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Japan on Fire

 
Japan on Fire
Some Japanese researchers have developed a fire alarm that sprays the smell of horseradish so that deaf folks can be alerted to the alarm which is a great idea.
But wondering why the smell of horseradish and not horse poo?

I've been fortunate enough to not have encountered any incidents with fire so far - any folks out there with fiery stories to tell?

The Japanese fire brigade showing off their machines below.
Thanks to member DRAGUN for sending in the horseradish news via Gizmodo.
Posted on 2008/03/10 14:16
Danny Choo in Tokyo
Director/代表取締役
Registered on 2006/12/11 11:06
wickedclown in California, USA
Otaku, Computer tech, Student
Registered on 2007/12/07 21:33
That's an... interesting invention... lol.

I live in the mountains, in the middle of the forest and because of this, almost every summer, we get high fire danger warning and such.  We've been evacuated twice but the fire has never gotten within 100 feet of our home :p.  There is a whole lot of burnt areas around here though.
(ID #153890) Posted on 2008/03/10 14:24
Benjamin Takeyo in Lieu de la batille decisive
ひきこもり/Hikikomori. Suits my current state more than a 大学生/University Student. ^^
Registered on 2007/12/04 23:16
Seems like the governator's been doing good job. ^^
(ID #154090) Posted on 2008/03/11 00:33
R-1 in the "Hagane" docking bay
Personal Trooper
Registered on 2007/07/05 20:49
Ah, horseradish. I hope the scent isn't too strong. That stuff's mindblowing when it's snorted.
(ID #153891) Posted on 2008/03/10 14:27
R-1 in the "Hagane" docking bay
Personal Trooper
Registered on 2007/07/05 20:49
That came out wrong...
(ID #153892) Posted on 2008/03/10 14:34
technonewt in Talent, Oregon, United States
College Student
Registered on 2007/11/02 11:41
That reminds of a friend of mine. He had never seen wasabi before, so he took a big ole snort of it and it blew his mind, lol. He stays away from it now.
(ID #153926) Posted on 2008/03/10 17:01
D_Blade in Montreal
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
Ah, wasabi... The first time I saw it I said... This is so cute, looks like Play-Doh or guacamole... I gulped it and almost felt like dying on the spot.
Then I went for the vinegar bottle that I instinctively went for, since there was no water jug anywhere... Needless to say I was suffering even more.
I was such a baka back then.
No more cute wasabi for me. Ever.
(ID #153965) Posted on 2008/03/10 19:14
(VH)Hakushaku in US(United Shame)
Insane Student
Registered on 2008/02/27 11:52
Wasabi seemed to gave intense pain to my nasal passage....my nose!!!!*tears flow down* 
(ID #153968) Posted on 2008/03/10 19:22
D_Blade in Montreal
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
Btw, I wonder if wasabi allergy exists in this cruel world of ours...
Any (serious) answer, people? 
(ID #153970) Posted on 2008/03/10 19:25
R-1 in the "Hagane" docking bay
Personal Trooper
Registered on 2007/07/05 20:49
Guess not.
(ID #154059) Posted on 2008/03/10 23:40
DRAGUN in Arizona, USA
Design Consultant
Registered on 2007/08/23 04:44
I just checked google, I found about fifteen sites about wasabi allergies. I wonder where the border between wuss and allergy is?
(ID #154354) Posted on 2008/03/11 10:22
Setsuna-san in Selangor, Malaysia
VF-25 Pilot. Universariate Scholar.
Registered on 2007/07/06 10:07
that came out sooo right.needtosnort some myself. LOL
(ID #153940) Posted on 2008/03/10 17:56
R-1 in the "Hagane" docking bay
Personal Trooper
Registered on 2007/07/05 20:49
If you're snorting, try Coleman's brand horseradish mustard. All the bite without the aftertaste.
(ID #153971) Posted on 2008/03/10 19:29
dreaming Artemis in Malaysia
Full time nerd
Registered on 2007/11/28 09:55
Isn't horseradish also known as Wasabi?
(ID #153898) Posted on 2008/03/10 14:50
R-1 in the "Hagane" docking bay
Personal Trooper
Registered on 2007/07/05 20:49
Yup, but it's not an exclusively Japanese condiment. Europeans themselves use horseradish mustard on many of their meat dishes.
And it's actually not a radish, but a kind of water grass.
More useless trivia!
(ID #153902) Posted on 2008/03/10 15:20
Trighap in Washington D.C.
Student
Registered on 2007/12/05 05:01
Unfortunately, as a deaf person I can honestly say this is a dumb idea.  Stuffed up noses, air conditioning, etc., all would nullify this.  Currently the best idea is the flashing light alarm with the bed shaker for when asleep.

