May 18th, 2009 
AstroNerdBoy “Japan’s collective breath, already bad, is getting worse.”
I do scan Japanese news sites and the like for interesting tidbits, kind of like this article from Japan Today about how stress is causing people’s stank-breath to get worse. It was this quote that made me laugh out loud though.
“Japan’s collective breath, already bad, is getting worse.”
This is one of those little known secrets about Japan — people there have some really bad dragon breath. You could start talking with some real hot, idol-looking Japanese girl and then get hit with breath that is so bad, it would dissolve a container of tic-tac’s before the candies could reach her mouth. ^_^; You think I’m joking, but it is scary true (though obviously, not for every Japanese person you meet).
I remembered “Mike-san,” an older Japanese guy who was our dorm’s personal janitor and a really nice guy. We unofficially dubbed as “fish breath.” Then there was “Sekia-san,” who worked day shift. His breath just made you want to gag at times but otherwise he was a great guy. So bad breath in Japan has long been around.
As to the article, I find the notion of stress increasing one’s bad breath a laugh. Yeah, if you smoke more or eat more foods that cause stink and don’t brush your teeth, your breath isn’t going to be minty-fresh now is it? So in that regard, I guess stress could play a role but otherwise I don’t buy it. If it were true, everyone where I work now would have the worst breath on the planet. ^_^;
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You think I’m joking, but it is scary true (though obviously, not for every Japanese person you meet).Ah yes, that brings back memories from my 20 years on WESTPAC.
I seem to recall something about stress, diet and reflux from long ago which I think would have a bearing here.
Well, maybe it does. I know that with all of the sheer stupidity going on where I work and the stress that’s causing everyone, it seems we’d all have funky breath i fstress were a cause. *lol*
Ha, an musing little post. I never really thought about it before. I guess if you are stressed you may forget to brush your teeth XD then again maybe not.
http://www.nihongojournals.blogspot.com
I think you didn’t understand the whole article, AstroNerdBoy. The article said that stress is increasing bad breath, which means that stress is not the cause, but rather a… erm… catalyst (I hope the term is close enough). So, if you already have a bad breath, stress would make it even worse. If you don’t have it, stress would increase the chances of getting it.
Or at least this is what you said in your article.
P.S. But this is not the hidden message of the article. It is:
don’t work, stay home, and watch more anime (and don’t forget to buy this nwespaper!).
HAHAHAHA!