Racist, Nationalist, or …? Japanese Style!

One evening Noriko was telling me about a visit with her therapist. “While we talking, I referred to Chinese puhson as ‘chink’. Susan tink dat funny. She laugh and laugh and she say “‘Chink! Noriko, you are so funny!” Noriko looked to me for approval. “Of course, I use [...]

Do Americans Romanticize Japanese Culture?

One early spring evening Noriko said “We go to Japanese Cultural Festival” dis Saturday…” This announcement surprised me a bit, since Noriko usually disdains events featuring Japanese culture. Her point of view is that Americans tend to romanticize Japanese culture in a way that distorts their perception of the culture. But I [...]

Lulu’s Lesbian-Lite Love Affair

As cute and charming as they may be, dogs are infamous for one particular behavior which unnerves their human patrons – that of “humping”.  Who hasn’t experienced the social discomfort that occurs when you turn around and see your large male dog  mounted on the hip  of a teenage female guest, or perhaps someone’s grandmother?  [...]

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, [...]