So often asked

[CDNSushi]

Well, I need to work on my pithy replies. I've got them down pat in English, but the real challenge is knowing what to say in Japanese, as I rarely get asked: "What do you wear underneath your kilt?" (or variations of the question), but the much more to-the-point: "Do you wear underwear under your kilt?" The prior version lends itself to many clever replies like "lipstick" or "shoes and socks" etc... But asking directly is a bit different, I recon.

The locals do NOT share the same Judeo-Christian hangups about body parts and bodily functions as we have in the West. People don't think twice about stripping down naked in front of dozens of people at a public bath, nor do people flinch at the prospect of being literally surrounded by people at the doctor's office while the doctor is examining them. Privacy curtains are not required. lol.

[English Bloke]

...The locals do NOT share the same Judeo-Christian hangups about body parts ... People don't think twice about stripping down naked in front of dozens of people at a public bath...

Not intended as disrepectful, just curious. If this is the case why is it such a matter of interest to the Japanese?

[CDNSushi]

Not intended as disrepectful, just curious. If this is the case why is it such a matter of interest to the Japanese?

No disrespect taken. For the same reason it's such a matter of interest to anyone else. There's a certain mythology surrounding under-kilt attire (or lack thereof). No doubt, people have heard or read or seen on TV or in a movie SOMETHING about it, and they just want to confirm whether it's true or just urban legend.

Regardless of culture and nationality, (and Judeo-Christian ethics) I suspect that it's much more primal than that, and that it has something to do with naughtiness (not necessarily in the sexual sense). Many children often try to get away with not putting on any underwear, much to the chagrin of their parents... So once we all grow up, those kids who got in trouble with their mothers for running out of the house without putting any on, well they look at the kilted men and get transported back to when they were kids and think, "Gee whiz. Wish I had known about THAT when I was 8!" I suspect that many people envy us and still wish that they could get away with wearing nothing underneath (even though they've long since moved out of mom's house and technically speaking, nothing would prevent them from dressing as they please).

Then in another sense, through mass media we are taught that naughty girls don't wear any underwear... Everyone has flashbacks to Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct. When people ask us what we are (or aren't) wearing, they are probably secretly hoping that we truly ARE going commando, and re-live that "Oh my! Sharon Stone is SO naughty" sort of feeling. And trust me, Basic Instinct made its way to Japan as well.

[Deirachel]

My answer has always been:

"How warm are your hands?"

If they have the courage, I'll let them. And the wife approves....considering the rarity of the attempt.

[Jimmy]

No disrespect taken. For the same reason it's such a matter of interest to anyone else. There's a certain mythology surrounding under-kilt attire (or lack thereof). No doubt, people have heard or read or seen on TV or in a movie SOMETHING about it, and they just want to confirm whether it's true or just urban legend.

Regardless of culture and nationality, (and Judeo-Christian ethics) I suspect that it's much more primal than that, and that it has something to do with naughtiness (not necessarily in the sexual sense). Many children often try to get away with not putting on any underwear, much to the chagrin of their parents... So once we all grow up, those kids who got in trouble with their mothers for running out of the house without putting any on, well they look at the kilted men and get transported back to when they were kids and think, "Gee whiz. Wish I had known about THAT when I was 8!" I suspect that many people envy us and still wish that they could get away with wearing nothing underneath (even though they've long since moved out of mom's house and technically speaking, nothing would prevent them from dressing as they please).

Then in another sense, through mass media we are taught that naughty girls don't wear any underwear... Everyone has flashbacks to Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct. When people ask us what we are (or aren't) wearing, they are probably secretly hoping that we truly ARE going commando, and re-live that "Oh my! Sharon Stone is SO naughty" sort of feeling. And trust me, Basic Instinct made its way to Japan as well.

Brilliant analogy, next time i wear my kilt and someone pops the question, I'll think of Sharon Stone and how naughty she was in Basic Instinct.
Perhaps this Friday at the St.Andrew's Night Function, I might upset one or two questioners

[Chas]

When: January this year - During the 'Big Snow'
Where: London - In an underpass under Queen Victoria Street
Who: 12 cold people waiting for St Benet's Church to open for an AGM

One of the people was a very 'loud' woman, her merest whisper is at maximum decibels.

From the other end of the underpass an elderly kilted gentleman comes into view and is walking to-wards us.

Although he is still some 30 yards away, the woman starts asking 'the question' again and again.

The elderly gentleman is finally level with the woman and stops.

"Worn madam - nothing is worn.

*pause*

It is a bit chafed - so I'm rubbing the cream on.

*pause*

Bless you for caring about an old man's genitals"

And with that (and total silence) he was gone.

We never heard another word from the woman.

Regards

Chas