> Tomorrow (May 23) is known as kisu no hi or “kiss day,” so I thought I'd talk about the Western practice of kissing in Japan. Although kissing is seen as a modern import from the West, along with automobiles, movie theaters and business suits, kissing in Japan has actually always been a thing, showing up in the art of the Edo Period (1603-1868) and the literature of the Heian Period (794-1185).
A kiss is a very big deal in Japan, done only by lovers in private, and Japanese are scandalized at the thought of displaying affection in public, which they sometimes see when visiting other coun…