to be.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 7:29 PM on July 23, 2008

Thanks very much for the answers!

donpedro, that book looks fascinating, I'll see if I can get a copy for myself. And thanks for the reassurance that I'm not crazy!

cushie, yes I understand injuries happen and I won't be heartbroken if Deco isn't able to play (though admittedly I will be somewhat disappointed). Deco's joining the team is definitely a big reason for me to do this, but I also like a lot of the other players on the team.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 10:20 PM on July 22, 2008

Thanks everybody for your kind answers! I have a much better idea of what to expect now. My son is beside himself with excitement about the prospect!

try out a lower league club as well

I would love to do this! And I'm sure my son would as well. I hate to say this, but I'm pretty sure any team the lower division over there is better than most top-level J-League teams here in Japan...

The warning about... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 3:08 PM on July 23, 2008

Specialist Program BA in English. I'm a Japanese-English translator now based in Tokyo, working mainly with independent film productions to subtitle their films. I agree with the people who said they learned the ability to analyze text (narrative, in the case of films) and articulate through their English degrees; in my case, I also learned how to write (relatively) well in English, which was important to me because I'm a native speaker of Japanese.

Way back in my... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 8:43 PM on July 16, 2008

It is in Japan. Or at least it used to be. The gesture reminds me of Japanese period films and dramas, where it's often used by greedy merchant characters and such ("Shime shime" is the expression that often accompanies the gesture), so it's got a kind of coarse, slightly negative nuance to it I'd say. I don't think I've ever actually performed the gesture myself except jokingly as an exaggeration of such "greedy anticipation," and can't recall if I've ever actually seen... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 11:39 PM on June 1, 2008

I thought "hand-wringing" means you feel distressed about something?
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 11:49 PM on June 1, 2008

gomichild! Omedeto!
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 3:31 AM on May 29, 2008

We live with a 10-going-on-11-in-a-week year old boy, and I feel for you. My vote goes to dirtynumbangelboy's answer. Seriously. From what I've experienced with my own son and his friends and friends of friends (yes, anecdata), some kids just have attention spans like goldfish. I don't think it's a matter of how you've raised them, or that they're trying to annoy you, or that they're scared to, or that they're environmentally conscious, but it's just how some kids are wired. They'll hopefully... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 6:14 PM on May 28, 2008

scody's advice above is excellent. As someone who had the pleasure of visiting Italy last summer (lucky you!), I'd like to stress the HAT part of her advice. BRING A HAT. Ideally, something foldable with wide brims. It was wicked hot in Rome last year, probably the hottest temperature I've ever experienced in my life (and I grew up on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and currently live in Tokyo, where heat and humidity in the summers can be pretty draining, too). As a tourist, you will find... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 8:42 PM on May 27, 2008

Mother: "Kocchi ni kinasai!" (Come here!)
Child: "Hai, ima ikuyo!" (Yes, I'm going now!)

...would be the Japanese answer. So, Korean style. On preview, whatzit beat me to it.

This question reminds me of the problem I still have (in that I have to think first before answering) with the difference between answering "yes" or "no" in English and Japanese. For example, in Japanese, if... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 3:55 AM on May 27, 2008

I am so late to this thread. Nobody is probably reading it anymore, and what I'm going to write doesn't really answer the question, but here goes...

As mentioned many times above, the Japanese take their shoes off "because it is the custom." So when did this custom begin?

According to this blog which talks about the influence of architecture on various topics (in Japanese, sorry) the custom apparently began sometime during the Heian... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 1:41 AM on May 27, 2008

Maybe try posting this to Jobs?
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 8:24 PM on May 20, 2008

Just got here! I was thinking how fun it would be if everyone in this thread went to sing karaoke together...

Sen no kaaazeeee niiii... has to be THE karaoke song of last year here in Japan. In case you're not familiar with it, it's the Japanese translation of the famous poem "Do not stand at my grave and weep." It's a serious song and not the lyrics you're looking for, but it's gotten so well-known here now that kids my son's age go around singing parodies of... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 12:15 AM on April 26, 2008

English is technically my second language. But I grew up in the States, so my spoken English sounds completely American. I also have a BA in English Lit from a Canadian university, for what it's worth, which means that I can also write fairly well. All of my life I've been complimented on my good English, and all of my life I've thought, "Yes, I know that." I know it sounds pretentious, but what else can I say? At first I learned English because I had to. But now, even though I don't... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 9:23 PM on April 23, 2008

Actually, upon rereading lia's comment, I think I might have misinterpreted it, but oh well.
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 9:27 PM on April 23, 2008

