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ikemen and ikumen

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-eight years and a million words

Tokyo, 2009.09.12

"Ikemen" a term in (modern) Japanese term for a handsome, attractive man. "Ikumen" is another word used for husbands who help out around the house.

Fellow Canadian "Red Green" has the advice, "If you can't be handsome, be handy." While folding laundry the other night, I told her about it. In Japanese, I added, "If I can't be an ikemen I can at least be an ikumen." She said, "Oh, some people have said that you're an ikumen."

"Oh really? Well that's—"

"But only until you open your mouth."

"...yeah. Yeah, I guess so."

rand()m quote

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

—Siddhārtha Gautama (The Buddha)