Ladies who might inadvertently urinate during sports activities or other strenuous activities can now feel protected with the new Natura pee pad. Natura is worn like a sanitary pad and absorbs urine like a mini-diaper.

There are plenty of urine-catching pads, plastic panties, panty inner-sheets and liners for menopausal conditions, elderly ladies, women post-childbirth, and others who suffer from temporary or long-term incontinence. But Natura is specifically targeting accidental urination caused by sports and activities.

Natura is aimed at new moms and women who suffer from conditions necessitating a "more/mole pad" (leak out pad). Natura also seems to target ladies who might be caused to pee by: the sudden movement of a train; being groped by a tennis instructor; stress after experiencing her grocery bag ripping and spilling dozens of potatos; or by standing up from a seated position. Natura pads are available in various sizes up to the 26cm version, which will absorb 60cc of pee. 

Kao makes Freeday, a similar product which is advertised for use by women suffering from menopausal conditions or who have recently given birth. Freeday also can be used to prevent urination triggered by sports activities or lifting heavy loads. The Freeday advertising material says women do not have to worry about light urination caused by coughing, frequent sneezing due to hay fever, or laughing to one’s heart’s content. The information goes on to explain the physical reasons that women are more likely than men to have this activity-induced piddle problem.

Customer comments on the Freeday website include how Freeday was useful when dancing, playing volleyball, jumping on a trampoline, hiking, skipping rope, at the batting center, swimming, tennis, badminton, aerobics, dodgeball, and landing from a very long slide at the playground.

Together with Lady Guard, the piss prevention pill, ladies in Japan will be totally relieved of the need to pee while participating in sports and leisure activities, during long trips, working long hours without a break, sleeping, chatting at the cafe, and peeling daikon.

Lets Japan is not aware of any products in Japan for ladies who suffer from Sudden Movement Excrement Leakage Syndrome.

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Advertisements promoting US meat do not feature cows or pigs prominently in the ads. The Japan ad campaign features friendly farmers and happy families with few images of cattle or hogs. One US Meat Export Federation advertisement on a Tokyo train depicts a man – a farmer – standing among crops in a field. There are no cows in the picture. Where’s the beef? Another USMEF ad seen on a train depicts a young male farmer holding a little boy. Some cattle can be seen in the distance behind the farmer.

The Japanese website has beef-safety information, recipes, pages for kids, and instructions for making meat origami.

In 2004 Japan banned U.S. beef imports for the first time after a case of was confirmed in Washington state in 2003. The Japanese government lifted the beef ban in December 2005. In January 2006 the Japanese government banned imports of US beef again, then lifted that embargo in July 2007.  In December 2008 Japan banned imports of beef from a Wisconsin meat-packing plant because non-certified beef products were discovered in a shipment.

Japan, once the largest importer of US beef, is now the third-largest buyer of U.S. beef.

A US meat industry publication stated in a December 2008 report "U.S. pork continues its reign as the king of imported pork in Japan." The data shows Japan accounts for 31 percent of the total value of U.S. pork exports.

The USMEF American Meat promotion campaign is funded by U.S. beef and pork producers.

Japan’s Crown Princess Masako joined other members of the royal family to wave to crowds gathered at the Imperial Palace as Japan Emperor Akihito offered his annual New Year’s greetings on Jan. 2, 2009.

Princess Masako has suffered from depression for several years and has rarely appeared in public. In December 2008, it was reported Masako’s health is improving and she feels more able to participate in social events.

The stiff Masako robotic-wave caught the attention of the Lets Japan investigative team. After enhancing the public photos, we noticed what appears to be wiring and electronics protruding from the right arm of "Masako".
We were then able to secure an exclusive photo taken from behind the royal family as they stood on the balcony at the Imperial Palace.

This photo seems to indicate an advanced robot replacement developed by skilled Japanese technicians was used for the New Year’s event. Perhaps Masako is still feeling unwell.

Drink-In New Year With Cabbage-In
Anticipating a long night of drinking and eating but afraid an upset stomach will cut your night short? A little packet of powder from Japan might maximize your enjoyment.

Shin Kyabe 2 is one of three gastrointestinal products in the "Kyabe" lineup from  KOWA Pharmaceuticals. Shin Kyabe 2 (Shin Cabba 2) is a powdered OTC stomach antacid and its instructions indicate it is to be taken prior to eating.

