This is the ninth of a 10-part series on contemporary Japan.
I went into a department store to buy a fountain pen, examined some of the pricey items under the counter glass and asked the young saleswoman, in Japanese, if I might see one of them.
She stood as if transfixed, staring into my face for a long moment.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.