Michael Cash wrote:
> ohgrbyte@comcast.net brought 

> >Hi I'm from America, and I'm gearing up to visit Japan for the first
> >time. I plan to bring along a few close friends. One is handicapped
> >though. Well sort of.
> >He was born with a Cleft Palette, and has a slight speech impediment.
> >Plus the hairlip is still visable.
> >
> >I was wondering what the Japanese attitude was towards handicapped
> >people?
> >Would my friend have to worry? Or is the attitude no different than he
> >would suffer in the States?
> >Any feed back would be much appreciated. Thankyou.
> 
> When I first saw the subject line, I was afraid it was going to be a
> question about getting around Japan with a mobility-limiting handicap.
> 
> I've known a couple of Japanese with a harelip. I believe it's
> generally considered more of a disfigurement than a handicap. The
> people I know live their lives just like everyone else does.
> 
> I can't see that your friend would have any difficulties in Japan
> deriving from his harelip. Certainly not any that should discourage
> him from making and enjoying the trip.

I regularly see people on the train with giant hairy facial moles, 
weird mystery teeth, heads far too fucking big for their bodies...,  
there's that bizarre girl who hunts down and screams at older women in 
kimonos...

An american with a reconstructed hairlip would be the subject of sly 
scutiny on the trainlines i ride, but no more than the usual 
overweight american tourist. If he really feels self-conscious, let me 
suggest the surgical mask, available in every conbeanee and perfectly 
acceptable in polite japanese society.