Now what they SHOULD make is a chobit that will wake you up.  That way, even if you die from smoke, it's a good way to go!  Woot.
(ID #153899) Posted on 2008/03/10 15:00
Danny Choo in Tokyo
Director/代表取締役
Registered on 2006/12/11 11:06
looks like they need to get back to the drawing board.
(ID #153900) Posted on 2008/03/10 15:11
radical anime fan in Dai-Singapore-dan. Hotter than Kamina and Lelouch combined.
Polytechnic Freshman. Mmm... fresh.
Registered on 2007/01/25 21:20
There's a good chance the Chobit might save you, too. 
(ID #153962) Posted on 2008/03/10 19:07
D_Blade in Montreal
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
Nah, the smell of horseradish will wake you up like no tomorrow, I suppose.
(ID #153967) Posted on 2008/03/10 19:19
don in Minnesota USA
Engineering Student
Registered on 2007/10/23 00:10
hmm...I think if chobits showed up everytime there was a fire, there would be a lot more pyromaniacs out there.
(ID #153996) Posted on 2008/03/10 20:38
Benjamin Takeyo in Lieu de la batille decisive
ひきこもり/Hikikomori. Suits my current state more than a 大学生/University Student. ^^
Registered on 2007/12/04 23:16
LOL! 
(ID #154091) Posted on 2008/03/11 00:42
lostandfound in a UFO... catcher...
Part human, part student, 100% loser
Registered on 2007/10/22 02:10
And I'm gonna be one of em'!
(ID #154109) Posted on 2008/03/11 01:12
Chong Mizunaga in an Afro
Afro-ed Student
Registered on 2007/12/15 09:57
Let me join you.
(ID #154372) Posted on 2008/03/11 10:41
FMPhoenixHawk in Michigan, USA
Scientist, unemployed.
Registered on 2008/01/20 06:57
Yeah.  A chobit alert would be a good idea.  Maybe have it for other problems. like earthquake, robbery, flooding, and so on.
(ID #154297) Posted on 2008/03/11 08:57
DRAGUN in Arizona, USA
Design Consultant
Registered on 2007/08/23 04:44
maybe a super deep subwoofer, creating strong vibrations as well as a flashing light setup (maybe if it was wired thoughout the house so all the lights strobed). It would either help, or be the best damn dance club on the block!
(ID #154357) Posted on 2008/03/11 10:25
YoShI in Calgary, Canada
Stealthy Ninja, Life support.
Registered on 2008/01/15 12:41
Cause the smell of horse poo
would be too great, and would instead
burn your nose hairs to a crisp 
therefore, inhibiting your sense of smell....

or, from then on you'd smell horse poo only...yuck
(ID #153901) Posted on 2008/03/10 15:11
mavadotar in Peterborough/Ottawa, Canada
Game Development Student
Registered on 2007/12/11 19:26
Who wants their house to smell like horse poo for days in the case of a false alarm? At least the horse radish can be put up with.
(ID #153906) Posted on 2008/03/10 15:41
Danny Choo in Tokyo
Director/代表取締役
Registered on 2006/12/11 11:06
True ^^;
(ID #153985) Posted on 2008/03/10 19:53
Koji98 in Arlington, Texas
Your local Otaku Cashier.
Registered on 2007/11/04 12:31
I was actually thinking about a fire alarm, or even a false alarm. It would suck to have a building start smelling like horse radish (god forbid horse poo) with no real danger to anything. 
(ID #154166) Posted on 2008/03/11 03:41
Old Guy in Southern England
IT techie
Registered on 2007/11/11 17:23
The article mentioned that this was in conjunction with a flashing light and seemed to be effective. I'm sure they used wasabi to give the feeling that your face is ON FIRE ^^
(ID #153907) Posted on 2008/03/10 15:42
XeroVlade in Philippines
Student, Part Time Programmer
Registered on 2007/10/12 23:56
Hmmm maybe the smell of horse radish will not dissipate compared to horse poo when there is smoke already..

