Olympic rings

It is said that the reason carp streamers became colorful was that a carp-streamer craftsman was inspired after seeing the Olympic rings on television during the Tokyo Olympics. The Olympic emblem features five rings—blue, yellow, black, green, and red—and, taking a cue from their vivid colors, he began using a variety of colors for carp streamers. Because of this background, modern carp streamers are known for their colorful designs. Before that, black was the standard color, but under the influence of the Olympic emblem, they evolved over time into more vibrant designs.

Yayoi period

The origin of onigiri is very old. Excavations and other archaeological research have revealed that as early as the Yayoi period, rice was already being molded into shapes similar to today’s rice balls. At a Yayoi-period site in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, charred lumps of rice have been discovered, and these are considered the oldest onigiri in Japan. It is thought that the practice of shaping rice by hand arose at the time for ease of preservation and portability. Therefore, the beginnings of onigiri are said to date back to the Yayoi period.

pour hot water

When you pour hot water over real salmon roe (ikura), the surface turns white from the heat, a membrane forms, and the color deepens. In contrast, artificial ikura shows little visible change when hot water is applied, but oil and coloring start to separate and float out. This difference makes it easy to distinguish real from artificial. This method is especially useful for people, such as the elderly, who may find it hard to tell them apart by appearance alone.

kept constant at all times

The salinity of seawater is maintained at an average of about 3.5% worldwide. This is because the global water cycle and the circulation of salts work over long periods to even things out. Although it can temporarily change due to factors like precipitation and river inflow, it remains nearly constant over large areas. As a result, there is rarely a drastic difference in saltiness when you swim in the sea.

Togo Heihachiro

Admiral Heihachiro Togo, a naval officer of the Meiji era, played a major role in the creation of nikujaga. While studying in the United Kingdom, he couldn’t forget the taste of the beef stew he ate there, and after returning to Japan he instructed a chef to recreate it. However, due to ingredient limitations, it was adapted into a Japanese-style simmered dish using beef, potatoes, onions, and the like, and this is said to be how nikujaga was born. As this anecdote spread, it came to be cited as the background for how today’s nikujaga became popular.

cat

The correct answer is “Neko” (Cat). The cat who is the protagonist of Natsume Sōseki’s I Am a Cat is not given an official name, and in the novel it says, “I am a cat. I have no name yet.” However, the pet cat was called “Neko” by Sōseki himself and his family.

The difference between butter and margarine

In France, it is recommended by law that croissants made only with butter be diamond-shaped, while those made with fats other than butter, such as margarine, be crescent-shaped. In other words, the crescent shape traditionally uses fats other than butter, and the diamond shape is generally made with 100% butter. The difference in shape is not just about appearance; it originated as a way to make it easier to distinguish the ingredients used.