Further afield, Kenji World, (81-19) 695-3333, in northern Japan's Iwate prefecture, boasts a colossal onsen "beach" where warm water washes up on the shore (made of brownish soft board instead of sand).

CNN: ASIANOW - Travel Watch | Offbeat Onsen Offer Tradition with a Twist

Or maybe it explains why he was determined to negotiate such soft goals with the Sprint Board so as to ensure he earns his bonuses at Sprint no matter what grim results he delivers for shareholders.

FORBES: Softbank's Brilliant Buy One (Sprint), Get One Free Deal (Clearwire)

Even so, in contrast to only ten years ago, the firms operating in Kansas City today are largely the same as those trading soft red winter wheat at the Chicago Board of Trade and spring wheat at the Minneapolis Grain Exchange.

ECONOMIST: Grains of truth

The proposals on sugary soft drinks will go to New York's Board of Health in June for a final decision.

BBC: New York mayor proposes ban on big sugary drinks

Critics say Mr Huckabee pressured the parole board to release Mr Dumond and grant clemency to others: therefore, he is soft on crime.

ECONOMIST: Mike Huckabee throws his hat in

The current Mr Smith was the solid, soft-spoken Bostonian finance boss drafted in as chief executive after his predecessor was fired by the board.

ECONOMIST: The quiet man

America's Air Transportation Stabilisation Board, set up after the terrorist attacks of 2001, has already bailed out several airlines with soft loans.

ECONOMIST: America's airlines and the war

Soft housing demand will help frame Tuesday's meeting of the Reserve Bank of Australia's policy-making board, with some in the market saying the chance of a cut in the 4.25% cash rate is evenly balanced.

WSJ: Australia Housing to Drag on Growth