Makiko Itoh (伊藤牧子)未だ故障中 Profile picture
Writer, Japanese, nomad, living with cancer, dreaming of mobility. https://t.co/IXxxhbQuGp
Apr 28, 2021 5 tweets 1 min read
I really don’t know why traditional Japanese cuisine seems to attract a certain kind of snotty brodude, but one suspicion I have is….it’s because they can get the training in a formal way in Japan fairly straightforwardly, and most of all… their trainers/mentors/“Masters”/etc and peers are either too nice, too reticent, or not golluble enough in English to call them out on their bullshit. Or they’re getting paid. 🤷🏻‍♀️
Apr 28, 2021 19 tweets 5 min read
This white dude now, who apparently took it upon himself to criticize Japanese American restaurants for not being as Japanese as him. Let me give a Japanese (not JA) perspective: BWAHAHAHAHA 🤣😂🤣😂😡
la.eater.com/platform/amp/2… Anyone who actually knows how Japanese restaurants IN JAPAN usually operate knows that “dessert” per se has not really been a traditional part of a multi course washoku meal (that is changing a bit). The “shime” or last course of a meal is usually just something starchy
Apr 27, 2021 10 tweets 4 min read
Here is some more bukkake goodness. Bukkake something means that a soup or dashi is poured over the food just before it’s eaten, which makes it all soupy and delicious. The narrow porn meaning you probably know is just that, narrow. Like calling boobs “melons”. A lot of bukkake rice bowls have kaisen, fresh seafood, on top, over which you pour over a delicious dashi. You can even order some of these.
Apr 26, 2021 5 tweets 1 min read
It’s really a shame that the English speaking world only knows the pornographic meaning of “bukkake”, which just means “pour over” as in delicious and simple bukkake udon.

Another reason to hate people. Image I also remember when some idiot wrote an article for the late un-lamented Lucky Peach that “in Japan people don’t like the burnt bits of rice” based on a very narrow definition of one slang term. Japanese ppl LOVE the burnt bits of rice. Ignorant assholes ruin everything.
Jan 9, 2021 12 tweets 4 min read
Following up on my last tweet, here’s a thread about Demaekan 出前館, a food delivery service company that’s been around since 2000. It’s the main competitor to UberEats in Japan. It’s an equity method company of Line since last year. 1/ The current chairperson (she was CEO since 2012 but became chairperson last June, as I just found out) is Rie Nakamura; she’s one of the very few female top execs of a listed corporation in Japan. 2/
Jan 9, 2021 4 tweets 1 min read
The city of Gotenba is Shizuoka is making this flyer essentially saying “if you’re from the Tokyo area we don’t want your business” available to local businesses. It’s being widely criticized for its discriminatory tone. (Shades of those “Japanese only” signs, except this thing is being distributed by the city. Seems like a town to avoid forever. Not that there was worth visiting it for anyway, unless you like outlet malls. )
Jan 8, 2021 5 tweets 2 min read
Overview of state of emergency policies by various businesses:

- Tokyo Disney parks will close at 7pm as I prev. mentioned; except for already sold tickets, each park will allow a max. 5,000 entrances/day
1/ - Many izakaya chains close most locations, saying stopping alcohol service at 8pm will be loss making even with financial assistance
- Fast food chains, beef bowl chains will close in-store eating by 8, continue takeout afterwards
2/
Nov 1, 2020 4 tweets 1 min read
About the new Japan Post nail delivery robot. Look how cute and determined it is. A video of a trial run earlier in October. It says “I’m going to go deliver the mail now!” am when it sets off, and periodically says “Mail delivery robot in operation!” Love the people of Tokyo paying it no attention 😂

Nov 1, 2020 4 tweets 1 min read
Sunday special: New COVID-19 cases in Tokyo, last 28 days (11/1)

66
177
147
248
203
249
146 <-- 10/11

78
166
177
284
184
235
132<-- 10/18

78
139
150
185
186
203
124 <-- 10/25

106
158
171
221
204
215
116<-- 11/1; 13 over 65
4,876 tests (Thu)

34 in serious condition (+1) fukushihoken.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/index.files/02…
Oct 30, 2020 51 tweets 39 min read
It is now October 31 in Japan, and people have already started posting their Jimi Halloween (understated/low key/plain Halloween) non-costumes. I’ll be RTing some over the next couple of days or so.

