08/28/06 Japan and US Beef

Beef, it is still what's not for dinner in Japan. If it wasn't for Costco, American beef in Japan would be a rare as a raw steak&&. But thanks to the five stores throughout the nation, US beef retains somewhat of presence in the meat case and Costco reports sales of US beef as strong because they cater to well-traveled Japanese who by in bulk. Other Japanese supermarkets have stopped carrying our beef, because it seems the Japanese people can not be convinced that our meat is safe. Now how could they when the Japanese health minister, Mr. Obayashi smugly commented to an AP reporter that "It's not our job to promote American beef "It's ok if no one buys US beef.. Hum, I wonder how smug he would be if we Americans decided 'It's okay Mr. Obayashi if no one buys "sushi" or Toyotas, or Minoltas or Toshibas " Come on isn't that the right thing to do a country snubs our products? Boycott theirs? We won't, we are fickle, soft and spoiled and the sadly majority of us have lost any connection to the farm and ranch. So at the very least, thank your Costco for continuing to support our cattlemen