[MoCHE] Did You Know Japan? Part 4: Cats and Chicken (+ Today in eJapan History: Mitsunami Prelude)

Day 2,838, 04:43 Published in Japan Russia by shirosakura


I thought I would have a little fun and share a few fun facts about IRL Japan I happen to know, I hope you guys enjoy!





There is a small island in Ozu, Ehime Prefecture (on Shikoku) called Aoshima Island, and on this island cats outnumber humans by at least 6:1. Originally introduced to the island to control it's rampant mice problem, as humans moved away during the 20th century, there was no one to keep the rapidly expanding cat population in check. As a result, cats now swarm the island in large quantities. The island itself is a tourist attraction, although the locals who remain would like to find ways to keep the cat population in check.

The link is little gallery of some pictures from the island. The cats are really cute and I highly recommend you check them out! :3





Japan has an OBSESSION with Kentucky Fried Chicken. Christmas IS a holiday in Japan, but this is ironic since less than 1% of population is Christian. In the 1960s during the surging postwar boom in the Japanese economy, the retail economy began to take note of Christmas' festive traditions in the west, and decided to copy them there. In the 1970s, Kentucky Fried Chicken was introduced to Japan, and an executive took note about how hard it was to find Christmas turkey in stores. Hence, the idea for the Kentucky Christmas was born.



For a little under $40 USD (for the basic bucket, the premium bucket can run as high as $80), you can order your own Kentucky Fried Christmas bucket and pick it up for Christmas dinner. Some people order even two months in advance to make sure they're able to avoid the long lines during the holidays. And it works. KFC Japan sells more chicken in the three days on and before christmas than they do in fifteen days in a regular month.





This obsession brings us to a curse now laid upon the Hanshin Tigers after their celebrations over their 1985 Japan Championship Series claimed a local Colonel Sanders statue victim. He worked at the KFC located in Dontonbori, Osaka (our capital), but after the raucous crowd was needing in someone to represent their team, He was picked up and tossed into the river as an effigy. And this is how the curse began.



According to the curse of the colonel, the Hanshin Tigers won't win another world series until ALL of the parts from the original 1985 Colonel Sanders statue is recovered. And for the most part, it has played itself to be true. Past a few miracle seasons, the Hanshin Tigers have been a relatively poor-performing baseball team for the past 25 years. However, on March 10, 2009, the body of the Colonel was recovered from the Ebisu River, and semi-restored for the world to see, save his glasses and left hand. They say in order for the curse to be completely lifted, those items still must be found.

So you've been warned. Don't even think about trying to steal any of the eleven herbs or secret spices on KFC Chicken, or the Colonel will lay his curse on you~



That's all guys! Until next time, please come back for more DKY Japan trivia!

Today in eJapan History: Day 2,108 (Wednesday, August 28, 2013)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs official Squibeel announced the beginning of negotiations with ePortugal in order to end eJapan's state of war with them, however negotiations had stalled. This would end up being the setup for Operation Suzumebachi and the Mitsunami War only a couple of weeks later, where eJapan would victoriously sweep ePortugal from eJapan's sovereign lands.