Food

Killer 'Ninja Bear' meat not so grisly

TOKYO, Aug 28 (News On Japan) - Hokkaido's "Ninja Bear," code named "OSO18," that attacked 66 cows, was dissected after his capture and extermination last week, with the meat being served in restaurants across Japan.

People who ate OSO18's meat said, "It has a different texture to deer," "I thought it would be tougher, but it's very tender and delicious."

Meanwhile, a man taking photos said, "This bear killed 66 cows, so we should eat it with relish in memory of those cows."

OSO18's meat was also served at a game cuisine restaurant in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, using tender parts like the inner thigh for charcoal grilling. The owner said, "Everyone says it's 'tender and delicious' and 'has no gamey smell.'"

Once word got out that the meat was from OSO18, the restaurant was flooded with inquiries, while charcoal-grilled dishes made from the inner thigh quickly sold out.

Striking while it's hot, the restaurant has begun offering bear hot pot from September 8th, with reservations already pouring in.

Do Bears Prefer Acorns or Berries?

Bear sightings across Japan have already climbed to nearly twice the level recorded during the same period last year, prompting entry bans in mountain areas behind Kyoto’s Ninna-ji Temple and the cancellation of hiking events in Kansai, while new research suggests that the key to reducing encounters may lie in understanding what bears eat in each region.

Copper Thieves Target Japanese Shrines

Copper roofing panels were stolen from several shrines in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, including a city-designated cultural property, in the latest case amid a nationwide surge in copper thefts targeting shrines and temples across Japan, where soaring metal prices have fueled crimes that leave historic religious buildings damaged, exposed to the elements, and facing repair costs of millions of yen.

1200-Year-Old Temple on Miyajima Reduced to Ashes

Flames broke out on the morning of May 20th on Miyajima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture, home to one of Japan's World Heritage sites, destroying Reikado Hall near the summit of Mount Misen.

From Bento Boxes to Garbage Bags, Rising Costs Hitting Daily Life Across Japan

Uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East is beginning to affect daily life in Japan, as concerns over crude oil supplies spread to restaurants, cleaning services and even household garbage disposal systems across the Kansai region.

Tochigi Robbery-Murder Suspect’s Wife Posted Dance Videos on Social Media

A 25-year-old woman arrested as a suspected ringleader in a robbery-murder case in Tochigi Prefecture once posted cheerful dance videos on social media and was remembered by those who knew her as an energetic and outgoing young woman.

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