Sushi - The Famous And Delectable Yet Simple To Prepare Japanese Cuisine

By Sean R Mize

Sushi refers to a Japanese originated food of rice spiced with vinegar and topped with other spices and ingredients of raw or partially cooked seafood. Totally raw fish sliced alone is called sashimi. It can also be cooked as a roll of dried seaweed flavoured with herbs referred to as makizushi. The origin of the remarkable element of the Japanese food, sushi has to do with the curing and fermentation of acids in the vinegar. The chemical reactions of uncooked fish and the formed amino acids due to of its breakdown are keys to the making of the dish. The name itself is coined from a grammatical root of words translating into it is sour.

The good thing about Japanese recipes is that they're easy to made and always very luscious in their taste. Nowadays in several countries and especially in North America the Japanese Sushi is made by the mixture 2 recipes; it means Sushi is cooked by following the recipes of both American and Japanese sushi.

Conceivably the most common Japanese food, sushi has developed many completely different styles and tastes in spite of retaining a standard principle of chemical reactions of vinegar and the tasty productions of these reactions. The reactions produce one of five fundamental taste sensations. Among the traditional forms of contemporary Japanese food, sushi, or Narezushi has morphed into a more internationally accepted Edomae nigisizushi.

There's a large difference between the originally milk based acid fermentation of the rice-based dish and these day sushi. Usually persons would not consume the rice part of the overall dish, only the fermentation generated fish portion was consumed. Vinegar was also put in to the original dish, developed by the natives close to Lake Baiwa, as a means of preservation, when the fishermen spent most of the time on the lakes catching the fish. The evolution of the dish has ever since developed from pungent tasting funazushi to oshizushi. Putting in vinegar brought out the flavours of the fish and rice.

The modern day version of sushi is the product of a mixture of theories of curing fish and trapping the flavours of the fermentation process. For the requirement to quicken the production of sushi has bbecome a popular dish among the Japanese for many years. It has also built up reputation among those who have little time to have a meal, particularly when travelling or watching movies.

For many persons its a definite must on several events and even lunch for the average Japanese is totally imperfect without a little bit of oshizushi with additional vinegar and a piece of yakatori glazed plus teriyaki as well as a little bit of local fresh eel. It has much attractiveness even to this day. But, it's become more of a delicacy across the world for those who aren't completely familiar with the Japanese customs. - 30215

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The fish used in the making of the current delicacy could not come from the origins of the same area centuries ago, but for pure Japanese food, sushi is as traditional and as genuine as it gets.

Kubota Tractors Will Get The Job Done

By Shane Wilkes

Kubota was established in Japan in 1890. We have become an global leader in our field. We have a focus to contribute to society. We do this by offering environmentally safe equipment designed to improve the quality of life.

Although we first established our roots in Japan we have grown significantly through the years. Kubota is proud that our corporation now has subsidiaries and/or affiliates who manufacture and/or market Kubota products in more than 130 countries. Just think about the popularity of the Kubota bx24 tractor. Our company now has roots all over the world. We are in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom just to name a few.

In 1992, in recognizing Kubota's on-going efforts to help protect the environment, we were honored with the 'Sankel Newspaper Award.' We received this honor as well as the 'Deming Award, ' which was given to us as a result of our excellence in manufacturing. To make it even more rewarding for us we received this as the first award of manufacturing excellence in Japan.

Born with the roots on the Japanese farm, the Kubota tractors are traditionally smaller than tractors Americans are accustomed to seeing and using. There is a need for high performance and easy and powerful maneuverability and, despite its more compact construction, the Kubota tractor ranks up at the top to meet these needs. The Kubota b26 show this off well.

The United States was first introduced to our tractor in 1969. The introductory model was the Kubota 21. We were delighted when it became a huge, overnight success. Due to this success, the Kubota Tractor Corporation was created in 1972. Two years later Kubota introduced the first 12 horsepower tractor with four-wheel drive. This was a huge accomplishment for Kubota tractors because the four-wheel drive tractor was common amongst the larger American tractors. However, it had not been heard of in the compact sector. This was a great success for Kubota. It became a benchmark for the industry. It became a dream come true for our company.

#11 Field Cultivator

Kubota is proud of the achievements and accomplishments during the past quarter century as well. Kubota has continued with its expansion of our product line. We now offer four types of tractors ' the BX, B, L, and M series. Many owner liked the Kubota b6100 tractor model. Kubota tractors has also been successful with the introduction of compact construction equipment as well as turf, lawn and garden equipment.

