Popularity

Apparently jazz is not very popular in Japan.  I guess this is similar to America.  However, unlike in America, most jazz concerts are ridiculously expensive.  We won't be going to one I guess.

In other news...

According to Taeko, the Japanese image of an American drinks lots of Coca-Cola and goes to McDonald's.  I have yet to actually figure out what else they think (that might be it).

Today we tried nato, which is literally translated as "rotting soybeans".  This is the food that Jeff Chang warned me about.  It's not actually all that terrible (Japanese sour mangos taste a lot worse), but it's not the most pleasant thing, especially next to miso soup (yum!) and rice with some kind of beef sauce.  It is a very famous Japanese food, but is not popular in all parts of the country.  Taeko said that in Eastern Japan it is less popular.  I think Jeff went to Osaka, which is in western Japan.