Are You Man Enough for Japan?

The interesting thing about moving into a new culture is the radical change in perceived normality. Just by stepping off the plane you instantly realize that “we’re not in Kansas anymore” (or Canada). It might have been the fact that brilliant pink is quite a normal colour for men to wear, or that the average man carries a “wallet” (we might call it) which to the untrained eye is nearly indistinguishable from a woman’s purse… but quickly the conviction strikes you that the westernization of Japan you have heard so much about may have just been a veneer. Am I man enough to wear pink ties and matching loafers? Am I man enough to take fashion seriously enough to spend more money on my wallet than I will ever carry in my wallet? Am I man enough to participate in festivities that involve the wearing of a loincloth while in very close proximity to many other near naked men?? Hmm... My Redeemer education has only prepared me in limited ways for these situations, although my experiences in Dorm 27 have helped me a great deal with the last one perhaps:)