The price of unleaded gasoline sold on US military installations in Japan has gone up to USD 4.004 per gallon. A price of $3.47 per gallon for unleaded is available only at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. That price has been unchanged since December.

The average US mainland price June 28 was 4.59 per gallon. The June 28 Japan nationwide average price for one gallon of regular was USD 6.20 per gallon (sold at JPY163.88 per liter). convert$

The price is expected to rise to JPY180 by mid-July.

At least one Japanese oil company has surplus gasoline that could be exported to the US. Reuters reports Nippon Oil Corp President Shinji Nishio said Japan’s oil demand will decline 2 percent per year through 2010. But as the Asian market is set to grow 4-5 percent a year, Japan can export domestic surplus overseas. He said Nippon Oil had considered shipping gasoline to the United States to meet peak summer demand, but it was difficult due to the variety of gasoline specifications that exist in the country.

In May 2008, the U.S. Department of Energy, Japan’s trade ministry and oil companies including Exxon Mobil Corp and Nippon Oil held a meeting in San Francisco to discuss gasoline exports to the US from Japan. According to the Reuters story, Japanese exports to the United States of distillates such as gas oil have been steadily increasing, but exports of gasoline are relatively uncommon. The meeting ended with no detailed arrangements of exports, but both countries agreed that the US would stand to gain as it has consistently suffered from a lack of refinery capacity and gasoline shortages, especially in the summer.

related

Biogasoline to Be Sold in Northern Japan during G-8 Summit

Japanese Scientists Refine Gasoline From Cow Dung

Rice to Ethanol

High gas prices hit consumers worldwide

“I Survived a Japanese Game Show“, has begun taping in Japan. US broadcaster ABC-TV says the new, unscripted program features “10 Americans — many of whom have never traveled outside the United States — who are whisked away to Japan and compete in the ultimate Japanese game show … with hilarious results.”

Tony Sano, a U.S. actor fluent in Japanese hosts the show, with his “Mamasan” sidekick. A third host, Rome Kanda focuses on the events.

ABC says the results and prizing will be determined by “who best adapts to Japanese culture and the challenges in each episode.” The surviving stunt contestant wins USD $250,000. The program debuts in Prime Time (9-10 p.m. EDT) June 24, 2008.

Some of the games/challenges will include:

Why is this food so hard to eat? – Why? Because the food is attached to the head of a teammate who must run in place on a fast-moving treadmill, while the first teammate leans over a platform and tries to eat from the moving dish.

Crazy Crane Finds Fluffy Bear – This takes the American arcade game to the next level, as blindfolded teammates must operate a moving crane while another teammate precariously dangles trying to collect as many stuffed animals as he/she can.

Chicken Butt Scramble — The contestants create their own version of Japanese scrambled eggs as they attempt to smash goo-filled oversized eggs with only their butts… while wearing chicken suits.

source: abc Press release 1 ; press release 2
Learn more: TV In Japan

Most Attractive Gifts Announced

Found a beautiful gift in Japan? How does it compare to winners of the second “Attractive Souvenir” contest held by The Visit Japan Campaign (Yokoso Japan)?

Some winners:

Food Category, using regionally produced ingredients
Gold Prize - Nambu Hand-baked Senbei Rice Cracker Set
Bronze Prize - Kameya Grated Wasabi Mustard

Crafts & Skills Category
Gold Prize - Edo Kiriko Glass Furin Wind Chime

Cool Japan Category
Gold Prize - Artistic Japanese Erasers

All prizewinners here.

The objective of the Contest is to promote tourism in Japan by selecting particularly attractive souvenirs in terms of quality and design as seen by foreign visitors, that will lead not only to nurturing and finding attractive Japanese souvenirs, but to promoting regional brands, and conveying through such merchandise the beauty and the appeal of Japan.