During my random browsing of the internet the other day I found this rather interesting flyer that immediately piqued my interest.

That’s right, to plug the new release of Windows 7, the Japanese arm of Microsoft decided that the best thing they could do was to get Burger King to sell a burger with no less than 7 patties in it. Not quite believing it was possible, I headed to the Burger King in Akihabara (a location that just seemed fitting for this kind of crazy) to try it out.

So I was presented with this:

My first thought was that it was nearly as big as the ruddy drink. Notice how they included a fork, BK is turning into Wimpy.

As I opened the wrapping I began to realise why the fork was included.

It would just not be possible to fit that into a human mouth. I stared at the challenge that laid before me, picked up the fork and began eating.

Here you can see that the burger is just your regular whopper (mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, sliced onion, etc) but with six extra rather tasteless beef patties. It was at about this point during the eating process that I was beginning to realise that the chips I had bought were unnecessary.

And thus I was defeated. I just couldn’t manage any more. I felt bloated, full and slightly ill. Not sure that is the feeling Microsoft wanted to associate with Windows 7.

Also, just thought I’ll mention that when I got home I ate an apple. It was wonderful, I felt so relieved, uncluttered and free. It was like a breath of fresh air. I won’t ever go back to eating burgers again.

Jan. Ken. Pon.

These are just 3 simple words but in Japan these words have the power to settle any dispute, any disagreement or any debate.

Picture the scene, I’m teaching a group of 9 year olds and as I instruct them to get their books and sit down, two kids want to sit next to the same person. I start to worry there will be an argument, my fears seem confirmed when they both rise clenched fists. However they utter the magic words,

“Jan.”

“Ken”

“Pon”

And one moves to a different chair, taking their defeat on the chin.

I am of course talking about Scissors, Paper, Stone and in Japan it is more than just a game, it’s a way of life.

Everyone knows how this game work so I won’t worry you with the details but rather, how it is played in Japan. A game starts with the chant, “Saisho wa gu”, which translates to “starting with the stone”, and players begin to pump there fists. Then “Jan, ken, pon” is uttered which is the Japanese equivalent to rock, paper, scissors and then the players show paper, scissors or stone in the classic way. Also, in the event of a tie accompanied by two more fist pumps is the cry “Aiko deshio” (Looks like a tie) and then the you bare arms once more.

This game is so ubiquitous in Japan that any time people have any sort of problem, it doesn’t matter as a quick game of Janken can decide for you. I have never seen a result of a game questioned.

Recently, to my surprise I found that there is a way to play Janken with your feet, so even people with no arms can play. Rules are pretty much the same put obviously the poses are different.

Here they are, as modelled by my glamourous assistant, Hatchan.

I guess this a variation of the game played by the more athletic children.