Near brushes with 893 -
Walking in Ikebukuro one night with a buddy. A rather drunk fellow with a high pompadour nearly runs into a taxi as it's turning the corner, and then goes on a foul-mouthed tirade at the driver. My buddy said, "That's a chinpira (punk). The real guys don't have to say a damn thing."
Went to the Senshuraku (last day of a sumo tournament) party for the Azumazeki stable, the one Akebono belonged to. I found myself at the buffet next to a guy in a purple sports jacket and sunglasses. Indoors. At 9 pm at night. Most Japanese people don't wear sunglasses in the brightest sun in the daytime.
While leaving in Toyota City, I was at the 24-hour supermarket at around 11 pm. Saw a seemingly normal looking old dude buying some groceries. As I passed him, though, his shirt opened slightly and I noticed the "sleeves" (tattoo) around his shoulder.
This past winter, an Australian buddy and I were in a supermarket buying some stuff for a nabe party. As we were going over various fish names in Japanese, we were noticed by an older fellow...in a purple sports jacket and tinted glasses. At night. He found two white guys speaking Japanese fascinating.
Josh Reyer
Swa sceal man don, žonne he ęt guše gengan ženceš longsumne lof, na ymb his lif cearaš. - The Beowulf Poet