Darn, came in here to suggest the exact same thing as armage... I'm an au user myself, and that place in Harajuku is pretty fun. It's also close to the big Softbank store on Omotesando, so that's a bonus.
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 5:57 PM on April 15, 2008

Quick googling of 暗室 and レンタル turns up these:1, 2 (Japanese). Here's a list (Japanese) from May 2007 that someone compiled of darkrooms in the Tokyo area, but I have no idea if these are all still around or if they are any good. The Google result. Hope you speak some Japanese, because I'm willing to bet you there won't be too many English speakers to help you out. Happy developing!... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 8:29 PM on April 13, 2008

Just a thought, but maybe you're just craving vinegar?
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 4:31 PM on March 30, 2008

gesamtkunstwerk said: Keep in mind that memories can be true and fallacious at the same time.

This is so true. This comment reminded me of a conversation I had with my brother (who is 2 years younger than I am) earlier this year about a certain shared experience in our childhood. The details he described from his "memory" were so different from those in mine that now I'm not really sure if I can trust my own "memory" of the same... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 5:33 AM on March 29, 2008

Late to this thread, and not really answering the OP's question, but re: the cash gift for Japanese weddings.

It's true that it's necessary in most cases, and the price etoyasu quoted sounds about right, too. BUT. You're a student. You're flying (boating? swimming?) in from the States on a $500 budget just for this wedding. I'm pretty certain nobody will care one whit if you don't bring anything. If your acquaintance (the person holding the wedding) and his/her relatives... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 11:19 PM on March 17, 2008 marked best answer

Momoko Ishii is a highly acclaimed Japanese children's fiction writer and translator (her versions of Winnie-the-Pooh and Peter Rabbit are still being read in Japan) who turned 101 years old on March 10.

The prolific Japanese filmmaker Kon Ichikawa was 92 when he passed away in February this year. His most recent film was produced in 2006.

Shigeaki Hinohara is a 96-year-old working physician and author.

Katsusuke... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 10:30 PM on March 16, 2008 marked best answer

Oh, and after posting, I remembered someone else. There's a woman who is fairly well-known in Japan named Aguri Yoshiyuki, who ran her own beauty salon and worked there as a beautician until 2005. According to the Japanese Wikipedia, she turned 100 years old last July. Her career is notable not only because there weren't too many career-oriented women in this country back in the day when she started her salon, but also because she raised three children by herself after her husband, a Japanese... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 11:00 PM on March 16, 2008

Too late, but a good trick to know is to take out the dried noodles before you put in the dried cabbage flakes and put the noodles back on the flakes before pouring in the hot water. That way, the cabbage won't get stuck to the lid as much after you pour out the water. Mmm mayo on yakisoba...
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 5:28 PM on February 12, 2008

No-sword, that's a fascinating site you linked to. Thanks.

I've no idea if anybody will benefit from this information, but it just so happens that today at the OAG Hall Gethe-Institut Tokyo in Aoyama itchome in Tokyo, two films produced in the early 1960s called A Band of Assassins (13:00) and Return of the Band of Assassins (15:15) will be screened with English language subtitles. It's a part of a series presented by the Japan... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 6:08 PM on February 1, 2008

I just clicked through katillathehun's link, and found that the author has a pretty thorough review of the film I mentioned. Sorry I didn't look before posting.
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 8:33 PM on February 1, 2008

Zest apparently has a repeat scheduled for the 4th from 18:15. This place has one scheduled on the 5th from 17:30. Both of which are maybe still kind of early for your friend, but still. Your friend might just try calling some of the more famous places like the Tokyo Sports Cafe in Roppongi and ask them if they've got one scheduled. I personally can't stand that place though. Zest is probably your best bet.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 4:21 PM on January 31, 2008 marked best answer

please show me how to use the gps in my phone!

whatzit, I can't tell if you're kidding or if you're serious about this, but if you own an "au" phone, the "apuri " (appli(-cation)?) button takes you to the screen where you can select "EZ Nabiwoku (Naviwalk)," which is the GPS system bugbread is probably talking about. You have to pay a monthly fee (315 yen a month for unlimited access, 210 yen for full access) to use all of... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 3:17 AM on January 30, 2008

Phoenix by Osamu Tezuka, especially the Future episode. Review here.
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 12:46 AM on January 26, 2008

The genre you're looking for is called "vijuaru-kei" (visual-kei) here. I was surprised to find that the English Wikipedia page has a pretty exhaustive list of Japanese bands that fall under this category.
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 4:38 AM on January 24, 2008

Thank you, Iridic, that's exactly the kind of information I was hoping to get! I was half expecting to be told that it was just something that's been around without any specific source. I also didn't expect the origin to be quite so old, so now I've got some interesting reading to look into.

