[GTJ]

Let me preface this by saying that in America, it's completely normal to just randomly start talking with someone on the street, in a store, sitting in a restaurant, etc. And then become friends.

However, the Japanese are much more shy, and I think wary of foreigners, making this almost impossible. The exception is bars, where I've been approached and had lots of fun with random nihonjin. I think the social lubricant that is boozeahol has a lot to do with that.

So, all you four or five folk who also live in Japan: how do you make friends with the locals?

The walls of my apartment are starting to close in on me...