These products were followed by the introduction, by Kubota, of pumps and generators. The Performance-Matched products followed. Marketing and distribution of tractors with 40 horsepower, or less, has helped Kubota to become the leader in their field. There are now 80 tractor styles offered by Kubota.

With a small beginning in Japan, more than a hundred years ago, Kubota has grown and become a world leader in the sales of tractors and other equipment. To date the 130 plants are found all over the world. They presently lead their field; they plan to continue in that position. - 30215

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Start looking now! You will learn that kubota tractors are the most versatile piece of equipment to complete large or small tasks. You can get kubota attachments to fit every need now!

The Martial Art of Aikido

By Rhys Jones

The sphere of Martial Arts is one of the most important gifts of Asia to the world. Who will not remember Bruce Lee and the reality that he was first and foremost a martial arts athlete before becoming a film star? Martial arts pictures are a big hit with the escalating popularity of Asian cinema like 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' and more recently 'The House of the Flying Daggers'.

The Chinese are the first nation that come to mind when it you think of such things, but the Japanese are just as sporty with a rich heritage of body contact sports in their past. Modern Japan still gives honor to the martial arts by holding tournaments and promoting their martial arts abroad,

Aikido is one of these. It is interesting to note the fact that the word comes from three Japanese characters from which one derives the meaning of the one word. Ai means 'joining', Ki means 'spirit' and Do means 'way'. From this we can understand why Aikido lies beyond merely the physical skills of it students, particularly since its first proponent, Ueshiba, focused on the spiritual and philosophical development of his students.

In Aikido, one is not trained in violence instead, one is trained to be in harmony with the adversary so that you are able to defeat him more easily. This might seem odd but it really works. In approaching an opponent, the aim of the Aikido practitioner is to be one with the opponent so as to be able to attack him where he is weakest and in so doing, deflect or put him out of action, but never to kill him.

This is where Aikido becomes an art form. Art is something beautiful to look at and something positive and Aikido is all that. At least one of the people involved in the fighting is striving for concord and concord can only be achieved if there is grace in the movements. The moves may be calculated, but there is an air of finesse in performing these movements. Not a feminine grace, but a grace that emanates peace. The 'art of peace' is what they call it in Aikido and it is one of the most positive influences of Aikido on its students and to everyone else who decides to find out about this Japanese martial art.

Some of the techniques in Aikido embrace the following.

Ikkyo is the first technique. Using this technique, you manipulate an adversary by using one hand to hold his elbow and one to hold near the wrist. This action is supposed to allow you to pin your opponent down to the ground.

Nikyo, the second technique, is when you perform a wrist lock which allows you to twist the arm of your opponent which will in turn cause nerve pressure.

Sankyo, the third technique, is a technique that creates upward-spiraling tension throughout the arm, elbow and shoulder. There are many other techniques but the first three are enough to give you a basic insight.

In studying Aikido, it is vital to remember that, together with building physical strength, you will need to improve your mind to be able to overpower your opponent. Just like in any art form, it takes a lot of training and discipline to reach the summit of the art of Aikido. The important thing to remember is, that anyone who wants to get into the art, must have the resolve to give honor to the art by performing it in the best way possible. - 30215

About the Author:

If you are interested in the fairly modern Japanese Martial Art of Aikido, please click a link to visit our website at http://aikido.the-real-way.com

Aikido, The Latest Martial Art

By Rhys Jones

The sphere of Martial Arts is one of the most important contributions of Asia to the world. Who will forget Bruce Lee and the fact that he was first and foremost a martial arts competitor before becoming a movie star? Martial arts pictures are a huge hit with the ever-increasing popularity of Asian cinema like 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' and more recently 'The House of the Flying Daggers'.

The Chinese are the first nation that come to mind when it you think of such things, but the Japanese are just as sporty with a rich heritage of body contact sports in their past. Modern Japan still gives honor to the martial arts by holding tournaments and promoting their martial arts abroad,

Aikido is one of these. It is interesting to note the fact that the word comes from three Japanese characters from which one derives the meaning of the one word. Ai means 'joining', Ki means 'spirit' and Do means 'way'. From this we can understand why Aikido lies beyond merely the physical skills of it students, particularly since its first proponent, Ueshiba, focused on the spiritual and philosophical development of his students.

In Aikido, one is not trained in violence instead, one is taught to be in harmony with the opponent so that you are able to defeat him more easily. This might appear strange but it actually works. In approaching an opponent, the goal of the Aikido practitioner is to be one with the adversary so as to be able to attack him where he is weakest and in so doing, divert or put him out of action, but never to kill him.