Hi, flapjax! Don't just stick to the blue and black! The green needs you!
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 2:07 AM on January 20, 2008

You can eat green tea, no problem.
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 8:25 PM on January 16, 2008

Been lurking in this thread. I'm curious about the outcome, too, so please keep us posted.

FYI, they do have Super Mario World, Zelda, and Mario Kart 64, KokuRyu. I'm assuming you can read Japanese pages on your PC.
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 11:12 PM on January 14, 2008

The Deej: "Remind yourself how hard giving birth was, and what a treasure resulted. Now you are in labor pains again, ready to birth an adult. It might hurt for a awhile, but think of the treasure you will have: a young lady, out in the world, finding her own way, taking part of you with her. It would be no more natural to hold her in your nest longer than she is supposed to be there, than it would have been to hold her in your womb when she was ready to be born.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 5:46 PM on January 14, 2008

Los Lobos. I recommend their albums Kiko and Colossal Head as good starting points.
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 5:24 PM on January 10, 2008

Maybe it's because I'm based in Japan where wearing surgical masks in public isn't uncommon at all (admittedly, I do it too, during hay fever season. It makes a huge difference), but I find it sort of strange that some people in this thread are reacting like this woman is a total weirdo. Is it really such a big social no-no for someone to show up wearing a mask at a gathering in the States (or wherever it is you live)? Or is it the rubber gloves and hand sanitizer that are triggering these... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 5:03 PM on January 8, 2008

Ah, I see now, thanks. I've been thinking about this though, and thought there's a possibility that this woman might be like me, coming from a background where it's not so weird to wear these masks in public. If she is, then it might explain the "oddness" in "the tone of [their] exchange, and other email she's sent to the list" as stated by anonymous in the followup by Jessamyn. If English isn't her first language, then e-mails can come off sounding odd.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 5:59 PM on January 8, 2008

If you don't mind French lyrics, how about Arthur H? Sample. Though perhaps more in the vein of Rain Dogs and not so much Tom's more recent works.
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 3:34 AM on January 7, 2008

Did someone say prosecco? I'm a prosecco newb, too, but have been consuming bottles of the stuff since this summer! mmm prosecco. I just use 2-step corkscrew openers like these and they work fine. No effort needed at all.
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 7:30 PM on December 18, 2007 marked best answer

Okay, so I just played 10 turns on my son's Mario Party 8 BY MYSELF for the first time in my life... I'm obviously having a veeerrrry slow day. When you say "he yells," you mean the words that appear on the screen, right? In the Japanese version, the driver says (when you land on the spot where you get to go to the bonus stage): あんたオレさまがいいとこにつれてってやるぜ！(I'll take you somewhere nice!) いくぜ！(Here goes!) どうだい！オレさまのうんてんは、サイコーだったろ！(How about that? Wasn't my driving awesome?) それじゃ、またな！！(See you... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 7:02 PM on December 18, 2007 marked best answer

The hotel version: またせたな！いまからオレさまがホテルにつれてってやるぜ！(Sorry to keep you waiting! I'll take you to a hotel now!) and the rest is the same as the above.
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 7:15 PM on December 18, 2007

Scarborough, ON = Scarberia
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 11:08 PM on December 17, 2007

Yoshi!
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 6:31 PM on December 17, 2007

Says here (Japanese) and here (Japanese) that it's a Japanese lady who was Shorter's wife at the time. But these sources are shaky, to say the least. Although there's no reference about her on his Wikipedia page, according to it he appears to be a Gakkai-in, so I guess it might be possible. Maybe someone else can shed some light.
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 6:04 PM on December 5, 2007 marked best answer

gomichild beat me to it. Fibe-Mini is your answer. Also, big drugstores like Matsumoto Kiyoshi sell a product called Easy Fiber, which is a flavorless fiber supplement in powder form that you can mix into your coffee and such.

"Kinpira gobo," which you can find in most convenience stores and probably order in most izakaya, is a combination of burdock roots and carrots. Burdock roots = fiber!... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 12:02 AM on November 25, 2007

Well, there's always "Tokyo" Disneyland... but I guess your baby would be too small to really be able to enjoy any of the rides.

You can see Koalas at the Tama Zoo, and there's a panda at Ueno Zoo. Tama Zoo is much bigger than Ueno, although Ueno is probably easier to get to from Yokohama. There's also a huge animal park called Zoorasia in Kanagawa, which is a lot of fun.

I don't know if you've ever been in Japan before, but as a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 5:37 PM on November 23, 2007

Acme from Looney Tunes?
posted to Ask Metafilter by misozaki at 3:04 AM on November 20, 2007