Getting Naked Together

    Hot topics at English conversation this week: Minutes earlier Mr. Hatoyama stepped down and reports came out that the Gores untied the knot after four decades. Eleven on the dot on a Wednesday at the Manor transported three sophisticated ladies out of shoes and into self-assigned seats around the table. Composer-san arrived typically 15 minutes late, while family illness kept driver-san away. "We are so embarrassed about our lack of leadership," said obaasan (granny) of five, echoing local newscasters. Hatoyama-san's bow exceeded the minimum 15 degree angle, which reflected the gravity of his apology. Promising to move the US base off Okinawa torpedoed his term after a mere 10 months; the skirmish between the Koreas underlined possible consequences. A samurai would have faced seppuku (self disembowelment), while Hatoyama may be faced with a life term in academia. As heir to the Bridgestone Tire fortune, can he understand the average nihonjin?

    Al and Tipper led to the question of the Clinton marriage. "How could President Clinton remain in office after such public embarrassment?" posed chef-san. "I could not forgive my  husband." Faced with evidence of adultery, they agreed that a prime minister would step down without an argument. The issue is the shame, not the cheating: Japanese couples often remain under the same roof for financial reasons, while leading separate lives (divorce rate is a mere 3%).  Without revisiting that unhappy chapter of American history discussion moved on to the verb "to flirt," which did not translate directly. The performer Tamaki Koji , a well-known womanizer, is considered to have a psychological problem, since playful banter with the opposite sex is not part of the local culture.

      Thanks to Mr. Milne, this week's installment of Pooh-san included the adverb "modestly." How surprising for Westerners to find that nude public bathing is widely practiced in the form of onsen (hot springs). People of all ages --even musume-chan (daughter)!--indulge in group nudity for the pleasure of sitting in ofuka with strangers of the same sex. After showering and washing off, with only a washcloth as protection, the onsen goer hops into the mineral water. Yakuza (gangsters) not welcome, which means no one with tattoos. How often do the ladies at the table visit onsen? "Never!" said obaasan, who is so thin that she fears critical eyes. Chef-san and husband head out of town to the outdoor onsen, where she admitted to holding the washcloth modestly in front. Composer-san and Traveler-san admitted to a healthy devil-may-care attitude about stripping down and enjoying the company of naked friends in the pool. Not much time for soaking in onsen before the graduation ceremony at YIS on the 10th.