/jp/ - Otaku Culture

Ok maybe in the wrong place but I'm at a loss.
How can you tell if a japanese guy is flirting with you?
White guys I can read but theres a guy at my uni at the moment who is thouroughly confusing me.
Is it normal for them to be really touchy feely? He picks things out of my hair sometimes which is way to intimate for where i thought our friendship was and keeps tapping my hands or poking me.
If this was a wite guy i would know he was interested but am i just suffering a case of cross cultural communication gone wrong?
Or maybe he is confused about how western friendships work.
Any advice would be appreciated.