How to Spot a Foreigner in Japan

One would expect that it would be my white skin or the enormity of my
nose that makes me stand out in Japan. And while those features do indeed contribute a great deal in my conspicuousness, it is my ineptitude in the subtleties of Japanese life that betray my gaijiness even when I am not around.

Case in point: I was working out at the gym a few days ago and a woman came up and asked me if I was airing out my futon that day.

Somewhat surprised I said, "Why yes indeed I am good Madam" (in short bus Japanese of course).

To this she responded, "I thought that was your house. A Japanese would never air out their futon on a day like today."

Apparently, there are certain types of weather in which, no matter how skanky your futon is, you simply do no air it out. One might think that if they rain lets up for only one day out of nine, you should take advantage of that one day. One would be mistaken. It turns out that humidity, to the same extent as rain, factors into a Japanese's decision to deskankify their futons. No guidebook would ever tell you this.

So, now not knowing exactly what to write, I will tie this blog up into a nice tidy bundle and provide you with a take home message. The moral of today's blog is:

When in Rome, carry a barometer.