Many years ago in a deserted Japanese airfield there lived 10 Nintendo scientists. Their job? To create a fun, entertaining next generation console - they succeeded. Unfortunately for them, they all had to be vaporized.......

Check out this desert mouse. It looks like a Japanese toy!

Strawberry Pocky is a YUMMY! Japanese snack food, I ll tell you all you need to know about this awesome desert!

The Nintendo Wii – the games console that is outselling Sony’s Play-Station 3 by three to one – has begun to “steal” prime-time television audiences in Japan.

The Japanese have invented, “a gelatin desert that is based on, smells like, and tastes like (you guessed it) Yebisu Premium Beer.”

from the article: "found in most gardens during the summer months" -- I find it hard to believe that dandelions are found in gardens in all parts of the world. I know of them in Europe; beyond that I have no idea. Could someone clarify? --TarquinDandelions are present in America, Australia, New Zealand, India, China and Canada and are seen in Japanese recipes - is there anywhere they aren't? Maybe desert climates? They are very widespread because they are used as medicine and cuisine. Many people don't see them as weeds. --rmhermenThanks. I just thought we should check. They're weeds in my garden... ;-) -- TarquinRM, I live in a desert climate (Clovis, NM) and they thrive here. Marc W. AbelBasically, it's a temperate zone plant. A friend of mine in Southern California tried and failed to grow dandelions; apparently they need winter. I've noted that in the article. Does anyone know where they originated? Vicki RosenzweigSeveral websites call them of "Eurasian" origin not that that helps much. They were apparently first noted by Arab writers in the 10th century but it didn't mention where. Arabs were widespread by then too. They are listed as growing in Australia and Mexico so I would have thought they would grow in southern California too. The University of California (http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7469.html) says the dandelions grow year round in the entire state except in the mountains. This page aslo says that dandelions go back to Roman times as a medicine and food. --rmhermenIs there a set policy on the gardening section of the 'pedia? We have recipes, so should we have gardening tips? I can say that dandelions are hard to get rid of; they have very long roots. I find the only way to keep dandelions under control is:catch them early when they only have a few leavesrip off any flowers that form to prevent seedingtackle the big ones with trowel or spade. There's a weeding tool like a long v-shaped trowel that's very good for them too. -- TarquinIt seems if any root fragments are missed; new plants will grow from them: turning one to five. Can anyone cofirm this.? (G Nelson)If you do not eradicate them, you are in for a root awakening! -phmaIs a description of the plant needed? Not being any sort of biologist, I've come up with this so far:But "firm" is the wrong word. "self-supporting"? hmm. TarquinIs the table overlapping the text for any body else? This is happening with all right or left aligned tables in IE 5 on Win 2k. --mav