i am starving

I have really eaten anything all day besides a pastry and some soft drinks. Whenever i ask someone in a grocery store about "bejitarian" food, they give me a funny look, and when i explain i dont eat fish, the look turns to a grimace. We'll see how this episode unfolds.
If i hadn't explained before, Tokushima-shi is a small town. There are rice fields a block from my building in people's backyards. And along the route to the building from downtown, there is a small red-light district consisting of open residence doors, actual red lights shining from inside, and women slapping fans on their theighs and calling out in Japanese, "Big brother!" and "Good evening!". I try to ignore them, but at the same time i wonder what the appropriate reaction should be. An old man stopped me late at night nearby and said in English, "What is your name?" So I repeated the question to him, and then he said "I love you", whereupon I started to walk away and wish him a good evening. The men around laughed. I am glad everyone here is having a grand old time at the expense of my diminishing pride. I was told the whole downtown stretch is owned by Yakuza. There are many young men in suits fumbling around, some with long fluffy mullets advertising girls whose job is to chat mindlessly with the men who pay them, and nothing more. Aside from all the frivolousness going on, it is an extremely safe place and I was told to have no fear at any time. Except if I step on a Yakuza guy's toe.