Nara local wins Naples pizza competition
Makoto Onishi, a 28-year-old Nara based Japanese pizza chef was
named the best pizza maker at the annual Naples pizza festival in
September. Onishi became the first foreigner to win the best pizza-maker
title at Naples's PizzaFest, where the best pizzas were often adjudged
to be the work
of local pizza-making masters.
A local from Yoshino, Nara Prefecture, Onishi
studied pizza-making in Naples under Gaetano Fazio, the 53-year
old owner of de Gaetano Pizzeria in Ischia Island which is located
about 30 kilometers southwest of Naples. After winning the pizza
title, the Italian media have flooded the young Japanese champion
with requests for TV appearance.
"Cooking is an art created by one individual
for the benefit of another individual," Onishi says. "To
make a good pizza, the chef must be free of stress."
Fazio, who was present at Friday's pizza-making
demonstration together with Antonio Pace, president of True Naples
Pizza Association, said Onishi must have gone through a lot of hardship
in Naples since Japan is very far from Italy. "He is a very
polite young man full of self-sacrificing spirit," Fazio said,
as he tested approvingly the freshly-made pizza made by his apprentice.
According to the Naples Pizza Associati-on, sponsors
of the annual PizzaFest, there are 200 certified Verace Pizza Napoletana
— True Naples Pizza — pizzerias around the world, 10 of
them in Japan. The competition takes place every year in September.
2003 U.S. University Fairs
The U.S. Embassy's Commercial Service in Japan
organizes 2003 U.S. University Fairs in Tokyo and Kobe jointly with
the Japan-United States Educational Commission, the Manufa-ctured
Imports Promotion Association, and Hyogo International Association.
Representatives from about 100 regionally-accredited
two-year, four-year colleges and graduages schoools in the United
States will exhibit in Tokyo and about 30 in Kobe. These represen-tatives
will be available to speak with prospective students, and the students
can not only obtain the latest school brochures but also have a
chance to listen, compare and directly post questons.
October 23
Hyogo International Plaza IHD, 1-15-1 Wakinohama Kaigan-dori, Chuo-ku,
Kobe
3pm-4pm: Introductory Seminar (in Japanese)
4pm-8pm: The U.S. University Fair
Admission: Free
Tel: 078-230-3260 www.hyogo-jp.or.jp
There will be a visa briefing for Japanese students
by the visa section of the American Consulate General Osaka.
Japan news
The price for a chikan
An unemployed man accused of chikan, or molesting, jumped onto the
tracks and was instantly killed by an incoming train as he was being
led away by railway officials responding to calls of a female accuser.
The suicide caused over an hour of delays on Tokyo’s Yamanote
line.
Still in exile
Alberto Fujimori, Peru’s former president living in self-imposed
exiled in Japan, has made plans to host a weekly radio talk show
in which he counterattacks his critics and the government that wants
him extradited to face criminal charges that date back to the 90s.
Shio-ji hospitalized
Japan’s ageing minister of finance, Masajuro Shiokawa, more
commonly known by his amicable title “Shiojii” has left
hospital following a week of treatments for an undisclosed illness.
New route to China
Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, Japan’s two largest
commercial airlines, have China on their horizons as they plan on
increasing their weekly round-trip flights to the communist country
by a joint figure of 27 as of October 26.
A Threat
Former LDP secretary general Hiromu Nonaka recently opened a letter
and found a metal bullet, believed to have been planted by the same
perpetrators who sent a bomb threat to a foreign ministry official.
Nonaka announced his retirement from the political world in Sept.
Another slap for the Governor
Outspoken Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara was handed verbal blows
by Prime Minister Koizumi and other leading bureaucrats for claiming
a foreign ministry official deserved the bomb threats he received.
Ishihara countered arguments claiming he was effectively supporting
terrorism by stating there were “appropriate reasons”
why the official had been targeted.
Executed
A man’s been executed. Japan’s Ministry ofJustice, world
famous for withholding information on death row inmates until after
they’ve been hanged, has reported the death of Shinji Mukai,
a man convicted of three murders in Hyogo Prefecture in 1985. He
had served on Osaka Detention Center’s death row since 1996.
