lingqi's Journal: March 28th, 2003

March 28th, 2003 (8:35pm)

With all the talk about RFID invading our privacy, there is one place where it makes life so good.

Rotating sushi.

I saw a news-program the other day about a Japanese sushi restaunrant going high-tech.
If anyone don't know what's a "rotating sushi," It is basically a sushi bar where the sushi sits on conveyor belts and goes around. The conveyor belt is usually a miniturized version of the luggage things in Airports - but in some restaurants (I have worked at the place) it's actually a water filled aquaduct, sushi carried on boats.

The sushi pieces comes on different plates (same size, different color), and you keep the plates till you and done - the plates are then counted and your total price comes out. Very McDonaldized system for sushi.

However, this restaurant takes it one step further.

First, the conveyor belt is not mechanical - or at least the surface is not. Instead the plates have magnets embedded below, and are driven (slowly) much like mag-lev trains - though, unfortunately, they do not float.

The cool part comes at checkout time, when the waitress points a RFID scanner at your stack of plates, and a printout of your final tab shows up rightaway.

As a former waiter, this is life-saving! Counting plates can be full of error and is very time consuming. This would change the world of rotating sushi restaurant waiters / waitresses.

On the other hand, you can no longer give your buddies freebies by mis-counting... I guess every benefit comes with it's own set of drawbacks.

I forget if I have mentioned this, but sick-days comes out of regular vacation here in Japan, contrary to the US system. Remember this when in awe over the massive amount of holidays they get.

speaking about japanese food

[abhisarda]

I know that the japanese do not use much oil in their cooking(or do they?). But is it only because of their oil-free food that they live so long? What japanese food is healthy. Could you link to some japanese food recipes(in english) that japanese eat normally in their homes? Also, do you find japanese food tasteless compared to what you are used to in the US? my email address is [e-mail].