#DPZ #地味ハロウィン #jimihalloween The guy who looks like the Wanted poster that’s been up at the police box (koban) for years.

#DPZ #地味ハロウィン #jimihalloween

Oct 30, 2020 4 tweets 1 min read
Many people in Japan are taking Monday off to have a 4-day weekend, since Tuesday is a holiday (Culture Day)...to watch the COVID-19 numbers in about 2 weeks Another significant event this weekend is the “experiment” at Yokohama Stadium with bigger crowds. Tonight: 80%, tomorrow 90%, and Sunday at full capacity.
www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/2020…
Oct 29, 2020 4 tweets 1 min read
So disappointed with the Swiss situation 😔 Current measures in Switzerland

swissinfo.ch/eng/switzerlan…
Oct 28, 2020 4 tweets 1 min read
New COVID-19 cases in Tokyo, last 28 days (10/28)

185
186
203
124
106
158
171 <-- today; of which 28 are over 65
(Past 3 Wednesdays: 150, 177, 147)

971 tests (Sunday)

39 in serious condition (-3)

fukushihoken.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/index.files/02… Positive test rate: 3.4% (no change)

1 death yesterday

stopcovid19.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/
Oct 26, 2020 5 tweets 2 min read
The Japanese Prime Minister’s Office (the Cabinet Secretariat) has published a new set of guidelines about where people are most likely to become infected with COVID-19, from the special advisory board. 1/

cas.go.jp/jp/seisaku/ful… The 5 situations are: 1. parties where drinking is involved; 2. Long-duration or large number situations with food & drink; 3. Close-up conversations without masks -> 2/
Oct 26, 2020 8 tweets 2 min read
That’s comedian Chihara Junior. He is probably smarter than a lot of comedians but not by a whole lot imo. The only comedian who actually makes political statements and makes politics part of his comedy on a regular basis is a guy called Daisuke Muramoto. He gets based regularly for his outspokenness. Image
Oct 26, 2020 15 tweets 4 min read
So what is a “wide show”? It is a Japanglish word which means a TV show that covers a wide variety of topics. 1/ Wide shows take up most of the daytime programming on weekdays between 8am and 3pm on the commercial networks (there are a few on weekends too). They usually consist of a panel of people discussing everything from politics to the latest celebrity gossip. 2/ Image
Oct 26, 2020 4 tweets 2 min read
New COVID-19 cases in Tokyo, last 28 days (10/26)

139
150
185
186
203
124
106 <-- today; of which 13 are over 65
(Past 3 Mondays: 78, 78, 66)

2,987 tests (Friday)

29 in serious condition (+1)

fukushihoken.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/index.files/02… Positive test rate: 3.4 % (no change)

stopcovid19.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/
Dec 28, 2019 22 tweets 6 min read
Well this is my ramen rant -ish.

- Ramen is soul food in Japan. I know its origins are in China, but, just like phở has origins in China/France but is totally Vietnamese, ramen is totally Japanese. 1/ - Saying something like 'the best ramen comes from [insert region]' is just silly. Everyone has their own favorites. The kind of ramen you want to eat can change from how you're feeling that day, etc. etc. No one eats just one type of ramen. 2/
Aug 15, 2019 18 tweets 3 min read
This is a story of how to truly piss of Japanese people.
Some opportunistic loudmouth called Takashi Tachibana ran in the House of Councillors election for a single issue party he founded called The Party to Protect the People from NHK. Somehow he got elected. (thread) His whole platform is basically “I don’t like NHK (the national broadcaster) and I don’t want to pay the mandatory TV usage fee”. When asked about his positions on other issues, he says he has none.