I love living in Japan and it's truly my home after more than a decade. However, after being bumped into by pedestrians not looking where they were going and nearly clipped by a cyclist and driver all in the same week – I need to get this off my chest.
Time for a rant about something that's been driving me up the wall: the complete and utter lack of spatial awareness among pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. I get that every country has its quirks, but seriously, the way people navigate public spaces here seems like it was designed by someone who’s never seen a traffic accident or an emergency room. (To be fair, this problem is subjectively worse in other Asian countries I have traveled to…but that's for another day)
Let’s start with pedestrians. You’d think the sidewalks are a free-for-all, with people just wandering around like they’re in their living rooms. Groups of people will huddle together, blocking entire sections of the sidewalk like it’s their personal runway. Heaven forbid you’re trying to get anywhere in a hurry—you're basically playing a game of dodgeball where everyone’s throwing invisible balls of obliviousness. If you must use your smartphone, stop walking and use it. I promise it's not as hard as it sounds.
And don’t even get me started on the bicycle situation. I get it, using a bicycle is super popular here, but it’s like the cyclists have decided that the sidewalks are their personal racetracks. I’ve been nearly mowed down more times than I care to count because cyclists zoom by at breakneck speeds, weaving through pedestrians like they’re dodging traffic cones in a video game. One minute you're strolling along, and the next, you’re forced to execute a high-speed maneuver just to avoid a collision.
Then there’s the car situation. Sure, Japan’s roads are pretty well-organized, but the drivers seem to think that spatial awareness is an optional feature. Ever tried crossing a street here? You’ll find cars that’ll come to a complete stop but are still sticking halfway into the crosswalk, forcing you to play an impromptu game of "will this vehicle hit me or not?" It’s like the concept of "stop before the line" is an abstract idea rather than a basic driving rule.
What’s more frustrating is that all this chaos isn’t just a minor inconvenience; it has real consequences. Pedestrians getting clipped by bikes, cyclists colliding with each other or with pedestrians, and cars causing close calls every few minutes—it’s a recipe for disaster. And yet, people seem to float through their daily routines without a care for the potential injuries they could cause. The lack of awareness and consideration for others is both baffling and infuriating.
It’s not just about getting from point A to point B; it’s about doing so without feeling like you’re in a game of survival. When everyone’s so wrapped up in their own little bubble, the potential for accidents skyrockets. It’s time for a serious wake-up call about the importance of spatial awareness and the impact our actions can have on others.
So here’s to hoping that someday, people will start thinking beyond their own immediate paths and consider how their actions affect the people around them. Until then, I guess I'll keep dodging pedestrians, cyclists, and cars like I’m in some sort of urban obstacle course.
by Froyo_Muted