Tens of thousands of demonstrators in Seoul, rioting against US beef import, clearly show the different reactions and attitudes in Japan and Korea. To many Japanese, it must be mysterious why those folks are so mad about mad cow disease. On the other hand, many Korean must be, if ever, wondering why Japanese don't care about the issue.
Well, the government took a different policy. the Japanese government didn't lift the ban on US beef import while 2MB (which stands for president Lee Myong Bak) administration tried to lift the ban at first. After taking the office for months, his popularity dramatically dropped just like the stock market after the credit crunch.
However, even if Fukuda lifted the ban, many Japanese wouldn't really care. Simply, we, Japanese, show our protest against the government and US silently by boycotting 'em. Or maybe Korean people are real beefeaters while Japanese fish eaters. :p
16oz New York Strip at Harry Caray I miss
(Arguablly Chicago's #1 Steakhouse)
Still, both Korean and Japanese would better be careful with food import restrictions. We can say no for now, but the increasing demands for food (incl. beef) in emerging market soon substitute our import demands. It is not unrealistic that we won't get imported foods even if we beg for them some day. What is worse, food mileage will be a much more concerned issue sooner or later.
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