March 19 - My recent visit to a Tokyo hairstylist reminded me how much I appreciate the wonderful service provided at Japanese hair salons. An assistant greeted me at the door and helped me out of my coat. She escorted me over to a comfortable chair and provided me a hot towel to refresh my hands and face. She then brought me some magazines to read and a warm blanket to cover my legs while I was waiting for the stylist.

My hair stylist is a tall, thin and very friendly Japanese man who always remembers how I like my hair. As he cut my hair, I closed my eyes and recalled my first haircut in Japan at a barber shop in Tsurumi Ward, Yokohama. That elderly barber was not used to cutting blonde hair. I recall that he ran his hands over my scalp (I had a lot more hair back then) and then turned to his wife and said, "Neko no ke mitai" (just like a cat’s hair). I thought that was an odd thing to say, but then I decided that perhaps he didn't realize I spoke Japanese. I was a bit worried, however, that he might botch the task, since it appeared that I was his first foreign customer. I need not have worried as he did a nice job taming my blonde curls. After he was done cutting my hair, he gave me a wonderful scalp and shoulder massage.

Before I realized it, my stylist had completed cutting my hair and his assistant appeared to give me an excellent scalp massage - just like the one I had received so many years before in Yokohama. I left the hair salon feeling relaxed and refreshed.

Until next time,

Jim