How many ways can you forget how to use your slippers in a Japanese home?  Let me count the ways.  First, you must remember to remove your shoes in the foyer (Front door hallway).  This is done in an exact way.  First, you turn and face the door to the foyer you just entered.  Then you maneuver one foot out of the shoe and put your stocking foot onto a platform.  Then you balance and remove the other shoe before putting both feet on the platform.  Your shoes are now pointing to the front door, in the right direction to put on when you leave the house.  This prevents the outside dirt from your shoes entering the home.  Then there are bedroom slippers you put on to wear around the tiled floor surfaces of the house.  If you go to the toilet (notice I said toilet - it is very important not to say bathroom) you open the door, step out of your slippers, and into the toilet slippers that are facing in the correct direction.  When you finish you turn so your back is to the door to step out of your slippers to leave them facing in the proper direction for the next person.  The, there are the areas of the house that have tatami mats.  These are standard-sized mats made of the rice plant that fit down into the floor a bit to keep the floor levels even.
          In the home of the Ueta family, who were a wonderful host family for me, tatami mats were in a special family area used for studying, talking, and having tea.  Also the mates were in the sleeping area I was in.  Once again, you remove your slippers by having your back to the tatami mat in order to have them ready and pointing the proper direction when you leave.  For me, I could easily remember to remove my slippers at the front door, but I must confess, that I forgot about the tatami mats and the toilet areas a few times.  Oops!  Big oops!  My Japanese hosts were so polite.  They never remarked on this mistake or others that I'm sure my incomplete understanding of the Japanese culture created.