Posted pix of me posing with a maid in the other thread. Do check it out if you haven't.
The Japanese LOVE food. They love it so much that I find it rather unnatural, even disturbing at times. This is evidenced by the number of TV programs dedicated to introducing food, restaurants and such. Those TV shows employ good camera angles for both the food being introduced and at the person chewing on it (including close-ups...), combined with loud chewing/slurping sounds and exaggerated looks of bliss on his/her face after taking a bite. Oh, and not forgetting him/her exclaiming "Umaaaaai~" or "Oishiiiii" (meaning "delicious").
The younger generation of Japanese are into pop idol groups like AKB48, which is HUGE here. They are the major money spinners in the music industry, so you hardly see or hear any other kind of music on TV. The exception is the annual Red and White Singing Competition held on New Year's Eve, where Enka singers get the relatively rare chance to perform on TV.