Anyway the closest i had experience with fire is uhmm replicating that OM rice you showed us.. Oh and there was an intense fire 2 houses away from ours, where i kinda panicked and took my PC apart bringing my HDD with me. (No there wasnt much porn in it)
(ID #153908) Posted on 2008/03/10 15:43
etherlite in Jakarta, Indonesia
the end of Highschool
Registered on 2007/12/06 14:11
why shana??? does she started the fire? :P
(ID #153910) Posted on 2008/03/10 15:52
necrophadian in a van down by the river
Stigmata Martyr
Registered on 2007/04/22 12:13
why not? she does call herself a flame haze
(ID #153912) Posted on 2008/03/10 16:09
etherlite in Jakarta, Indonesia
the end of Highschool
Registered on 2007/12/06 14:11
and then became an arsonist XDXDXDXD
(ID #153922) Posted on 2008/03/10 16:26
Last{[0]}Raven in ☆DANNYCHOO Site ☆
Raven, AMV & MAD maker, Otaku
Registered on 2008/01/02 12:55
LMAO shana becoming a arsonist. i wonder what would happen in japan if shana actually exsisted
(ID #153923) Posted on 2008/03/10 16:44
D_Blade in Montreal
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
Shana makes you melt with her moeness.
If it's that you feel she is totally hot or burn of passion for her, that is not really my concern. ^^;
Flaming, me? No, no!
(Puns intended, 4 hit combo!)
(ID #153972) Posted on 2008/03/10 19:30
(VH)Hakushaku in US(United Shame)
Insane Student
Registered on 2008/02/27 11:52
Never make Shana mad or her fiery can burn the house down!!!   0_0'
(ID #153980) Posted on 2008/03/10 19:40
raytsh in Germany
YoYo-Phreak
Registered on 2007/10/21 03:33
Where can I get the shana wallpaper in high res?
(ID #153925) Posted on 2008/03/10 16:52
zero|fade in Further down the spiral...
HVAC Tech
Registered on 2007/10/05 11:33
D_Blade in Montreal
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
I was thinking moe.imouto.org, but you beat me in the contest.
Well done!
(ID #153977) Posted on 2008/03/10 19:35
raytsh in Germany
YoYo-Phreak
Registered on 2007/10/21 03:33
Great! Thank u very much!
(ID #154004) Posted on 2008/03/10 21:24
gurugurutrex in Vancouver, B.C., Canada
オタク by moonlight, Graphic Designer by daylight
Registered on 2007/11/08 03:37
I'm lucky enough that I haven't encounter any incident. Fire is scary, but I like Shana-chan XD
(ID #153932) Posted on 2008/03/10 17:08
nya-chama in London, United Kingdom
Student/Freelance Programmer
Registered on 2007/10/31 09:18
The closest I've come to a fire incident is a friend setting up a live feed over MSN showing Camden Market burning XD.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing, then 10 mins later it was on the news ^^;
(ID #153936) Posted on 2008/03/10 17:33
Martin Wandering in Taibei
Student, Spiral Warrior
Registered on 2008/02/04 10:01
A stall in the day market around the corner burned out recently. Didn't see it happen, but It was there one day, and gone the next, with it's spot all scorched.

There was also a computer store in the Guanghua area that had a fire a while ago. I had been in the neighborhood shopping for a new hard disk, and returned only a day or two later (maybe even the next day) to find the whole shop cordoned off and stinking of burnt plastic and computer bits (a most yucky odor). 
(ID #153939) Posted on 2008/03/10 17:56
Doctor Fugue in Various Zones of Canada
Pianist, Writer, Teacher
Registered on 2008/01/14 17:44
What does Shana smell like?
(ID #153957) Posted on 2008/03/10 18:46
Trighap in Washington D.C.
Student
Registered on 2007/12/05 05:01
She smells hot to me!
(ID #153961) Posted on 2008/03/10 19:06
radical anime fan in Dai-Singapore-dan. Hotter than Kamina and Lelouch combined.
Polytechnic Freshman. Mmm... fresh.
Registered on 2007/01/25 21:20
The closest I had to fire was playing with a match during my younger days; I lighted it, looked at the pretty flame, and burnt my fingers. So I let go... and it fell into the toilet bowl. Yes, I was lucky enough to go to the toilet because I was going: There's water everywhere. That didn't douse the flames of my parents' anger though. 
(ID #153964) Posted on 2008/03/10 19:11
(VH)Hakushaku in US(United Shame)
Insane Student
Registered on 2008/02/27 11:52
Lol, why not next time install that spray onion instead,...
(ID #153973) Posted on 2008/03/10 19:31
D_Blade in Montreal
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
And finally, a true story that happened to yours truly some weeks ago...
I was joyfully in front of my computer around midnight, when the fire alarm rang... I was in my room and the noise was completely debilitating. The janitor and firefighters came to check on whom had done the offensive act (on every apartment room) and it unluckily happened to be on the same floor as mine (I swear I'd never lose my time and energy to do something that low).
Had to bear this loud siren for forty minutes... Hopefully anime songs and headphones exist, otherwise I'd have turned pretty insane since then.
Oh well. Nothing major happened otherwise (I assume one has let his meal burn in the oven or pan). I am located near the emergency exit anyway.
(ID #153983) Posted on 2008/03/10 19:51
Gammagreen_Zero in Porto, Portugal, Earth Federation
Student, Gamer, Part-time EFSF Pilot
Registered on 2007/02/19 03:24
If there was a fire... Wouldn't it smell like smoke anyways?.......
(ID #153992) Posted on 2008/03/10 20:24
Aoi_sora9x in Singapore
Student
Registered on 2007/11/04 20:42
Quite true, quite true. 

