In mixi, people get to know each other gradually. Like any other SNS, in MIXI too, somehow it is important to express the self by uploading photo, decorating profiles, and joining communities, and exchanging messages with the new friends.
Ashiato (the foot print left on your page with a time stamp by a visitor) also makes it easy for you to initiate the discussion conversation with a visitor; also note quite a few Japanese welcome messages in their ashiato notebook when you visit their page and don’ t like it when you leave their page without saying anything.
ãºã£ãŸã‚“ (pettan) is an imitative word for foot print.
By the time you’ve done all of these things at mixi, maybe it’s time for you to request for my mixi (a.k.a. maimiku request.) When she or he approves your request, the two of you are identified as maimiku (the orkut equivalent of add me as a friend) and each face will appear other’s facebook.