[RobinMask]

It's quite interesting that a fair few countries do this, I thought it was just unique to Japan and some areas of Europe. I know it's fairly common in the UK when entering a home, because it's just more comfortable and the weather being what it is it's very easy to track in mud and water, my friend's family even goes as far to provide slippers for the bathroom much like the Japanese, lol.

I think the difference seems to be that the Japanese remove their shoes for any building, not just the home. I mean I think most people outside of Asia would be rather appalled at a restaurant or public place asking one to remove their shoes, but in Japan it seems almost second-nature.