Japanese brothel- outside
Looking up at the photos of scantily clad Asian women laying
on their sides, looking lasciviously back at me, I approach the door where a
large (by the standards of Japan) man stands in my way. He crosses his wrists over
one in an X, his fists pointing at the sky, and speaks to me in
Japanese. I pretend not to understand.
“Just want to take a look,” I respond, trying to sneak around him. Again, he X’s me out, his voice more stern.
“You don’t understand, I’m American,” I explain, with the
firm belief that such diplomacy and name dropping will gain me immediate entry. A
third X in the frame, I have struck out, yet I walk away feeling giddy. “Wow,
this is so cool, I just experienced racism!” I remark to myself.
I walk to the next X-rated boutique and receive the same
treatment. Suddenly racism isn’t as enjoyable.
I venture to restaurant row, finding an
American sipping on on a Sapporo beer, to whom I relate my tale of woe. He explains that foreigners are considered
unclean, and should it become known that they are being allowed in, the locals would quickly steer clear of the establishment.
“Yeah, we said the same thing about allowing blacks into Southern
diners in the 1950's,” I remark ruefully, “The world still has a long way to go.”
He laughs, “I’m not sure if it’s the same as letting you into
their women,” he retorts.
LOL! Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteglad you enjoyed Joanna!
DeleteInteresting. I had just the opposite experience in Tokyo. I had no problem walking into any place similar to the ones you tried to get into. I enjoyed my time there and left with a smile on my face.
ReplyDeleteI guess it is the way you are dressed and how you carry yourself. I had a suit and tie on and I had the women approach me.
The culture and traditions in Japan are so different from any others that I'm not surprised you have experienced this.
ReplyDelete