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WHEN A JAPANESE meets a friendo (a word favored by Japanese and Americans alike; it means friend, only more so) or a new acquaintance, he does not shake hands, he bows.  He may bow once or twice of three times, and the other party will match him bow for bow.  When it comes time for the two to part, the bowing begins anew.  Up, down, up, down.

As he watches their vigorous body greeting, the serviceman is inclined to sway dizzily; he watches the proceedings with reeling wonder.  But he soon realizes that it is a very rich and royal way of saying hello.  He doesn't have to worry about having his hand clamped in a strong-man's grip and - if he bows politely and properly - he doesn't have to worry about crashing skulls.

Before very long, the serviceman unconsciously picks up the "heads down" custom.  When he gets back home and meets a Stateside tomodachi, (also, a friend) he completely forgets that he is in the land of shaking hands.

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