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This custom is actually still alive and well. We always get treats from new neighbors.

Our best neighbors are the Tanabes. Anything we give them, they upgrade it. We just love it.

Speaking of neighbors' and acquaintances' nicknames, here are a few my wife and I regularly use:

- the German Lady

- the ex-virgin

- the sick man

- Stinky-Fatty-chan

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Stinky Fatty? Ouch! Hahahahaha.

The ex virgin is particularly intriguing!

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One of my wife's coworkers was still virgin when they first met (she said so). Then she got a boyfriend and announced she was no more. Hence ex-virgin. Forever and ever.

The Sick Man, by the way, is now pretty healthy thank you very much.

What about Terashima-kun? What sort of name is that?

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Sadly, our local daikon guy died on Monday. He was always pottering about and had the strategic deafness that some people develop in old age when you bore them etc. He was active up until a few days ago, then faded and passed. Now the funeral gift giving begins.

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Oh no. I didn’t think of the eventual funerals.

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Oh yes, the first few years we moved in to our village, we averaged three funerals a year.

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