Tomoka Kurotani named 'Woman With the Most Appealing Teeth'

Friday 07th November, 05:50 AM JST

TOKYO —

In the latest award for celebrities, actress Tomoka Kurotani, 32, is the recipient of the “Woman With the Most Appealing Teeth” honor. Electric appliance maker Philips gives the award each year to promote its range of electric toothbrushes.

Kurotani said, “I brush my teeth three times a day. Coming from Osaka, I learned to take particular care of my teeth after eating ‘okonomiyaki,’ which has lots of tiny green laver on it.”

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Latest 15 of 39 Total Comments Show All

Betting at 12:44 PM JST - 7th November

Nevermind, I just found out why God invented Wiki :)
Potsu at 12:30 AM JST - 8th November

Can't wait for the best nostrils.
Sarge at 12:39 AM JST - 8th November

I think the Toray swimsuit girl Tomoe Genzaki has better teeth...
Soochi at 12:51 AM JST - 8th November

I know this is slightly off-topic, but is there really such a word as laver? I only have one dictionary and it wasn't in it.

It is as real as Bara Brith and Welsh Rarebit boyo'.

I want to see the winner of "Woman with the most Appaling Teeth" instead.
Soochi at 12:53 AM JST - 8th November

And yes I just get the Award for the worst spellerist....
OssanAmerica at 12:59 AM JST - 8th November

I know this is slightly off-topic, but is there really such a word as >laver? I only have one dictionary and it wasn't in it.

The word isn't used at all in the United States. I think in the UK it is, as people eat seaweed in Wales so you mught want to try a British Englosh dictionary. I'm only annoyed because here in New York anyone who's had sushi more than once knows the term "nori".
JeromeInJapan at 01:44 AM JST - 8th November

“I brush my teeth three times a day" Ehhhh! Nani! Everyday? Wow from what I've seen people in Japan brush once every three decades. And people think buck teeth is kawaii... wow.
the_sicilian at 08:33 AM JST - 8th November

Well, I guess this is better than seeing a girl whose teeth look like someone played Yatzhee with them, and they randomly grew in any direction.

All of these silly awards are:

1: A way for forgotten, has been tarento to stay relevent

2: Nice advertising for very expensive products (I bet Phillips can charge Y12,000 for a toothbrush)

3: Comedic relief for us expats

Addiu
cleo at 10:02 AM JST - 8th November

'laver' appears in the American-English dictionary that's part of my mac's OS. It doesn't mention anything about it being an exclusively British term.
Betting at 11:46 PM JST - 8th November

Cleo, you might want to have a look at Wiki for the term. Seems that it is a seaweed found in Britain. Similar to, but not the same as nori. According to Wiki it is a traditional Welsh dish, that is cooked according to traditional recipes.

Seems quite silly to use the word, "laver" here as it different to nori and cooked/eaten differently as well. A Japanese using the word would confuse any Welshman. Much like some Japanese saying they eat "steak and potatoes" when they meant nikkujaga, confused the heck out of me for a while the first time I heard it.
cleo at 01:23 AM JST - 9th November

I looked on Wiki. Under laver, it says that laver and nori are both members of the Porphyra family of seaweeds; under nori it says this is the Japanese name for various edible seaweed species of the red alga Porphyra including most notably P. yezoensis and P. tenera, sometimes called laver. For aonori it says green laver.

Granted, green-black sheets of nori and sprinkly aonori appear to bear little resemblance to what the Welsh traditionally do to laver, but it's still basically the same stuff, just as the potatoes in nikujaga are still potatoes, regardless of how they've been cooked and seasoned.
memyselfI at 09:39 AM JST - 10th November

I have the most appealing teeth !!!! I have all my teeth and they are so beautiful. People need to eat more cheese and drink more milk. It helps the teeth. Stay away from SALTY foods and have a balanced diet. Veggies,Pork,poultry,meat and tofu. Using salty products destroy the tooth.
memyselfI at 09:40 AM JST - 10th November

People need more calcium.
sohhp at 10:16 PM JST - 10th November

This is just bonkers.
motytrah at 04:38 AM JST - 11th November

Nice brushing habits aside, straight teeth are very hard for ethnic mongoloids (such as the Japaneses). Just not enough room for all the teeth. She obviously had some work.