Day 47 - Apr 7 2010 - Time to get a haircut...

Day 47 - Apr 7 2010 - Time to get a haircut...

I remarked to Greg while chatting that I was heading out to get a haircut and he replied, "Wow, you've been there so long you need a haircut!" I hadn't looked at it that way, but yes, I actually had been here for 6 weeks and counting. Yann also needed a trim and inquired with the front desk of our corporate apartment and they suggested a men only barber just northwest of Kanda station.

We shared the news with our coworkers that we were headed to a barber and they quickly scribed some Japanese sayings to make sure we could get a presentable business haircut in case they didn't speak French or English. These types of simple interactions with the Japanese are fun. Our coworkers also become fascinated with how we have to deal with the simple things they take for granted in Japan. I am sure this is everywhere, but its more so for us because we don't speak the language. They wouldn't think of sending someone abroad that at least didn't know English. I think they enjoy seeing us laugh and have fun with these challenges.

We showed up at "Men's Taro" (so says the card) around 6pm and they said we should return at 7:30pm and we could both get haircuts. We walked across the street and met Chris Koo for some excellent Japanese/Chinese food at a place we went to once before the third day we arrived. What was weird was that Leona was randomly walking by 20 minutes later and saw us and came in for dinner as well. Now Chris, Leona, Ming, Carole and Annie all ate here the third day we were here and none of us had returned and three of us were in this place somewhat randomly. This place is about 4 blocks from the train station on the opposite route from where we live. As big as this place is, you can run into people that you know. We ran into Dan Xu at a toy store in Ginza on a Sunday morning about a month ago, totally randomly. Back to the restaurant, this places makes a great garlic fried rice dish that is to die for. I can't wait to take Jen there when she arrives in June. She love garlic but also eats too much and then wishes she didn't.

Yann and I finished our dinner and headed back to the barber. Japanese men's hairdos can be very fancy when compared to Western hair dos for men. We like our hair short, somewhat messy looking, without looking like we spent anytime on it. Japanese men in their 20s and 30s wear their hair much longer and care very much about styling it and looking presentable. I think it may have to do with Asian hair traditionally being much coarser and thicker than Anglo western hair and if its styled/cut too short it just sticks up and looks too military. I mention this because there are loads of styling books you can look through to find the DO for YOU.

Both of our hair styles were just too short to make any of those really work, so they just trimmed us up the best they knew how and pretty much kept the same look for each of us. Great haircut, I'll go back in another 6 weeks for another go round. This shop was friendly, helpful and put up with us snapping photos, videos and running a muck about their place of business.

Sometimes its the simple things...



smugmug gallery here



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yWVXsVvoI4