It's true: people on Mars speak Japanese! Just kidding. But the Japanese stand out for their 'differentness' when compared to their Asian neighbours. Consider this: "that's difficult" means "no", that’s tatemae or diplomacy at work. Salarymen stay late at the office even if they don't have work because gaman dictates that they must subjugate their feelings to return home to be with their family. But when you hear that ski equipment from overseas is unsuitable for Japan because "Japanese snow is different" that protectionism!
　  If you're looking for the unusual and offbeat you'll find it in Japan. Museums? How about an Irish Button Museum? Want to get your whites whiter? Pick up tips at the Laundry Museum. And before you sip espresso, be sure to understand the dos&don'ts of maid cafes, manga cafes, 'no panties' cafes and many other theme cafes including those for "couples kissa".
　  You love sushi and sashimi? We guarantee you'll be surprised to know that curry, yes, variations on a theme of Indian curry, is almost a national dish. But when you're out dining with your Japanese friends, DO remember stabbing food with your chopsticks is a big DON'T; as is placing them across a dish or bowl. And DON'T even think of passing food with your chopsticks to a fellow diner.
　  Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle. In any crowd DO listen to the shuffle of feet. It seems as if all of Japan is shuffling to some beat that only those doing it can hear. You'll be shuffling woo if you stay at a traditional inn where there are many dos&don'ts to learn. Remove slippers before walking on tatami mats? Should the yukata be tied from left to right? And at the communal bath, just where should you place that towel the size of a postage stamp?
　  To ensure that you, the foreign resident, fleeting visitor or armchair traveller, enjoy your stay in Japan, our resident author presents a light-hearted but practical guide to the dos&don'ts of this modern and ancient country. DON'T be put off by places that have No Foreigners Allowed signs. DO ignore them and go someplace else and besides who needs the aggravation anyway? DO be amazed at the space age commode in your hotel room. Besides the jets of water and the warm air, it can probably tell you if you're going to get diabetes. Want to know what "let's get together foe dinner sometime" means in Japan? Then DO buy this book!