"Apparently the heating system on the women's side was turned off for today," he said. "Something being installed or whatever. So she said we'd have to share the men's side."

"What the hell?" I said. "How could she think that's okay? You can't go around bathing with other people's fiances."

"That was my thought too," he said. "But then she explained that there are mixed onsens in Japan too and that she knew it's not the kind of thing we're used to, but it's really not a big deal. So I thought, if the Japanese do it, I shouldn't be a prude. And she was nice enough to offer us...