And we thought the U.S. was marketing-mad

2006 Olympic gold medal figure skater Shizuka Arakawa of Japan, without a doubt, executes the best Ina Bauer of any contemporary skater, and has made it her signature move. Arakawa may indeed execute the best Ina Bauer of all time. The move, when done correctly, is one of the most graceful and breathtaking of all figure skating moves, and was named for its creator, Ina Bauer of Germany.

Now Japan's Asahi Breweries wants to name a beverage--either a beer or saki--"Ina Bauer." Asahi has applied for a patent on the name, though there is no word as to whether it has actually asked Ina Bauer has she feels about putting her name on a bottle.

Meanwhile, Arakawa skated professionally for the first time on yesterday, at the Skizuka Arakawa Friends on Ice show in Yokohama. Those in attendance were privileged to see Arakawa's Olympic program, which she skated to music from Puccini's Turandot.