WEC Articles

Exploring the Electric Salt Spoon: A High-Tech Solution to Cutting Sodium Intake In an innovative attempt to tackle Japan's rising health concerns related to excessive sodium consumption, Kirin, a leading Japanese beverage company, has introduced the "Electric Salt Spoon." This cutting-edge device is designed to enhance the flavor of low-sodium foods through a method of electrical stimulation. Priced at 19,800 yen ($126), the spoon reflects Kirin’s commitment to making healthier eating practices more appealing and accessible. The Electric Salt Spoon operates by passing a weak electric current through its tip, allowing users to choose from four intensity levels. This feature aims to create a personalized taste experience, which can help compensate for the reduction of salt in food. The technology builds upon Kirin’s previous research into taste alteration, including a chopsticks-like device developed with Professor Homei Miyashita of Meiji University. Miyashita, who earned...

Japanese 100-Yen Shop President Says Penny-Pinching Mindset Persists As Japan’s economic landscape shifts, Eiji Kawai, president of Seria, one of the country's prominent 100-yen store chains, remains confident that the demand for affordable goods will persist. Despite various efforts by businesses and the government to rejuvenate the economy and combat deflation, Kawai believes that consumers will continue to seek out low-cost options for their daily needs. Japan has been undergoing significant economic changes. The government, led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, has pushed for substantial wage increases as part of his "new capitalism" initiative. This year’s wage negotiations resulted in the highest pay raises in 33 years. Additionally, the Bank of Japan raised interest rates for the first time in 17 years on March 19, aiming to control inflation and stabilize the economy. Despite these measures, core inflation has remained above the 2% target for 23 consecutive months,...

  Seeing fewer customers, fast-food companies turn to loyalty apps The rising price of food is contributing to budget-conscious diners cutting back. The rising price of food is leading budget-conscious diners to cut back on their fast-food consumption, prompting companies to seek new strategies to retain their customer base. In both the U.S. and Japan, fast-food chains are increasingly turning to loyalty apps and point cards to attract and maintain customers. In the U.S., approximately 25% of low-income consumers—those earning less than $50,000 annually—have reported reducing their fast-food intake. Around half have also cut back on visits to fast-casual and full-service restaurants. This change comes amid a staggering 20% increase in food prices from January 2021 to January 2024. The Household Pulse Survey reveals that 50% of people earning less than $35,000 a year are struggling with everyday expenses, with nearly 80% feeling significant stress due to the price hikes. For instanc...

Jet Lag: Get Back in the Rhythm You finally made it to your overseases destination, but instead of running up the Eiffel Tower, you’re passing out in your soufflé. Blame jet lag, which occurs when your body’s circadian rhythm — its expected sleep and wake times — is out of sync with your new location, leaving you with brain fog at midday or insomnia in the wee hours. Not everyone has the same body clock, of course, and no two trips are exactly the same, but there are some tricks that could help you get your zip back quicker. The time differential and the direction you are traveling each contribute to jet lag, according to Jay Olson, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto Mississauga who has studied the phenomenon. Traveling westward, when you need to stay up and wake up later to match the new time zone, is easier for most people than traveling eastward, when you are expected to do the opposite. For shorter trips, it helps to make a gradual one-hour shift per day for the num...

Larry the cat Larry (born c. January 2007) is a British domestic tabby cat who has been Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office at 10 Downing Street since 2011. He is cared for by Downing Street staff, and is not the personal property of the prime minister of the United Kingdom. Larry has lived at 10 Downing Street during the premierships of six prime ministers: David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, and Keir Starmer. Larry was born as a stray cataround January 2007 and later came into the possession of the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. In 2011, he was adopted by Downing Street staff, initially intended to be a pet for Cameron’s children. He was described by Downing Street sources as a "good ratter" and as having "a high chase-drive and hunting instinct In 2012, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home said that Larry's publicity had resulted in a 15% increase in cat adoptions. Soon after he was taken in at Downing Street, a story circulated in the pre...