This is where Aikido becomes an art form. Art is something beautiful to look at and something constructive and Aikido is all that. At least one of the contestants involved in the fighting is searching for concord and harmony can only be achieved if there is grace in the movements. The moves may be calculated, but there is an air of finesse in performing these movements. Not a feminine grace, but a grace that emanates peace. The 'art of peace' is what they call it in Aikido and it is one of the most affirmative influences of Aikido on its students and to everyone else who chooses to learn about this Japanese martial art.

Some of the techniques in Aikido embrace the following.

Ikkyo is the first technique. Using this technique, you manipulate an adversary by using one hand to hold his elbow and one to hold near the wrist. This action is supposed to allow you to pin your opponent down to the ground.

Nikyo, the second technique, is when you perform a wrist lock which enables you to twist the arm of your opponent which will in turn cause nerve pressure.

Sankyo, the third technique, is a technique that directs upward-spiraling tension throughout the arm, elbow and shoulder. There are many other techniques but the first three are enough to give you a fundamental insight.

In studying Aikido, it is vital to remember that, together with building physical strength, you will need to improve your mind to be able to overpower your opponent. Just like in any art form, it takes a lot of training and discipline to reach the summit of the art of Aikido. The important thing to remember is, that anyone who wants to get into the art, must have the resolve to give honor to the art by performing it in the best way possible. - 30215

About the Author:

If you are interested in the Japanese Martial Art of Aikido, please click a link to visit our website at http://aikido.the-real-way.com

Satoshi Ishii And The UFC: A MMA Soap Opera

By Ross Everett

It may be a bit of a stretch to call Satoshi Ishii the Michael Phelps of Japan, but not by much. His victory in the heavyweight judo competition at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing was easily the defining moment of the games for his countrymen and was considered by most media outlets the #1 highlight of the year in all of sports. Though Japan does well at the Olympics for a country of its size and has won gold medals in a number of sports, its important to keep in mind that until the late 1970s judo was the countrys most popular sport. While its popularity in the intervening decades has been supplanted by imported team sports like soccer and baseball, judo still holds especially high prestige among the Japanese sports fans and general public.

Ishii himself is also a marketing dream. Hes especially big by Japanese standards with 240 pounds packed on his bulky 511 frame. Not surprisingly, hes tough as nails and a terror on the mat but away from the gym he comes off like an awkwardly cheerful overgrown boy. He definitely seems younger than his 22 years, but gives off the vibe of a nice neighbor boy who youd gladly pay to mow your lawn.

With the ability to offer him the most money and exposure, it seemed almost a fait accompli that Ishii would sign with DREAM and K-1 parent group FEG. Obviously its a good idea to keep your options open in negotiations, so he also reportedly talked to Sengoku parent World Victory Road and Antonio Inokis Inoki Genome Federation pro wrestling group. As expected, however, FEG reportedly presented Ishii with the most lucrative offer: 500 million yen (roughly $5.5 million US) to fight on DREAM and K-1 cards, with incentive bonuses based on his drawing power and performance. He would very likely become the highest paid mixed martial artist in the world before hed even stepped into the ring for the first time.

Ishii then shocked the Japanese fight sport world by categorically rejecting FEGs offer, saying that it was his lifelong dream to fight in the UFC. While this rationale might sound plausible to a US based fan, its akin to a top college baseball player from a SEC school turning down a big offer from the Atlanta Braves saying that its his lifelong dream to play for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan Central League. It frequently comes a shock to US MMA fans when immersed in Japans culture for the first time just how low the UFC ranks in the countrys fight sport pantheon. In MMA, their profile is lower than DREAM and Sengoku, but even smaller groups like Shooto and DEEP. Overall, the interest in and prestige of the UFC is well below not only boxing but even Japanese pro wrestling (puroresu). The UFC is making some progress, and big fights like GSP/Penn and Lesnar/Couture now get higher profile coverage (Lesnar/Couture owed most of its interest in the Japanese press to Brocks run as IWGP pro wrestling champ) but by no means is the #1 US MMA promotion considered on par with any of the major Japanese fighting groups.

Ishii then travelled to Las Vegas for UFC 92, with the Japanese media in tow covering his every move. Upon his return to Japan, he appeared at the Sengoku card in January addressing the audience from the ring and wearing his ubiquitous UFC shirt; his message was that he was going to fight in America for awhile but would eventually return to Japan.