How about some meat smell so whenever something burns we will smell smoked ham? 

(ID #153995) Posted on 2008/03/10 20:37
Martin Wandering in Taibei
Student, Spiral Warrior
Registered on 2008/02/04 10:01
Because then we'd be thinking about delicious ham and not about saving ourselves from the flames.
(ID #153997) Posted on 2008/03/10 20:59
D_Blade in Montreal
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
It's when you lose to temptation.
(ID #154108) Posted on 2008/03/11 01:12
Barsona in California USA
NEET (no, student...)
Registered on 2007/08/03 08:36
yea, that was on the local and national news in America...  Was some what funny...
(ID #154022) Posted on 2008/03/10 22:03
Kaishou in UK, London
College Student
Registered on 2007/04/21 09:01
sound like clown dressed as fire fighter...that why they had that background music in that youtube video.
(ID #154058) Posted on 2008/03/10 23:25
Katsuyoshi in Poland
Perv
Registered on 2007/11/11 03:20
A very good idea, demo, why not some other smell? It'll be funny if someone will have a snack with horseradish and suddenly will see his (deaf) mate runing in panic :S
(ID #154149) Posted on 2008/03/11 02:47
Chong Mizunaga in an Afro
Afro-ed Student
Registered on 2007/12/15 09:57
LOL.
(ID #154375) Posted on 2008/03/11 10:45
chun in home feeling sleepy LOL
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
Registered on 2007/01/09 14:33
a bit OT, Daikon smells really bad when boiled in a soup :P like SHIT

LOL
(ID #154165) Posted on 2008/03/11 03:40
D_Blade in Montreal
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
btw, I LOLed when seeing that the daikon is called "moolah" in Bengali.
(ID #154270) Posted on 2008/03/11 08:17
Mimi in New York, NY
Student/Young artist
Registered on 2008/03/11 07:19
Someone probably said this already, but can't they smell the smoke? 
The smoke has to be pretty strong for the detector to go off, so why spray more smell when there's plenty of fumes going around? 
(ID #154272) Posted on 2008/03/11 08:17
Mimi in New York, NY
Student/Young artist
Registered on 2008/03/11 07:19
And what if they're eating horse radish for dinner? 
I dunno Danny, the chances of a deaf person eating horse radish the day their kitchen burns up in flames seem pretty high to me... 
(ID #154276) Posted on 2008/03/11 08:21
FMPhoenixHawk in Michigan, USA
Scientist, unemployed.
Registered on 2008/01/20 06:57
Well, horseradish does have a distinct smell.  And if they have it injected through the ventilation system, it should come out of air conditioners.  And it's strong enough to blow through most stuffy noses.
(ID #154300) Posted on 2008/03/11 08:58
Chong Mizunaga in an Afro
Afro-ed Student
Registered on 2007/12/15 09:57
Sounds like a great idea alright. Yep. Sounds like a perfect new way to pull pranks.
Incidents with fire? Well, there was once when a lab near (VERY near) my church had a fire.. Then there was once when a car crashed into some boards and caught fire. 
Oh- and the time when I set off this huge flame in a Korean BBQ restaurant. :0 That only lasted for a moment though.
(ID #154378) Posted on 2008/03/11 10:51
XSportSeeker in Brazil
Hikikomori
Registered on 2007/08/22 05:30
Horse poo could be like, someone just passed some wind after a pretty nasty meal...

Wasabi will instinctively remind of fire... LOL.

Also, tons of people that had bad experiences with it will immediately associate... HOT HOT HOT MY MOUTH IS BURNING, etc :P

Some might even be sleeping, they'll still wake up screaming. :P
(ID #155459) Posted on 2008/03/13 12:59
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