Hanami (花見, lit. “flower viewing”) is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers, “flower” in this case almost always meaning cherry blossoms or ume blossoms. From the end of March to early May, sakura bloom all over Japan, and around the first of February on the island of Okinawa.

Green tea (緑茶 Ryokucha) is ubiquitous in Japan and therefore is more commonly known simply as “tea” (お茶 ocha).

On July 14, 2009, Kirin announced that it is negotiating with Suntory on a merger. On February 8, 2010, it was announced that negotiations between the two were terminated.

Suntory was one of the first Asian companies to specifically employ American celebrities to market their product. One of the most notable is Sammy Davis, Jr., who appeared in a series of memorable Suntory commercials in the early 1970s.

Samuel George “Sammy” Davis, Jr. (December 8, 1925 – May 16, 1990) was an American entertainer. Primarily a dancer and singer, Davis was a childhood vaudevillian, and became known for his performances on Broadway and in Las Vegas, as a recording artist, television and film star, and the only black member of Frank Sinatra’s “Rat Pack”. In the 1970s, he appeared in commercials in Japan for Suntory whiskey.

A blended whisky (or whiskey) is the product of blending different types of whiskies.

Asashōryū Akinori (朝青龍 明徳, born September 27, 1980, as Dolgorsürengiin Dagvadorj, Mongolian: Долгорсүрэнгийн Дагвадорж) is a former sumo wrestler from Ulan Bator, Mongolia. During the January 2010 tournament, a tabloid magazine claimed he punched his personal manager after getting drunk during a night out in downtown Nishiazabu [Minato Ward, Tokyo]. Subsequently, on February 4, 2010, he announced his decision to retire, after discussing the matter at a meeting with the Board of Directors of the Sumo Association.

Fanta has its origins in Germany, when a trading ban was placed on that nation by the Allies during World War II. The Coca-Cola company therefore was not able to import the syrup needed to produce Coca-Cola in Germany.

John Joseph Travolta (born February 18, 1954) is an American actor, dancer and singer.

Shōchū (焼酎) is a distilled beverage native to Japan. It is most commonly distilled from barley, sweet potatoes, or rice.

Takara Sake USA Inc. holds the rights to distribute Kirin Brewery Company products in the United States, but have not started importing Chu Hi for distribution in North America.

Kirin eventually, somewhat belatedly, in early 1996, gave in to consumer preferences and changed Kirin Lager to a less bitter, draft beer.

Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) is an influential Japanese technopop band formed in 1978, and renowned as a major influence in popular music and for pioneering the technopop music genre. The principal members are Haruomi Hosono (bass), Yukihiro Takahashi (drums and vocals) and Ryuichi Sakamoto (keyboards). The band have reunited in 2007 for an advertising campaign for Kirin Lager which lampooned their longevity and charted No.1 on various Japanese digital download charts (including iTunes Store chart) with the song “Rydeen 79/07″, released on Sakamoto’s new label commmons.

Moog synthesizer (pronounced /ˈmoʊg/, rhymes with “rogue”) may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for analog and digital music synthesisers.

Calpis (カルピス) is a Japanese uncarbonated soft drink, manufactured by Calpis Co., Ltd. (カルピス株式会社) , headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo. The beverage has a light, somewhat milky, and slightly acidic flavor, similar to plain or vanilla-flavored yogurt, or Yakult. Its ingredients include water, nonfat dry milk, and lactic acid, and is produced by lactic acid fermentation.

In English-speaking countries the beverage is sometimes called “Calpico,” because “Calpis” may sound like “Cow Piss”.

Japan belongs to the temperate zone with four distinct seasons, but its climate varies from cool temperate in the north to subtropical in the south. In winter, a high-pressure area develops over Siberia, and a low-pressure area develops over the northern Pacific Ocean. The result is a flow of cold air eastward across Japan that brings freezing temperatures and heavy snowfalls to the central mountain ranges facing the Sea of Japan, but clear skies to areas fronting on the Pacific.

For some time it was believed by many that whisky made in the Scotch style, but not produced in Scotland, could not possibly measure up to the standards of the traditional Scotch distilleries. Until fairly recently, the market for Japanese whiskies was almost entirely domestic.

Suntory operates two museums, the Suntory Museum of Art in Tokyo and the Suntory Museum Tempozan in Osaka, in addition to a number of cultural and social programs across Japan.

[Sean] Connery has “Scotland Forever” tattooed on his arm, and used his fee from Diamonds Are Forever (1971) to establish a charity to support poor children in Edinburgh, as well as Scottish film production. He has said that he will return to Scotland when it is granted independence.

Kirin Brewery Company, Ltd. (麒麟麦酒株式会社, Kirin Bīru Kabushiki-gaisha) is a Japanese company. It is a member of the Mitsubishi core group of companies.

Some Japanese find social importance in going to public baths, out of the theory that physical proximity/intimacy brings emotional intimacy, which is termed skinship in Japanese. Others go to a sentō because they live in a small housing facility without a private bath or to enjoy bathing in a spacious room and to relax in saunas or jet baths that often accompany new or renovated sentōs.

Harrison Ford (born July 13, 1942) is an Academy Award nominated American actor. He is best known for his performances as the tough, wisecracking space pilot Han Solo in the Star Wars film series, and the adventurous archaeologist/action hero, Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones in the Indiana Jones film series.

The description seen on all CalorieMate products reads:

CALORIE MATE (product name) is a nutritionally balanced source of the energy needed for daily activities. CALORIE MATE (product name) is naturally suited for people on-the-go who need an easy source of energy and nutrition-at breakfast, work, sports, study, or any busy time.

[Kiefer Sutherland] has starred in Japanese commercials for Calorie Mate, performing a parody of his Jack Bauer character.

Shinjuku (新宿区, Shinjuku-ku) is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. It is a major commercial and administrative centre, housing the busiest train station in the world (Shinjuku Station), and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, the administration center for the Tokyo Metropolis. The area around Shinjuku Station is home to a large concentration of department stores, specialist electronic and camera shops, cinemas, restaurants and bars. Many international hotels have a large presence here.

Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland (born December 21, 1966 in London, England) is an Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning Canadian television and film actor, currently well known for his role of Jack Bauer on the series 24.

CalorieMate (カロリーメイト) is a brand of energy-supplement foods produced by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., in Japan. CalorieMate products are labeled, apparently without irony, simply as “Balanced Food.” Their packaging is quite plain, almost generic.