Murphy's 12th Anniversary Celebration
It all began way back in October 1992. The 1st Irish bar in Japan
was opened. To help celebrate it's 12th birthday, Murphy's, also
the oldest gaijin bar in Osaka, will be having their biggest celebration
ever. The party will last for 4 days and promises to be even bigger
than St. Patrick's Day. The craic kicks off on Thursday 16th October
with Irish Harp Lager for only ¥500. Friday, 17th Oct., has
Guinness and Kilkenny pints for ¥600 and live music all night
long. The madness continues on Saturday, 17th Oct., with 2
for 1 shots and pop down on Sunday, 19th Oct., for a cure with ¥400
Jameson's Irish Whiskey. Murphy is where the craic is always mighty!
Open 7days, 5pm~3am. For more info contact Michael at 06-6282-0677
or visit www.murphyosaka.com
Charity Event for the children of Iraq
The war in Iraq may be over, but the suffering still continues.
A special charity event is been organised at Meriken Park, Kobe
on Nov.2nd (10:00am~8:00pm) by 'Peace & Nature Comittee'. The
attractions of the event will be a flea-market, raffle, photo exhibition
on Iraq, live music and international food stalls.
For further information contact Bahram at 078-391-4565/090-5043-0492
or email: panc2003@hotmail.com
or visit http://page.freett.com/pnc2003/
International news
Jimmy Carter visits Japan
When ex-US president Jimmy Carter visited Tokyo last month, he pointed
out that it was “inconceivable” for the Bush administration
to send him on his second trip to North Korea as an ambassador of
peace —indicating that he and Washington have very different
opinions of how American foreign policy should be enacted.
Pneumonia in Iraq
An outbreak of pneumonia among forces in Iraq has left two soldiers
dead and several requiring ventilators to resume breathing, with
some having to be airlifted to bases in Germany and the US. While
the Pentagon is tackling the problem seriously fearing another lax
approach as that to the Gulf War Syndrome of 1991 would invite further
condemnation, Bush’s Iraqi campai-gn continues to claim new
souls by the day.
The worst leader
Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat has been branded “the
most incompetent revolutionary leader in history” by a general
in his own camp, while Israel’s security cabinet recently voted
to expel him from the West Bank in light of stagnating peace talks.
Peeping tom
A woman from Midland, Texas filed a “peeping” lawsuit
against Abercrombie & Fitch, whose employees allegedly filmed
her in a dressing room—the brand’s notorious catalogues
featuring quasi-nude models will likely not be used in their defense.
Serving time
A 21-year-old US Marine stationed in Okinawa has been handed down
a three-and-a-half year sentence for raping a 19-year-old in the
town of Kin.
Murder in Sweden
Anna Lindh, Sweden’s Foreign Minister and ardent supporter
of
the European common currency, was stabbed
to death in this peaceful country currently deliberating whether
to adopt the Euro. Swedish police, who have broadened the investigation,
are chasing an elusive, acne-scarred man.
Styrian dentists
23 “dodgy dentists” from Syria have been detained in Paris
along with their suitcases brimming with dental equipment over charges
of illegally practicing their trade targeting the uninsured immigrant
community who paid a quarter of the amount asked by legal practitioners.
Aussie icon Slim Dusty dead at 76
Australian country music singer Slim Dusty, who personi-fied the
laid-back culture of the Outback in his songs, has died. He was
76. Dusty died at his home after a protracted battle with cancer,
EMI Australia marketing manager Chris O'Hearne said.
Wedding vows postponed
J-Lo’s third trip down the aisle, reportedly a $1.5 million
affair, was postponed after she paid a visit to her mystical adviser.
While she and fiancé Ben Affleck blame the media, it might
just have some-thing to do with the flop of their recent flick,
Gigli.
Arnie and Oprah
Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Republican candidate to California gubernatorial
seat, has declined all but one challenge to a debate and instead
has secured airtime on the Oprah Winfrey Show.
Two-year old gets it for reckless driving
A two-year-old toddler slipped away from a motel in Hillsborough
County, Florida, and drove his mother’s car back inside, destroying
an entire façade — and escaped unscathed.
Madonna's book gets passing grade
Pop icon Madonna, embarking on yet another career twist, launched
her first children's book, with a print run of more than one million
copies around the world. "The English Roses,'' a moralistic
tale about the pitfalls of envy, was released in 30 languages and
more than 100 countries with all the worldwide hype normally associated
with the latest Harry Potter saga. Critics decided that the story
was a more than passable effort by a first-time kids' writer.
Vatican cardinal praises 'Passion'
A top Vatican cardinal entered the fray over Mel Gibson's controversial
film "The Passion" on Thursday, praising it as "a
triumph of art" and rejecting fears it could spark a wave of
anti-Semitism.
News section compiled by Jason Mills
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