The Big One!
In 20 years the Japanese will be just as fat as today’s super-sized Americans — although by that time the Americans will be even fatter.
A few years ago I blogged about my shock over the popularity of the McGriddle in America (seriously people, its not food) but it has turned into a best seller here in Japan as well. They have also introduced the MegaMac here in Japan. It’s basically a Big Mac with a two extra patties, and they literally can’t keep it in stock.
Two years ago Krispy Kreme opened its first outlet here and the lines are still hundreds of people long. An unending flow of petite 45kg Japanese girls wait for an hour in the cold to get to the front of the line and and then scurry off with their box of dozen glazed donuts: each one ready to cite without a hint of irony the conventional wisdom about how healthy the Japanese diet is.
Most nauseating and vile of all, however, has to be Pizza Hut’s new special crust. (I think this is a Japan only thing, but I could be wrong.) The outside rim othe the pizza crust is actually made from detachable, rolls or cheese that have been battered and deep-fried, and it comes with maples syrup that you are supposed to pour over the crust before eating.
The Japanese are currently the longest-lived people on Earth. I wonder if the next generation will be able to claim the same title.
January 11th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
No, the Pizza Hut special crust isn’t a Japan only thing. They have that option here as well (among other strange crust options). I love pizza and I love cheese, but that’s going a bit too far.
And it sickened me to see the “Mighty Zinger” that was recently delivered to some of my colleagues. Even more disgusting chicken, dripping in lots of oil.
Anyway, good to see a post from you after so long.
January 11th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
I was afraid of that. I can’t understand how people above the age of six can eat that stuff.
January 11th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
But i tempted Sajjad to take a bite of the “Mighty Zinger”… All hail the Mighty Zinger : D
January 11th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
McDonalds is not food anyone eats for pleasure. People who
eat there are poor and looking for most calories/$ so if
the new hamburger has more calories/$ of course people
will buy it.
As to Japanese longevity the people who are long lived now,
are in their 80′s meaning they were born raised in a completely
different country then Japan is now. McDonalds aside, much
less (probably almost no?) red meat was eaten, most people
were poor so generally ate less…
Still a few info points on what junk food shops serve (not that
many people order pizza here anyways – its bloody expensive),
do not make for a population wide statistic.
I think the American fat fetish comes from an over-run tolerance
culture which makes it unacceptable to say “you’re a fat slob’,
Japan with its well developed culture of ijime, and social pressure
will not likely go down the same route of fat growth I think.
Certainly even in Europe most countries (outside England/Germany)
are managing to avoid the fat trend… Perhaps growing fat bulk
is primarily an Anglo-Saxon hobby?
V.
January 12th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Don’t know about that.
The chubby-legged girls in Shibuya pulling money out of their Louis Vuitton bags to pay for their Mega Macs don’t seem to be in need of either calories or cash.
But the fat-acceptance of in the US is amazing. When I was in Las Vegas a few years back it was shocking to see all the fat people on the handicapped scooters drinking their one-quart margaritas. These people weren’t sick or old, they just were too fat and lazy to walk from one casino to the next.
You would think that at some point shame and embarrassment would kick in.