I said his word choice was extreme, but I didn't say it was inappropriate. There is a big difference.

I'm obviously not trying to argue that, otherwise I wouldn't have been the one to bring up white carpet and whatnot. Just that your reasoning for it having to do with sitting style is what I don't believe.

In regards to shoes it's funny to see my daughter at daycare taking off her shoes when she enters. None of the other children or adults do but she hasn't broken the habit yet from her time in Japan. We have no shoes in our house either. It just feels weird these days wearing shoes into a house after so many years of not doing it.

I love the fact most Japanese people I've met so far, are kind and very eager to help...

I hate the fact that japan is still a f*cked up country... it has some serious social issues (i.e. karoshi, hikikomori, the suicidal rates, the way colleges are dumbing down...)...

I can't make you believe it. I would just say it isn't based on a sense of arrogance or feelings of superiority.

That is not just happening in Japan. It is alive and well in America too.

best,

................john

Just out of curiosity, for the ones that don't live in Japan, but have been there and wish that you are there now, do you use Google street view to "walk" around places you are familiar with to help satisfy your urge to be in Japan?

Cus.. I do sometime.. am I weird??

I do. Can actually see my house on street view which surprised me as it's off the main road in a pretty small town.

I have done it, too.

Yeah, count me in on that.... Chalk it up to nostalgia. But sometimes I use it to see where I want to go next time, so I can get an idea of what it looks like.... If anything, I might take a screenshot and keep it on my phone for reference.