Who Says Japanese Men Aren't Friendly?

Yesterday morning as I was walking from the train station to my once-a-week school in a town even smaller than my own (can hardly believe it's possible!), I noticed a car slow down as it passed. It was a nice business-like car, and the man inside was about my age and dressed like a typical Japanese high school teacher. He waved and had a look of recognition on his face, so I figured it must be someone I've encountered here sometime during the past couple of years.

Before I knew it, the car had backed up and pulled over and the door swung open wide. I was slightly taken aback, but--heck--this is Japan, and I was in the middle of the countryside. How dangerous could it be? I stepped slightly closer to see what the driver wanted. Here's the translated conversation:

MAN: "Are you Japanese?"

ME: (Okay, so he hasn't ever met me, but maybe he knows my husband and has heard about me.) "No, I'm American."

MAN: "Are you an ALT?"

ME: (Maybe he wants to ask if I teach private English classes--Strangers often pull over to ask my husband the same thing.) "Yes, at Houhoku High School, just down the road."

MAN: "Are you going to work right now?"

ME: (He must be worried about taking up my time.) "Yes, it starts soon."

MAN: "Won't you come and play?"

ME: (Or maybe not.) "No, I have to go to work."

MAN: "Let's drink alcohol together!"

ME: (No response, as I had already scurried off.)

Although I originally really tried to give this guy the benefit of the doubt and convince myself that he wasn't a sick pervert, I was likely wrong. However, there is one other possible explanation--I was in the same town that Tom S. lives in. Maybe this guy had hung out with Tom and was led to believe that all ALTs have Mr. Hyde personalities when intoxicated and simply wanted to meet mine. (Tom, if you are reading this, I am sooo sorry. Hee-hee.)