At age 22, Ishii's got plenty of time to develop as a fighter. His biggest downside risk from signing with Zuffa is financial since hed be lucky to get a fraction of what FEG is willing to pay him. The competitive logic of learning his craft slowly notwithstanding, theres a huge risk in automatically assuming that he can fight for the UFC for a few years and then cash a big check when he returns to Japan as the potential of injury and changing market conditions could seriously impact his market value. On the other hand, it could be a risk hes willing to take given that hes got his celebrity both with the mainstream public and in the judo community to fall back on. Still, its a logical assumption that the goal of all professional fighters is to maximize their income while facing the best competition possible. For Ishii, a move to the UFC defies both components of that axiom.

Theres another very realistic scenario that it was all a negotiating ploy by Ishii. The UFC was likely willing to play along, figuring that their investment of a few plane tickets and hotel suites would be worth the resulting PR surge in Japan. Ishii and the UFC develop a cordial relationship which could be to the benefit of both parties down the road.

With the recent revelation that Ishii has broken off UFC negotiations to entertain offers from other parties thats starting to look like the plausible explanation for the once hot and heavy courtship between Ishii and Zuffa.

As a postscript to the Ishiis relationship with the UFC, it apparently opened the doors for his move to the US where hell be training with the Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. That alone is a positive for his future development as a fighter, as hell be training with a whos who of professional fighting including the gym's namesake, Randy Couture. Training at a high level facility like Xtreme Couture among such an abundance of talent is a career move thats difficult to second guess. - 30215

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a staff oddsmaker for Sports-1 Sportsbook as well as a freelance writer specializing in fight sports, investing strategy and how to bet on NFL football. He is a respected authority on Internet sports betting, cigars and fencing. He lives in southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a pet wallaby.

The Legacy Of Japanese MMA Great Kazushi Sakuraba

By Ross Everett

The toughest decision a boxer of MMA fighter will face in his career is deciding to hang up the gloves. Boxing history is rife with top notch fighters that hung around too long, and in a sure sign that its matured as a sport MMA is now experiencing the same phenomenon. After his punishing knockout loss to Melvin Manhoef at DREAM 4 it has become apparent that the time has come for Japanese fighting legend Kazushi Sakuraba to retire.

Despite the recent explosion in the sports popularity, the United States MMA scene doesnt really have anyone of comparable status to Sakuraba in Japan. Hes credited for helping the nascent sport of mixed martial arts emerge from Japanese professional wrestling as well as for making MMA a major league sport in Japan. Sakuraba is also considered by many to be pound for pound the greatest Japanese MMA fighter ever, with some suggesting that he transcends the national qualifier and should be regarded as the pound for pound best fighter in the brief history of the sport. A legendary series of matches against various members of the Gracie family further elevated the status of MMA in Japan and in the process made Sakuraba a superstar. In particular the 90 minute long battle against Royce Gracie at PRIDEs 2000 Grand Prix tournament is frequently cited as the greatest match in MMA history. Hes also considered the best box office draw in Japanese fight sports of the past decade, which is part of the reason that hes been persuaded to stick around longer than he should have. Hes not only Japans greatest MMA fighter, but one that still sells tickets.

Sakuraba's record definitely justifies the high regard in which he's held, but the reality is that he's done nothing to build on his legacy for a number of years. His last really impressive win was over former UFC light heavyweight champ Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson, but he hasn't even defeated a credible opponent of any sort since his 2003 win over Kevin Randleman.

Boxing experts often evaluate fighters as being young or old for their age. A fighter whose career has been mostly comprised of knockouts or other easy victories against uninspiring opposition would be described as young for his age. Conversely, a competitor that has been through many grueling fights and wars against top notch rivals is often judged to be old for his age. Perhaps the best recent example of a boxer that was old for his age is Erik El Terrible Morales who retired late last year at the age of 30, having fought a series of epic battles with fellow Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera that left him physically and emotionally drained. As a result, boxing commentators often suggest that Morales was an old 30. Evaluated by a similar rubric, theres no doubt that Sakuraba is an old 38. The 90 minute confrontation with Royce Gracie alone likely took a significant physical and emotional toll, and after that Sakuraba continued to fight the best level of opposition in the world.

Furthermore hed frequently find himself across the ring from much larger superstars, his popularity and fearlessness producing matchups that could never get sanctioned in the US but are commonplace in the wild wild west environment of Japanese fighting. The quality of opposition he faced is staggering"Royce Gracie and several other members of the legendary family, Wanderlei Silva, Mirko Cro Cop, Vitor Belfort, and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira stand out as the most impressive names on his record. Unfortunately and not surprisingly, he had difficulty when stepping up in class against heavier fighters and most of these matchups resulted in losses by brutal knockout or other type of stoppage.

