For the past two years, I've been going to a salon in Aoyama, a ridiculously trendy ward of Tokyo, whenever I needed a haircut. Sin Den, the salon, is hard to get to and ridiculously expensive, but for a while I considered it worth it to be able to have my blonde curls nipped by somebody who spoke my native language and had obviously dealt with hair like mine before. However, not too long ago, when the fifth (yes, fifth) salon between my apartment and the train station (a seven minute walk) opened, I took it as a sign. So, this afternoon, for less the half the cost (even not counting trains), I got as good a haircut, as good a conversation, and a better included massage than I'd gotten at Sin Den. All I had to trade in was my pride/embarrassment and the ability to tell them precisely what was on my mind.

PS