I used to teach middle school kids in Japan, and this is one of the funnier things I observed in the classroom:
GIRL: It's hot in here, isn't it?
BOY: It is.
GIRL: Shall I open a window?
BOY: Yes, about five centimeters.
The girl opened the window wide.
BOY: I said FIVE CENTIMETERS!
To say there are a subset of Japanese people concerned with precision is a bit of an understatement. And speaking of block planes, I guess it comes as no surprise that Japan is home to an annual wood-planing competition.
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