The Japanese will go to any extremes to promote their goods ­ even using the hanging straps gripped by passengers on Osaka's underground trains. Our spies report that lifelike imitations of actual products are now being attached to the straps to ensure products are postioned right in front of potential consumers. Korean cup noodle producer Nong Shim was one of the first to take up the offer. Could it work here? Well, our man in Japan says you would need a big train to begin with ­ such as the District Line trains in London. And he says the British market would need some way of locking the cups to deter the lightfingered. It seems the Japanese are far more honest. {{COUNTERPOINT }}

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