Mr. Ono, the Curry master Eating curry 365 days

We love curry (Japanese curry as well as Indian curry). We feel we could eat it 3 times a day. Is it healthy? Some say eating the curry esp. Japanese curry which has far more fat than Indian curry may kill you. We hope it does not.

We also featured the strangest curry in Japan (poo curry!) even.

Today we heard of a very sad news for curry in Japan. 

Kazuhiro Ono, a prominent figure in Japan's curry critique scene and the inaugural honorary curator of the Yokohama Curry Museum, passed away on the 1st of May, 2024 due to a heart attack. We were big fans of his and wanted to interview him for our media.

He was only 64 years old. Many say "only" and wonder if curry and his diet was one cause of his early death. 

On the 3rd of May, an announcement was made on Mr. Ono's official website by the "Kazuhiro Ono Blog Management Team" with the title "Notice of Kazuhiro Ono's Passing to His Fans."

"We sincerely thank all of Mr. Ono's fans for their continuous support. Although this news may come as a shock, we regret to inform you of the sudden passing of Kazuhiro Ono two days ago due to a heart attack. As the administrators of this blog, we too are deeply surprised by this sudden turn of events. Knowing him, we believe he's likely enjoying heavenly yellow curry and delicious ramen, smiling in contentment," the statement reads.

The announcement also included a request for condolences, flowers, and details of the funeral arrangements on the 4th of May. "At the age of 64, a man who loved curry even before he was born. We sincerely pray for Kazuhiro Ono to rest in peace," it concluded.

According to his profile on the official website, Mr. Ono was born in Hokkaido in 1959. He began his curry exploration at the age of 17, eventually visiting over 4,000 curry specialty restaurants and more than 10,000 dining establishments. Leveraging this wealth of experience, he became a prominent figure in various media outlets, earning the title of the original curry researcher. He also supervised retort curry products.

Mr. Ono had been actively updating his "Delicious Restaurant Recommendations" until recently. Just on April 29th, he wrote about his visit to a spaghetti specialty restaurant in Tokyo.

The funeral was held on the 4th at Saishoji Temple in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo. The blog expressed confidence that Mr. Ono, true to his nature, was likely enjoying heavenly yellow curry and delicious ramen even in the afterlife.

Some people say the followings to express their fear of eating too much curry to harm their health.

The premature deaths of food critics like Mr. Ono, Hideo Kitajima (51), also a ramen critic, and the "Ramen King" Noboru Takeuchi (47), as well as the renowned competitive eater Hatsue Sugawara (59), highlight the commonality of such early departures within the food connoisseur community. Perhaps, indulging in delicious food almost every day brought them happiness during their lives.

Ramen is said to be quite oily, but curry is even richer in oil. It might be best to indulge in such dishes no more than once a week.

Is Japanese curry really unhealthy?

Japanese curry, with its rich flavors and comforting appeal, can be a delightful culinary experience. However, like any indulgence, consuming curry excessively can pose certain health risks that are important to be aware of.

Do you think these are true? In general, eating too much of anything is unhealthy (we hear people drinking too much water (which many think so harmless) and dying even).

Let us see what we find from random online search..

1. Heart Health Concerns

The primary risk associated with overindulging in curry lies in its high fat content, particularly in commercial curry roux. Surprisingly, up to 40% of curry roux consists of fats, including trans fats, which can significantly elevate the risk of heart attacks when consumed excessively.

2. Blood Sugar Management

The presence of wheat flour in curry roux, used for thickening, can lead to disruptions in blood sugar levels when consumed in large quantities. This can result in sharp spikes and drops in blood sugar, potentially contributing to conditions like diabetes or heart disease.

3. Cancer Risk from Additives

Synthetic additives like hydrolyzed protein found in curry roux can increase the risk of developing cancer if consumed excessively.

- Caloric Impact: A single serving of curry or katsu curry can pack a substantial caloric punch. For instance, a serving of curry alone can account for 39% of an adult male's daily caloric intake, while katsu curry exceeds this significantly, constituting half of the recommended daily caloric intake. Well, when we eat Katsu curry big serve, we often can not move..

- Salt Sensitivity: Curry's robust flavor often comes from a combination of spices and salt. Excessive salt intake can lead to hypertension, arteriosclerosis, and stroke, with a typical serving of curry containing about 2g of salt, nearly approaching the recommended daily intake.

- Body Odor Effects: Regular consumption of curry, due to its aromatic spices like cumin, can lead to more pronounced body odor. Spices can increase odor-causing compounds in the body, which circulate through the bloodstream.

Is this real?

We know onion when eaten goes into our blood and some may smell onion from part of our body but it is almost undetectable (as we tried). And we can understand the curry flavor can stay in clothes, in hair and in mouth (well, when eating a lot of garlic for example..).

- Food Safety: Leaving leftover curry in a pot for extended periods can increase the risk of food poisoning. Bacteria like Clostridium perfringens thrive in such environments, especially in potatoes due to their high starch content. We learnt this from a public health class. You need to be careful esp. wet season and warm season such as around the summer and early autumn.

To enjoy the flavors of Japanese curry responsibly, it's essential to consume it in moderation and be mindful of its impact on overall health. By balancing enjoyment with moderation and safe handling practices, you can savor this beloved dish without compromising your well-being.

Curry is Great and Mr. Ono is the Curry King

And after all, the happiness is the key for our overall health. If we eat what we love, it should not be too bad for health. 

Even if eating a lot of curry is not so healthy, we do not want to stop..

We have a great respect for Mr. Ono who ate curry so much as he loved. 64 years old is not that young either in fact.

Mr. Ono, RIP!

Source: Mr. Ono official website, Oricon news, nikkan sports news

Mr. Ono also consumed a lot of ramen.

Do you want to feature this type of topic in Japan for your TV news?

Or, do you want to TV shooting, music video, photo/movie/drama shooting in Japan? Need a shooting permit? Want to interview someone on this topic?

We worked with major TV broadcasters around the world and online media to carry out their task in Japan. We make planning, arrangement with the venues, also hire local professional crew (videographer, photographer, editor, makeup artist, stylist, model, interpreter etc. ) for the project.

Just contact us.

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