Lee is 6'3" (190cm) tall and doesn't always seem to physically fit in Japan. Bus seats never have enough legroom. So many clothing shop clerks look at him and cross their arms in an "X" as if to say "Our clothes are too small for you!" Tonight the hotel attendant ran to find Lee larger house slippers because none would fit him.

He even tries his best to take up as little space as he can on the trains to avoid being the big American with big arm movements - we've noticed even the tiniest of school girls only open their small books half a page wide to read on the trains.

We visited a 350 year old temple/house in Kanazawa that was secretly built with 3 stories on the outside, but 7 "layers" on the inside. It is affectionately named "Ninja-dera" (Ninja Temple) because of the self-locking trap doors, see-through stairways and 27 hidden staircases. 

Lee has been proud of not accidently punching an elbow through any fragile shoji doors, and being careful to watch low doorway beams over the last few weeks.  However, that day he took a step back.  

 We were not allowed to take any photos, but the 350 year old beams provided many obstacles in small rooms as we followed the 8 person tour group through the floors. There was one room set under a stairway made of wooden slats and white paper so any intruders would easily be seen and subsequently find their legs slashed from under the stairs. The ceiling was maybe as high as his shoulder, but everyone else fit just fine standing in the room. He stood on the last step just outside of the ceiling beam peering into the room over everyone - a giant among the Japanese - grinning and waiting for end of the description in Japanese. Our calm and professional tour guide smiled along with the knowing chuckles of the Japanese in the group and kept her tour moving.

 The next set of stairs leading to a room with 5 exits and secret stairways caught Lee by surprise. THUD! He whacked his forehead on the beam and grimaced "I almost made it all the way through the house!". Our tour guide couldn't help but giggle.

It's obvious that Japan's chairs, ceilings, clothes, vehicles etc. were not made for Lee but he's enjoying it all anyway, if only from afar or at least just outside peering in...