ikemen and ikumen
the journal of Michael Werneburg
twenty-seven years and one 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."