The Samurai Strategy

How it begins

"Kami wo araitai no desu ga. Ii desu ka?” Tam peered through the doorway and nodded hello to the girl in the blue Imperial Hotel uniform. The hair salon was almost empty. Perfect. "Hai, so." The girl, startled at the gaijin’s accentless Japanese, bowed to the waist. "Dozo." "Manikyua mo onegai shimasu." What the heck, Tam thought, why not go all the way, get a manicure too. There was the plush, padded chair. Big, gray, and voluptuous. She sighed and settled back. Heaven. Perfect peace in the middle of hectic Tokyo. She knew that here for an hour or so she would be an honored guest, smothered with attention. One of the most incredible experiences in Japan.