Fabric stores are truly

Fabric stores are truly international places.

The range of products represents the textile production centers of the world: lace from Belgium, cotton gauze from India, wools from New Zealand, shijira from Japan, gingham from America.

But even more universally, the shoppers, looking inward, quietly calculate yardage or compare colors in their mind's eye. Some go so far as to gesticulate as they imagine their work in 3D. And the children in tow hold bundles of fabric, or cling to toys as they plead with their mothers to leave.

But, like sewing mothers the world over, these Japanese women will temporarily ignore their children's whines in order to obtain that final bit of trim or to find the right shade of pink for the new pillow covers.

It's a small world when you have a needle and thread.