I am currently on a business trip in Kagoshima, which is on the island of Kyushu and is the southernmost prefecture in Japan. This is the farthest south I have been in Japan; so far, the only noticeable differences between Kagoshima and the rest of Japan is that it is much warmer here (i.e., it’s now nearly the end of autumn and I was sweating just after a 20 minute walk) and the foliage is more reminiscent of the tropics (i.e. I see palm trees, which I don’t see where I live in Kanagawa).

Apparently, this area is famous for pork and thus prompting me to eat a pork dinner. Although I pirated this photo off the internet, this is exactly what I had:

This is called Satsuma Black Pork Tonkatsu. Tonkatsu is a meat fillet that is breaded and deep-fried. It can be any meat, but is traditionally pork. I’m not sure why exactly it’s called Black Pork; the meat is actually white as one would expect. It was delicious although the taste is pretty much the same as regular Pork Tonkatsu.

Satsuma, incidentally, is the historical name for this southern region which includes Kagoshima. Being the furthest south and thus most distant from Edo (Tokyo), Satsuma is known for the Satsuma Rebellion (in addition to black pork) and the ultra-nationalist samurai that populated and ruled the area. These samurai, angered over an edict passed during the Meiji Restoration, which declared the end of their social class, staged a rebellion that was a tactical failure but successfully landed the event in most Japanese history books. Essentially, the samurai were pissed off because the edict also declared the wearing of samurai swords to be illegal. In my reading, both in books and online, there is no mention of the samurais eating black pork; still, people insist that it’s a local delicacy.

On a more cheerful note, here is a photo that I took of a vending machine in Tokyo:

Anyone who isn't a complete stranger to Japan will not be surprised to see beer and alcoholic beverages that are available in vending machines. However, what struck me as different (read: odd) was that one could also buy a meal in a can. The ones in the middle left row are oden, a kind of Japanese snack of stewed root vegetables, tofu, etc. The bottom left row of cans is Japanese ramen noodles, in two flavors.

Ultimately, what's cool about Japanese vending machines is that you can buy hot beverages, which is nice during the winter. I suppose hot Japanese stewed root vegetables or ramen might be just as nice on a blustery winter day.

One thing that I have failed to find (not that I am interested or anything) are vending machines that sell used underwear. Before I came to Tokyo, I had heard that these existed. Sadly enough, the popularity of this product seems to have run its course. Again, ramen might be a suitable substitute in this case.

Lastly, since I am on the subject of vending machines, a parting shot from my hotel:

The only thing missing? A vending machine that sells frankfurters on a bun... with a side of used underwear.