Thomas Carroll's past comments

  • 8

    Thomas Carroll

    Considering the lack of street addresses as in the US, not hard to imagine arriving at the wrong house, drunk or sober!

    Posted in: Drunk U.S. serviceman arrested for trespassing in private residence

  • 0

    Thomas Carroll

    When I was a young lad I would have been blushing to cup her breasts, boys are nasty!

    Posted in: Weekly pulls issue over 'child porn' picture with ex-AKB48 singer

  • 0

    Thomas Carroll

    I get my workouts through Aikido and Judo, affordable training through martial arts!

    Posted in: Survival of the fittest

  • 2

    Thomas Carroll

    Another story from that trip: I was approached by two matrons at Yaskuni Shrine who had a polaroid camera they wanted to refill. They asked me if I was American, could I help with this American Camera? I was able to oblige and keep up National prestige for Made in USA!

    Posted in: Why the Japanese have no problem asking about your marital status

  • 1

    Thomas Carroll

    Decades ago I took a sleeping car train from Kita Kyushu to Tokyo and was hit with a barrage of similar question from a school teacher who was only dissuaded when I told him please speak slowly, that my limited Japanese made it difficult to respond and gave me a headache! Then he shut up completely!

    Posted in: Why the Japanese have no problem asking about your marital status

  • 0

    Thomas Carroll

    Went to Japan in the '80's with a Japanese friend, spoke very little Japaneses then, most learned from Aikido classes, hanging out with Japanese people in restaurant. Three weeks of fun, someone in Osaka asked me for directions on Roku-Jo, funny! Rode on the sleeper train from Kitakyushu to Tokyo, had a great conversation with a schoolteacher in my limited Nihongo. Had a lady run away from me in Osaka when I was lost and asked for directions. The people in my friend's town treated me as a celebrity, nearly got into a fight with a guy who asked me if I was a gaijin, when I replied " Onatta mo desu ka?", he was ethnic Korean! Went back with NY Aikikai 10 years later, got turned away from restaurant I had been to before, asked to sit with my friends, just have a beer with them, owners realized I was with Aikido tour, served me free food, guest bought drinks, of course I had to return and bring more paying guests! Third week in Japan we went looking at castles beginning with Osaka Jo. I would live there if possible!

    Posted in: Why do Japanese change their attitude when they communicate with foreigners?

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