All White People Look the Same

Has it really been almost 2 months since my last post? I'm coming to take more time to write in my diary, both in Japanese, as well as English (one for each language), as opposed to writing online. Much has occurred over the past two months that it becomes hard to come to grips as to what is of value, especially for an aspiring piece of work that I will later call my breakthrough to the world of publishing.
Wait, was that a call to all journalists, bloggers, and tweeters to locate me and turn this normal Canadian into someone famous? Did I also mention I'm in the job market come September?
Anyhow, I was on the train last week while at a conference in Yokohama (one of the best places in the world, thank you Lady Gaga!) and looked around. Naturally, while on a subway, train or any form of transportation one tends to survey the crowd, correct? Well, I was especially intrigued this one trip and I peered over the people in the car. What I noticed was a woman, tall in stature, hair, black cut shorter than shoulder length with bangs, and a fairly significant nose. I turn to my, who so happens to be British bloke, and quickly acknowledged, "I'm pretty sure that woman could pass for a Frenchwoman". Of course, I was wrong, as she was Japanese, though I'm sure many others would agree with me. It's not the first time I have mistaken Japanese for Westerners, and surely it's been a recent development, with the progression of my resident status here in Japan. Though half-heartedly convinced, I'm becoming good at identifying stark differences in people's appearances.
I've always had an eye for faces, though when it came to Organic Chemistry in 2nd year of my 4 year term at Queen's University, I found it difficult to distinguish most of the lecture hall, because the majority of all were Asian. Now, I'm not about to suggest all Asians look the same, though I will admit that similar features do exist. How is it that Koreans get away with owning Japanese restaurants in Canada? However, when this mold is broken, people stand out of the crowd. You'd think they would be hammered down if they stuck out, as an old Japanese proverb suggests. It's quite interesting that this one "Frenchwoman" might have possibly had some French ancestry, though highly unlikely, given the fact that this is Japan, however, I have these moments weekly, where my brain cannot distinguish what is what anymore. Could we be seeing past the narrow eyes and midnight black hair? Or are my eyes adjusting to what I refer to every day?
For someone to suggest all Asians look alike is quite bold, ignorant and simply rude. Perhaps we need to adjust our eyes more to what this world is made up of.
On a final note, even I've been mistaken for a Japanese on more than one occasion. Looks, personality, gestures, body language? Funny how our senses take note of these slight changes.