Would the world miss Kewpie mayonnaise if Japan disappeared?
Happy New Year from japanCRUSH! Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu — or “ake ome” for short.
New year is often a time to take stock of the past year, and perhaps make some resolutions for the future. This article from Yahoo! Japan asks readers to think about what would happen if Japan were to disappear, reminding them that even when times seem hard, Japan still has a lot to offer the world.
But what would you miss most if Japan suddenly no longer existed?
From Yahoo! Japan:
What Would The Rest Of The World Miss If “Japan Were To Disappear”?
According to an international opinion survey published each year by the BBC, results showed that Japan was fourth among “countries that give the best global impression” (Germany was first). Last year, Japan had even been number one, and we might say that Japan has a good reputation throughout the world.
“Please tell me what is great about Japan.”
If you were asked this by a foreigner, how would you respond?
Karasuma Sen’s book, If Japan Were To Disappear, analyses how the world would be influenced economically, technologically, and culturally, should Japan no longer be. Even if Japan really no longer existed, then presumably other countries in the world would fill in any gap created, but Karasuma says that the gap would certainly not be a small one.
And so, let’s take a look at what the world would miss if Japan no longer existed.
■The World’s Mayonnaise Lovers Would Grieve
What Americans are in love with is “Kewpie” mayonnaise. The microemulsion manufacturing method developed by Kewpie made it possible to give their mayonnaise substance even with a small amount of oil by making the oil content, which is broken down into particles, into a uniform size. Furthermore, using this this manufacturing method, Kewpie can make their mayonnaise retain a state of “emulsification”, whereby the oil is solubilized (In most other mayonnaises, if you keep it for a while the water and oil will separate). Even the flavour is improved remarkably, and it makes for a milder taste.
With Japanese mayonnaise being praised for being “on a whole other level than American mayonnaise”, on the American bookselling site Amazon it holds back foreign manufacturers and reigns supreme as the number one selling mayonnaise. In fact it is so popular that it even enters the top ten products in Amazon’s cookery section. If Japan were to disappear, there is no doubt that Americans who love mayonnaise would miss it.
■ Babies And Women Throughout The World Would Cry Out
Japanese-made “disposable diapers” are not particularly well-known, but they have a combination of multiple usage and high performance. They are a magnificent invention that understands the needs that a baby cannot express, with “clamminess prevention” and “comfort fit”. In particular, the “Merries” diapers made by Kao, have a high market share even when compared with foreign competitors, and it seems that they have an excellent reputation in countries around the world.
Particularly in Russia, it is said that the packages of diapers that just have Japanes written on them are more trusted by consumers than those written in Russian. In the capital Moscow, apparently the same product is proud of its market share, which exceeds 20%.
In China, too, demand for Japanese diapers is extending its sales, primarily in the middle-classes. If Japanese “disposable diapers” disappeared, Karasuma surmises that the world’s babies would probably cry out because of their itchy skin.
Aside from these, if Japan were to disappear, it would have a surprisingly big effect on other countries in the world, for example “computer games would be more boring”, “otakus all over the world would be sad”, “Hollywood movies would be in decline”, and “international sports competitions couldn’t be held”. How about thinking about our nation’s charms through Kurasuma’s book?
Comments from Twitter and Facebook:
sumire282:
So happy to hear the anecdote about Russia. They have a high level of trust in Japan.
Kanda_Kids:
Kinda disappointed that the content is only about stuff that barely causes a ripple.
山崎 功史:
Umm, if this is it then looks like even if Japan does disappear everyone will get by www
若松 里絵:
I burst out laughing the moment I read about the mayonnaise lovers w
今西 譲太:
Wahahahaha, I don’t think it’s only mayonnaise and disposable diapers…
tugumibutyou:
You wouldn’t be able to watch anime or read manga!! — that’s the first thing I thought.
wirexx:
Dude, I’d disappear!
wild15berry:
Completely opposite of our neighbouring countries, where nobody would be bothered even if they weren’t there www
mickeymomo:
Mayonnaise is delicious ☆ If I disappeared tomorrow, I sometimes think that there would be people who were relieved I was gone.
kanhachi:
But the thing is, with the examples given in this article, I don’t think anyone would be that bothered…
OsukiShogo:
If China and Korea were to disappear…I bet the rest of the world would be happy.
uss1701_d2000:
This journalist is an idiot. Japanese games don’t sell abroad anymore. Sales of manga and anime have dropped sharply, it’s being wiped out. They’ve also ignored the reality that 70% of the world’s population live in poverty and can’t buy Japanese-made products.
CAVE1919:
I reckon the world of adult videos would miss Japan a lot ^^
