Haircuts

I had managed to live here a year and not get a single haircut, barring that done by my sister during my winter visit home. Here it was, June of my second year already, and I was starting to want one. I had started asking around where other AETs got their haircuts done and how much it was, and I'd been inspecting locations near our neighborhood and comparing prices and atmospheres all spring.

Near the massage parlor a block away from us is this little 2-chair salon that we'd seen cats inside. We were of course intrigued, so I checked out the prices. I was a little put off when the first time I went inside, nobody answered my call, and the price sheet had nearly no katakana on it (highly unusual!), and what I assumed to be the standard procedure was $35. I left disappointed, and continued in my search.

At Pikachiu's insistence, however, we decided to try the kitty place after all. We went after work and the owner greeted us this time, sweet as can be and didn't even balk at two foreigners walking in asking for whacks. She had the TV on and some magazines and books to flip through, and with a little stumbling on the language barrier we got some nice summer dos. And a handful of candy. And some bars of soap. Very chatty lady and we did our best to have three-way conversations with her. Sadly, none of her three kitties (Chibi, Koro, and Maru) came out to meet us, but there were several prints and pictures of cats up for us to admire.

A couple weeks later (yesterday) I took Chowder there to get her mountain of waves chopped off (and thinned, but that got lost in translation). Still no cats, but I did hear about how Chibi had gotten lost that morning and worried them to death, but everything was fine in the end.

I've ran into this lady a few times near Kawachi now, as it's across the street, and she doesn't hesitate to chat me up for a minute or two. ^^
One thing that I've wondered about businesses here in Japan is how they survive with so little advertising. Word of mouth can only get you so far, as less and less people seem to communicate with one another anymore, and not all businesses blatantly advertise what they are here, especially those that aren't on the beaten path. I think about this sometimes as I walk by shops, parlors, and restaurants that hardly have any customers in them. It might help that they possibly own the building, as they typically live behind their business, but they still have bills to pay, taxes, food...
Nothing made me wonder that as much as a week ago when I walked by this hair parlor one evening and saw the stylist sitting in the lobby chair, tiredly watching the TV and seemingly just wanting someone to walk through the door asking for a haircut. When I took Chowder, we heard her talking to her mother in the back of the building, and she's mentioned her son working at the massage parlor every time we've seen her, so perhaps there's at least a dual income, but still my heart can't help but ache...

I'm sure I'll be going in for regular trims while I'm here.