Every morning on my way to work I pass a building of some sort or another situated about 10 meters up the quaint little hill on which I live. And, sure as the sun will rise, every morning a motley crew of geriatrics assembles outside its doors, patiently awaiting them to be unlocked. I never took the time to read the signage on the building and I assumed they were either homeless people awaiting a handout or just old people congregating to play bingo or some other old person-type activity.

As it turns out, the place is actually chiropractic clinic. The sign next to the road even says so, at least according to my dictionary. Apparently, the old people aren't coming for free food, but rather to get their backs (which more often than not are stooped over from protein deficiency) cracked and straightened and whatnot.

Having long suffered (well 3 years-ish anyway) from chronic lower back pain, I decided to give it a go. I mean, if these stingy old people like it that much, it has to be quality, right? So today I went over, showed the nurse my insurance card, filled out a form in some horrendous Japanese handwriting, had an interesting talk with a middle-aged woman who invited me to come play volleyball with her team, and was finally called into the back where I was lavished with 15 minutes of electric massage and then an old fashioned snap, crackle, and pop. It was a thing of beauty. My back hasn't felt this good in a long while and, even better, it came to a whopping total of $8.02 USD.

Also, while I was getting ranked upon by the doctor, he let me in on an interesting tidbit of Japanese trivia that very few Japanese people, and even fewer foreigners, know. I will now share it with you:

The bed that a chiropractor lays you on to mash your body was originally invented by an American. But, when the bed was brought to Japan, it was too big for the average Japanese person. In true Japanese form, they copied the bed's design but made it smaller and more Japanese friendly. This new, Japanasized bed is now used by chiropractors throughout the country.

Now you know, too.

Aren't you glad?

Please feel free to use this nugget of trivia to impress your friends.

Peace.