KOWA marketing material includes information stating that Shin Kyabe 2 allows women to enjoy dining out with friends and be able to enjoy delicious meals without the stress caused by an upset stomach.

KOWA says its research shows that because of the trends of women delaying marriage and a reliance on takeout food since the bubble economy, the number of women in their twenties and thirties drinking alcohol more often has dramatically increased. It’s data indicates an unbalanced diet combined with increased alcohol consumption causes women to experience unpleasant stomach symptoms more often.

Cabagin-S for upset stomach debuted in Japan in 1960. KOWA’s Cabagin products contain the natural ingredient cabagin, which is found in cabbages. Shin Kyabe 2: 20 packets, about JPY 1100; 32 packets about JPY 1600.

Engines Off While Waiting
A campaign to get drivers to stop idling car engines has been underway for more than ten years in Japan. The Japan Ministry Of Environment started the effort in June 1997. Large quantities of "stop idling" stickers were distributed by the Environment office, to be posted on trucks and taxis. The agency also provide information about the effects of idling to concerned industry asscociations and local governments. Tokyo and Osaka have city ordinances that prohibit vehicle engine idling when parked.

Idle-Stop Devices Increasing Aftermarket devices that stop engine idling automatically are available now in Japan. Vehicle engine idle stopping devices are intended to cut air pollution, reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, and contribute to the effort to reduce global warming. The idle-stop systems also enable energy conservation and noise pollution reduction.

The sleek control box of the M-K Japan ITS-1200/2400 idle stopping unit perches on the steering column and retails for about JPY 57000.

The less-elegant EcoStarter dash-mounted idling-stopping button and installed box offered by Ecomotion retails for about JPY 40000.

Lady Guard Holds It In

Women can delay the need to use a toilet by using Lady Guard, a new non-prescription medication from Kowa Company Ltd.

Lady Guard is the first over-the-counter medicine in Japan for alleviating frequent urination. The drug contains Flavoxate, which has been available by physician prescription in Japan since 1978. Kowa markets Lady Guard to women as convenient for long outings, travel, to enable longer concentration on work, and relief from frequent use of the toilet after going to bed.

Kowa says its surveys indicate women named increased frequency of micturition as a major factor of stress and lowers their quality of life. Kowa says constant worry can cause a hypersensitive bladder. Kowa also states that due to the rising number of elderly in Japan, the number of patients experiencing increased frequency of micturition will increase.

Lady Guard instructions: take one with water, three times a day. For ages 15 and older.

photo: package

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A soft, chewy candy that was linked to choking deaths and pulled from the market in October will be available again in early December in a new formula and with larger warnings on the packaging. Mannan Life Co., stopped production of its Konnyaku Batake brand konnyaku jelly Mini Cup after receiving reports of children and the elderly choking while eating the candy chilled. Similar cases had been reported in 2007.

Following the reports, three industry associations of konnyaku and confectionery manufacturers asked 19 member companies that produce or sell jelly packaged in small cups to take measures to prevent similar accidents. A standard warning label began appearing on the front of the outer packaging of the products in September 2007.
Following the latest choking death in October 2008, the warning effort was expanded by industry associations. Manufacturers of konnyaku jelly mini-cup-size products decided to put larger warnings on the outer packaging, and on each individual cup of the candy. Retailers are being asked not to display the mini-cup-size konnyaku products on shelf space next to children’s sweets.

The revised warning label says: "This product is very elastic. This product poses a choking hazard for the elderly and small children with weak chewing power." The message also says small children and the elderly should "never" eat the candy. Because the gel-like candy is often consumed frozen, an additional warning has been added: "This product gets harder when frozen. Please don’t freeze the jelly pieces."

Mannan reports it has adjusted the ratio of the ingredients in its konnyaku jelly mini cup to lower elasticity. The company also says it was pleased to learn of an online petition campaign urging the company to bring back the product. Mannan says the petition received 32,000 signatures.

Report: Tama-chan Boosts Business

For only the price of cat food, a kitty in a train station in rural Japan has benefited the local economy.

In April 2008, Lets Japan wrote about Tama-chan (Cat in Hat Can’t Quit), the official hat-wearing stationmaster feline at Kishi train station on the Kishigawa Line in Wakayama Prefecture.
Tama-the-cat was appointed in January 2007. Since then, railway officials say 55,000 more people used the line than would normally be expected.

