I'm A Face Eater

A few years ago one of my students in Oita accused me of being 面食い, pronounced "menkui." It literally means "face eater," someone who puts more stock in physical appearance than personality. I argued with her—and am obviously still doing so since I'm writing a story about it 2 years later—that I'm not a menkui. I have very rarely dated someone just for their looks, and if I did it didn't last very long.

The subject came up again last night but among different people. I went to see a movie (a forgettable Hong Kong comedy) with some friends and while looking at the posters for the movies showing in the theater after, I pointed to a pretty girl on a poster for a different movie and said, "I wish she had been in our movie." Oh, do you know who she is? "No, but she's hot." And then it started up again.

So I suppose it's time to admit it: I'm a menkui. Physical appearance is very important to me. However! It is not more important than personality when choosing a companion. But could I date someone who had a great personality but was lacking in the looks department? I'm sorry to say I don't think I could. Maybe that's why I'm still single.