Japan is not like the United States, and even Europe. 99% of the people there look, well, Japanese. I have a face that lets me look like a native in most places I've been to (I've been called Italian, Greek, Armenian, French, Turkish, and was even mistaken for a very pale Brazilian). But there was no way I was to be mistaken for being Japanese.
But being different has its advantages. One of my conference friends is from Iceland. His blonde hair attracted crowds of school-age Japanese girls, who turned their heads to say hello, giggling "not" so shyly. One even asked to be his facebook friend.
I'm different, but not "that" exotic. I had no such crowd of Japanese school-age girls smiling at me while I traveled alone. Or boys for that matter. I guess some types of exotic are more exotic than others.
But as I was telling this story to a third friend, I turn around. And I am telling the honest-to-goodness truth. A young Japanese girl, about three years old, is staring at me, her jaw dropping open.
I guess someone out there thinks I'm exotic after all. :-)
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