Yuko, thank you for an insightful and riveting article as always! But it has left me with a dilemma. If I were a tourist in Tokyo, now that I know this, would it generally be appropriate to ask for _kohi_ and _keiki_ and pay with a _kurejitto kardo_ instead of coffee, cake, and a credit card?

I had the same dilemma in Bangkok last year when I debated if I should use Tinglish (Thai English) or not. On the one hand, it risks sounding like you’re mocking their English, on the other hand, one risks not being understood!

BTW, I ask this because I hope to be in Tokyo very very soon. :)