As a student of other cultures, I always enjoy observing Japanese tourists. I think it started back in the early 80's when we took our first Hawaiian vacation. We were on the Big Island and had just emerged from the Thurston Lava Tube, which is a sort of cave. We were walking back to the parking lot with a group of elderly Japanese tourists, when my wife leaned toward me and quietly asked if I felt like a giant. That was when I realized that hardly any of the people around us were over five feet tall. Younger Japanese are somewhat larger than their elders, but I don't know why.

Then there was that time at Disneyland when we were watching a parade and found ourselves surrounded by Japanese tourists again. They were standing so tightly packed they were touching us and each other on all sides. Americans, living in a roomier country, don't do this. I guess it is just a cultrual difference.

In Wales, we were touring a castle when the guide lady asked that no pictures be taken in a particular room. Naturally, a flash went off sending the guide into a screaming fit. Everybody stood around looking embarrassed. It was clear that the Japanese man who took the picture did not understand a word of English. That fact did not get through to the guide who continued to berate the poor man, who did not understand what was going on. Finally, after she quieted down, another Japanese gentleman who understood English, told him what was wrong.

There is some kind of magnetic relationship between Japanese tourists and cameras. You hardly ever see one without a camera. I was driving down the interstate one day when I passed a tour bus on the sholder. It had not broken down, but had simply stopped for a photo op. So what were they photographing? A wooden railroad trestle.

Speaking of tour busses; have you heard about the bus load of Japanese tourists that was held up by and armed bandit? The only evidence the police have is 6978 pictures.

Back before the Japanese economy took a dip, at least half of the tourist in Hawaii were from Japan. In Waikiki one day, I noticed that almost all young Japanese women were wearing black dresses. It was like it was some kind of uniform. On more recent trips, I noticed that fewer of them were dressed that way. Now I wonder if they were part of some group. Anyway, with jet black hair and black shoes, they looked rather nice.

For many years I have tried to learn to tell Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, and other Asian people apart. Only recently, have I begun to have a small degree of success. I still don't know what tips me off, but I can sometime correctly ID their origin. The camera isn't a reliable clue, because many other tourists, including me, carry a camera. They tell me that Japanese and Chinese have different eyes and that Koreans have broader faces, but if so the difference is slight. In Hawaii and California, where Asian people have lived for several generatiions, I think there are enough people of mixed heritage to make ID difficult.

If I ever get to be an American tourist in Japan, I plan to take my camera and just blend in.
Howard