[steven]

I think this hobby-talk is interesting. I have talked to quite a few Japanese people who were very willing to share their hobbies with me fairly quickly. Perhaps it has to do with me being a foreigner, but I don't know.

I mean, I met a drunk guy on the last train one night who told me of his love of western movies. He was also extremely knowledgeable about different actors and movies and what not. I met a friend's co-worker who told me of his SUPER expensive car that he went in on with a couple of friends. I have a few friends that are unashamed of owning fishing rods and fishing equipment that costs way more than you could imagine... which is all geared towards catching just one type of fish. I met some of my best friends through having similar, slightly outlandish hobbies.

But sometimes I feel as though there is a guilt factor for having hobbies. Like, shouldn't you be at work during you entire waking life? I mean, I know people who only sometimes have the chance to take a bath with their kids before they go to bed and start the whole day over again. That includes most weekends and holidays. Where does a hobby fit in in those peoples' lives?