Despite his recent setbacks, Sakuraba has made no indication that hell be retiring anytime soon. Hopefully, this decision doesnt put his long-term health and future well being at risk. - 30215

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer who has written on sports gambling and how to successfully bet on NFL football. He has appeared on TV and radio talking about boxing, hockey and NFL pointspreads. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a lynx.

Satoshi Ishii And The UFC: A MMA Soap Opera

By Ross Everett

It may be a bit of a stretch to call Satoshi Ishii the Michael Phelps of Japan, but not by much. His victory in the heavyweight judo competition at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing was easily the defining moment of the games for his countrymen and was considered by most media outlets the #1 highlight of the year in all of sports.

Ishii himself is also a marketing dream. Hes especially big by Japanese standards with 240 pounds packed on his bulky 511 frame. Not surprisingly, hes tough as nails and a terror on the mat but away from the gym he comes off like an awkwardly cheerful overgrown boy. He definitely seems younger than his 22 years, but gives off the vibe of a nice neighbor boy who youd gladly pay to mow your lawn. Unlike his telegenic American gold medalist counterpart Phelps, who acts as if he spent as much time working on media relations as his backstroke heading up to the Olympic games, Ishiis demeanor is of an athlete who literally spent the bulk of his life in a gym only to emerge and find himself a national hero.

With the ability to offer him the most money and exposure, it seemed almost a fait accompli that Ishii would sign with DREAM and K-1 parent group FEG. Obviously its a good idea to keep your options open in negotiations, so he also reportedly talked to Sengoku parent World Victory Road and Antonio Inoki's Inoki Genome Federation pro wrestling group. As expected, however, FEG reportedly presented Ishii with the most lucrative offer: 500 million yen (roughly $5.5 million US) to fight on DREAM and K-1 cards, with incentive bonuses based on his drawing power and performance. He would very likely become the highest paid mixed martial artist in the world before hed even stepped into the ring for the first time. The tentative plan was for Ishii to appear on the year end K-1/DREAM Fields Dynamite! joint show, if not fighting at least in a heavily hyped opportunity for FEG to unveil their investment.

Ishii then shocked the Japanese fight sport world by categorically rejecting FEGs offer, saying that it was his lifelong dream to fight in the UFC. While this rationale might sound plausible to a US based fan, its akin to a top college baseball player from a SEC school turning down a big offer from the Atlanta Braves saying that its his lifelong dream to play for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan Central League. It frequently comes a shock to US MMA fans when immersed in Japans culture for the first time just how low the UFC ranks in the countrys fight sport pantheon. In MMA, their profile is lower than DREAM and Sengoku, but even smaller groups like Shooto and DEEP. Overall, the interest in and prestige of the UFC is well below not only boxing but even Japanese pro wrestling (puroresu).

Ishii then travelled to Las Vegas for UFC 92, with the Japanese media in tow covering his every move. There were countless photo opportunities with Dana White, who spoke of Ishii in glowing terms, along with top UFC stars. Upon his return to Japan, he was repeatedly photographed wearing UFC t-shirts while speaking enthusiastically about Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta and everyone else involved with the promotion.

At age 22, Ishii's got plenty of time to develop as a fighter. His biggest downside risk from signing with Zuffa is financial since hed be lucky to get a fraction of what FEG is willing to pay him. The competitive logic of learning his craft slowly notwithstanding, theres a huge risk in automatically assuming that he can fight for the UFC for a few years and then cash a big check when he returns to Japan as the potential of injury and changing market conditions could seriously impact his market value. On the other hand, it could be a risk hes willing to take given that hes got his celebrity both with the mainstream public and in the judo community to fall back on. Still, its a logical assumption that the goal of all professional fighters is to maximize their income while facing the best competition possible. For Ishii, a move to the UFC defies both components of that axiom.

Theres another very realistic scenario that it was all a negotiating ploy by Ishii. The UFC was likely willing to play along, figuring that their investment of a few plane tickets and hotel suites would be worth the resulting PR surge in Japan.

With the recent revelation that Ishii has broken off UFC negotiations to entertain offers from other parties thats starting to look like the plausible explanation for the once hot and heavy courtship between Ishii and Zuffa.

As a postscript to the Ishiis relationship with the UFC, it apparently opened the doors for his move to the US for training. That alone is a positive for his future development as a fighter, as hell be training with a whos who of professional fighting. That alone is a career move thats difficult to second guess. - 30215

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a staff handicapper for Sports-1 and an authority on NFL betting. He's a well known and widely published expert on sports handicapping and stock investing theory. He contributes to a number of online media outlets providing insight on how to bet on NFL football, MMA and boxing.