AFP reports on a study by Katsuhiro Miyamoto, a professor at Kansai University’s School of Accountancy.
The research released earlier this month shows sales of Tama-chan picture books, DVDs, and other goods, brought the local economy as much as 1.1 billion yen (10.44 million dollars) in 2007.

Tama-the-kitten was found on the street and brought to the station by the owner of a nearby shop, then kept by the owner of a grocery store next to the station, before becoming the cat-in-residence at Kishi station.

Tama-chan has recently been promoting the railway’s "Strawberry Photo and Sketch" contest for its "Strawberry Train". The contest deadline is October 30, 2008. The strawberry-themed train debuted on the first anniversary of the  establishment of the Wakayama Electric Railway. The line had been part of the Nankai Electric Railway until April 1, 2006.
 
Strawberries are grown throughout Japan. Wakayama is not especially known for strawberry production.

Baby in Belly

Maternity marks are desirable in Japan. The so-called "maternity mark" tags and buttons worn by expectant mothers alert bystanders to their condition. Japan Airlines now offers maternity mark tags to pregnant women flying domestic routes.

JAL is the first airline in Japan to offer the baby-in-belly tag. In 2006,  East Japan Railway Company, Tokyo Metro, and 14 other Kanto railways began offering "There is a baby in my stomach" badges to rail and subway commuters.

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare “Healthy Parent and Child 21”  plan is designed to achieve a pregnant-friendly environment, which also includes the workplace environment and passive smoking prevention. Some local governments have issued their own "baby inside" buttons and badges.

The baby badges are intended to make it easier for passersby to know that a woman is pregnant. And there is a helpful video about baby badges on the Japan Cabinet Office  website.

As a public service, Lets Japan offers these 3 original alert-badge ideas for Japan. (Anger Inside; I Am Pervert ; Pacemaker Put In)

links: Baby in Me badges goods ( 1 )  ( 2 ) ;  Other maternity mark design badges goods ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) ( 6 )

Falsified Tainted or Aged?

Food safety and mislabeling scandals in Japan, in alphabetical order.

Beef
Meat Hope president gets 4 years for scam (2008-03-20)
SAPPORO (The Asahi Shimbun) - The district court here Wednesday handed a four-year prison term to the president of Meat Hope Co. for defrauding clients and consumers by mislabelling its products…The company, based in Tomakomai, southern Hokkaido, is now undergoing bankruptcy proceedings. According to the ruling, Minoru Tanaka, 69, ordered his factory to add minced pork, chicken and lamb to products that were supposedly only made of beef.

Police investigate beef mislabeling (2008-07-09)  
YORO, Gifu Prefecture (IHT/Asahi) - Police searched the offices of meat packer Maruaki here and elsewhere Tuesday in connection with an alleged false labeling racket. Police said the company passed off low-quality beef as high-end Hida-brand produce, in violation of the Unfair Competition Prevention Law. Maruaki President Akiichi Yoshida admitted last month that he had instructed false labeling of grades and processing dates, as well as making meat products using ground beef past its expiry date.related: Insult to meat consumers: Meat Hope

Boxed lunch on the train
15 mil. ‘expired’ food items sold on JR shinkansen bullet trains (2008-03-16)
TOKYO - A catering subsidiary of Central Japan Railway Co. said Tuesday that it sold an estimated 15 million food items with expired dates for safe consumption on shinkansen bullet and other trains. JR-Central Passenger Co. has received no complaints of health problems stemming from the ”expired” box lunches, sandwiches and other food items but company President Takeshi Tategami apologized for ”undermining public trust,” saying the false labeling ”became habitual due to familiarization of the process.”

JR Tokai’s caterer admits selling old ‘bento,’ sandwiches (2008-02-08)
(Japan Times) - A catering subsidiary of Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai) said it recently sold about 15,900 expired "bento" (boxed lunches), sandwiches and other food items at train stations and on bullet trains after deliberately extending their expiry times by several hours.

Cakes, cream puffs
Head of Japan’s Fujiya resigns in food scandal (2007-01-15)
TOKYO (Reuters) - The president of Japanese cake maker and retailer Fujiya Co. Ltd.on Monday said he would resign to take responsibility after the company sold cream puffs and other pastries made from stale ingredients. … Fujiya has admitted to shipping products made with old eggs, cream and milk at least 18 times over the past seven years. It also said it supplied pastries last year that were later discovered to contain unacceptable levels of bacteria.

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