Japanese Domestic Warfare: “Just the Two of Us”

Noriko and I were on our patio, overlooking the mountains outside of Santa Fe. I was feeling invigorated by the perfect fall weather.  “So please recall that the other day, when YOUR dogs were feasting on the chocolate, where was MY dog, Billy?”    Noriko was silent, and then said begrudgingly, “Okay, I admit, Billy not [...]

Poodles and the Power of Chocolate

I had been writing in my studio one evening and emerged for a break. I went back up to the main house and walked in the living room. Hmmm, what is that smell? “Honey, did you have some coco or something?” Noriko looked at me appraisingly. “No, no coco. I [...]

Japanese School Girls

As I came in the front door, I heard a commotion going on.  “Billy, you don’t do dat!  Don’t you do dat!”  Noriko was scolding our little poodle Billy who was slinking uncomfortably about the living room.   “Honey, what’s up?”  I asked as I took in the human-canine encounter.  Billy gave me a glance of relief and slipped under the sofa, [...]

Submissive Japanese Housewives?

As discussed in previous posts, Japanese women are thought by many Americans to be submissive or non-assertive.  This notion has become so popular  that some American men fancy taking  a Japanese bride, thinking that doing so will grant them domestic control.  But cultural reality is more complex than this perspective suggests.  For example, here is Noriko’s take [...]

Japanese Pillow Talk (The Sense of Smell)

One evening we were lounging around on the futon, Noriko, me, and our the three little dogs – Junior, Lulu, and Billy. It was a pleasant, lazy moment, until I said “Oh, honey – was that YOUR fart?” It was a real stinker.
“No, dat not me. Dat Junyuh.”
“How do you know it was Junior?” Hearing [...]