  THE PARTS OF SPEECH POEM Every name is called a noun, As field and fountain, street and town. In place of noun the pronoun stands, As he and she can clap their hands. The adjective describes a thing, As magic wand or bridal ring. The verb means action, something done, As read and write and jump and run. How things are done the adverbs tell, As quickly, slowly, badly, well. The preposition shows relation, As in the street or at the station. Conjunctions join, in many ways, Sentences, words, or phrase and phrase. The interjection cries out, "Hark! I need an exclamation mark!" By Barry Ashworth www.bazmarc.com

Analysis: Military purges put Xi Jinping's singer-wife in the spotlight As Chinese supreme leader Xi Jinping deals with “complicated challenges” presented by his top military brass, he is likely leaning more on a longtime aide, his wife, Peng Liyuan. Two developments point to this. The first involves the expulsion of two former defense ministers from the Chinese Communist Party and the appointment of a new defense chief. The dismissals of Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu had long been anticipated; both disappeared from the public eye last year. When Xi assumed his roles as China’s president and the party’s general secretary 12 years ago, Wei became a member of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the top organ supervising the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Wei served two five-year terms, while Li, who succeeded Wei as defense minister in 2023, was also a CMC member. Wei’s and Li’s expulsions are part of a series of purges by Xi targeting the military. However, unlike previous purges, t...

Uniqlo to apply European 'select few' strategy worldwide Fast Retailing differentiates itself from fast-fashion sellers like H&M, Zara Uniqlo is shifting its focus to larger stores around the world, as the affordable fashion retailer hopes to build on its success by opening flagship stores in Europe. The Japanese brand's owner, Fast Retailing, is expanding its European business. In April, it opened new flagship stores in Rome and Edinburgh in the U.K. It also added locations in London, Milan in Italy, and Nice in France this spring, bringing the total number of stores in Europe to 76 out of 2,469 worldwide. Uniqlo's business in Europe differs from that of its more established operations in Japan and China. In Europe, flagship stores in big cities account for half of store sales. With many well-known labels competing on the continent, Fast Retailing decided that having more flagship stores was the best way to communicate the brand concept by showcasing the Uniqlo lin...

 Embracing Ikigai for a Fulfilling Lif e Introduction Ikigai is a Japanese term that blends two words: “iki” meaning “to live,” and “gai” meaning “reason,” which translates to “a reason to live.” This concept encourages people to discover what truly matters to them and to live a life filled with purpose and joy. Originating in the Heian period, ikigai is particularly famous as a cultural practice in the Okinawa Islands of Japan. Today, it is becoming popular among both the elderly and the younger generation in Japan and worldwide. The Concept of Ikigai Ikigai can be found at the intersection of what you love (your passion), what you are good at (your vocation), what the world needs (your mission), and what you can be paid for (your profession). These overlapping circles lead to your passion, profession, mission, and vocation. To explore your ikigai, you can sketch the Ikigai diagram and label each circle, spending 5-10 minutes reflecting on and writing down the strongest ideas for ...

A Woman Who Shows Age Is No Barrier to Talk Show Stardom   1  Pushing a walker through a television studio in central Tokyo earlier this week,  Tetsuko   Kuroyanagi  slowly climbed three steps onto a sound stage with the help of an assistant who settled her into a creamy beige Empire armchair. 2  A stylist removed the custom-made sturdy boots on her feet and slipped on a pair of high-heeled mules. A makeup artist brushed her cheeks and touched up her blazing red lipstick. A hairdresser tamed a few stray wisps from her trademark onion-shaped hairstyle as another assistant ran a lint roller over her embroidered black jacket. With that, Ms.  Kuroyanagi , 90, was ready to record the 12,193rd episode of her show. 3  As one of Japan’s best-known entertainers for seven decades, Ms.  Kuroyanagi  has interviewed guests on her talk show, “ Tetsuko’s  Room,” since 1976, earning a Guinness World Record last fall for  most episodes hosted b...