A runner

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Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba set a world record in the women’s 1,500 meters. Dibaba, who clocked 3 minutes, 50.07 seconds to eclipse the long-standing mark of 3:50.46 set by China’s Qu Yunxia in 1993.

The 24-year-old Dibaba crushed her own personal best of 3:54.11.

“With the training I did in Barcelona, I knew I was going to break it,” she said.

Energy is everywhere!

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Energy can be found in many different forms: in light, heat, motion, and more. There is energy in everything, even in a book sitting on a table. All energy can be lumped into one of two categories: potential energy and kinetic energy.

Shichimi (Seven flavors)

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Shichimi is a blend of spices that is served at the table as a condiment for noodle dishes such as soba and udon, but many people sprinkle it on other foods, including gyudon and yakitori. It is more properly called shichimi togarashi (seven-flavor chili pepper) after the main ingredient that gives it its heat: togarashi, or capsicum, which is a type of chili pepper. A shop in Tokyo’s Asakusa district called Yagenbori has been making shichimi for almost 400 years. Their original chukara blend contains black sesame seeds, roasted dry capsicum, the dried peel of the unshu mikan (Satsuma orange), sansho (Japanese pepper), poppy seeds and hemp seeds. Other companies may substitute one or more of these ingredients for other spices, such as ginger or seaweed, and some blends don’t have exactly seven ingredients.

Akita Inu (Dog)

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This year marks the 80^th anniversary of the death of Chuken Hachiko, the Japanese dog famous for his unshakable loyalty to his master. Hachiko was an Akita dog, a breed that has recently gained great popularity overseas for its intelligence and faithful nature.

“Akita dogs are amazingly popular in foreign nations these days,” said Kenro Nagoshi, a specially appointed professor at Akita International University who specializes in Russia and media studies.

Aji-no-Moto or Aji-no-Tomo?

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Ken kaiko (開高健) saw Ajinomoto ― an artificial condiment developed long ago in Japan and whose name literally means “stock of flavor” ― being sold under the name Ajinotomo (“friend of flavor”) in Peru during a visit to the South American country.

But according to the novelist, Ajinomoto means “Don’t park your motorcycle there” in a local language. “Aji” means “there,” and “no” means “don’t park” and “moto” is “motorcycle,” Kaiko said.

Garigarikun

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Japan Post Co. launched a campaign Thursday in which those who purchase 10 summer greeting cards get another greeting postcard with a coupon attached for a “Garigarikun” frozen treat.

The campaign aims to revive the declining practice of writing letters with help from the very popular ice candy brand in Japan.

The postcards are available in 86 post offices in Tokyo, for the first 10,000 people. Purchasers of 10 summer greeting postcards can get a postcard exchangeable with a soda-flavored Garigarikun ice candy in Lawson convenience stores across Japan.

Hiro Kawashima

I want to see him again.