I lived in japan for 3 years, my family picked up the habit there.
It just makes sense, its cleaner, more Comfortable, its nicer moving around the house. When ever i go to friends or family in the country they generally take their shoes off for cleanliness. In the city, most people i know leave their shoes on.. weird.
Granted, the japanese take it a little far. At most schools the kids will take their shoes off inside and wear slippers. And when we moved home, the removalists took their shoes off coming into our house and a guy dropped a couch on his foot.
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