​I recently watched a couple of Japanese and Chinese series because, after reading books from these two countries, I was curious to see what their other media was like. Immediately, I picked up on something that made me smile. It wasn’t a heartwarming reunion or a delightful plot twist; it was the sight of a woman entering her house, looking down and removing her shoes.

 

Some of you may already have realised why this made me smile. For the same reason reading that description probably made you smile too. Because in it you recognise a practice from your own home. This is even more powerful when you so often don’t see it. I can’t be the only person who has cringed at the sight of someone jumping into bed with their boots on (seriously, how can they do that?)!

 

Representation takes many forms, but I think these little, almost invisible, actions that we take for granted in our daily lives are my favourite. They may seem like insignificant details, but they add up and stand up against those forces that would erase us.

 

What little details have you noticed in books or other media that have created that warm feeling of recognition in you?