The problem with traveling to a foreign country is that not every cultural idiosyncrasy is in a tour book or travel blog. A couple of weeks ago I found a nice salon and was ready to make myself look nice for our first trip to a swinger club here in Tokyo. I booked a manicure, pedicure, facial, and a bikini wax. When it came time for the wax, I got a middle-age Japanese lady who spoke very little English. I said Brazilian, but she had no idea what that meant. Then using hand gestures, I said "everything off." She repeated "off?" I said "yes. Off" She then left the room and came back with a younger lady, who spoke much better English. The younger one asked me "you want no hair?" And again I said yes, point to my vagina and butt and said "no hair." The two ladies then had a conference in Japanese, and the younger lady asked me again, "you want wax all?" I again answered in a firm affirmative. More Japanese conversation between the two, and then the younger lady left. And I got my brazilian, which was actually surprisingly painless, relatively. I didn't think much of it other than a language barrier.

My next stop was an onsen, which is a Japanese hot spring bathhouse. It's very popular and everyone from young to old goes. The onsen is divided by gender, and no bathing suit allowed. The rule is to shower first (which is done sitting down in a communal area) and then walk to the hot pool area. I noticed quite a few women glanced at me and my very bald pussy. Perhaps they could tell I am not Japanese, even though I am Asian? Maybe I did something wrong? I followed all the rules in the onsen. Anyhow, I kept to myself and didn't think much of it either.

Well, I finally learned what's going on yesterday when I had lunch with a Japanese vanilla friend of mine. I recounted my story (skipping the part about the swinger club) and she explained that in Japan usually only porn actresses take off their pubic hair completely, and even then it's a minority among them. Ooops. Apparently, it's ok to have it grow wild, trim or a bikini wax, but not bald. Everything made sense now. And thinking back, I don't remember seeing any baldies in the onsen or the swinger club. I was the only one. It also explained my popularity at the swinger club. Even my husband commented that almost every couple wanted a piece of me. And I thought it's because I looked super sexy that night. Guess not.

In hindsight, I think the fact that I can pass as Japanese probably made it more unacceptable. If it's a blonde woman with a brazilian, they probably think those foreigners don't know any better. Sometimes the perceived ignorance of a foreigner can work to your advantage. But really, how would I even find out about this? Mr. A had a really good laugh and in the end so did I. It's too late to be embarrassed now.