We often talk about the struggles of living in japan as a foreigner. Sometimes it’s not fun and it’s difficult and challenging and the language and unwritten social rules can annoy you. However what’s something you remember happening that will always brighten your day when you think about it?
What one moment made you think ‘that was an awesome moment, can’t imagine that happening back home!’
20 comments
Getting my wallet back with over $600 in it.
Crowded train, everybody on their phones. An unwell-looking guy collapses, and the whole train car springs into action.
One person hits the emergency button and tells the conductor there’s a medical emergency.
The crowd parts for a guy shouting “I’m a medical student, let me through!”
As he starts CPR, people line up to take turns if someone doing chest compressions gets tired. There’s so many people I stay seated and think “I’ll wait my turn if they all get tired.”
Train stops at the next station, people assist the EMTs getting him on the stretcher and outside (it was snowing).
And then everyone just went back to their phones like nothing had happened.
There is not only one moment for me. It’s a series of moments from daily life to specific things. Saying “good morning” to the cop stationed outside his koban and him kindly returning the greeting. Walking alone in the streets after a nikai at odd hours and still feeling safe. Knowing no one will steal from shopkeepers’ stalls and shelves on the streets and not being regarded as evil until proven otherwise by businesses, staff and authorities alike.
went to Homac to buy some wire for my garden and it was 499 yen. i put a 500 coin into the tray and left since i had a long day. as i was walking to my car, i hear a loud “sumimasen!!!!” and it was the cashier with my receipt and yenny. i felt super embarrassed and bowed and thry bowed back and told them i was tired. they said ganbatte:)
A young lady and her electric wheelchair rolled off the platform and onto the tracks. The station staff set off the emergency alarms that alerted any incoming trains, but because of safety protocols they couldn’t do anything for the lady (who was bleeding, visibly injured and struggling to get up).
They didn’t even try to approach her.
Some young men on the platform grew angry, and started yelling at the staff to “do something!” Finally one guy had enough – he flung off his backpack and jumped onto the tracks. Several others immediately followed suit, and then some station staff joined them (I bet they got in trouble later on!). Together they lifted the young lady onto the platform, and then her wheelchair.
Meanwhile, another young woman on the platform had swiftly gathered up the various bags and backpacks of the rescuers, and placed them carefully in a safe space.
It was such a wonderfully coordinated scene that took place over a few minutes. I’m pretty sure I’ll never forget it as long as I live.
There was this one time, when I had to ride an ambulance, and they just let me.
And then I paid 3,300 yen for the tests they did on my stomach at the hospital and went home.
And that was the end of that.
Not really Japan related but just goofy. Was once walking in Kyoto with my ex and she is quite small so i often put my arm around on her shoulder. We check out the sights and I lovingly put my arm around her as usual and suddenly get tapped on the back and its…. my ex. Apparently i was so distracted I accidentally put my arm around an elderly Japanese woman who was walking next to me. She didnt get angry luckily.
I wrote a book about all of the highs and lows titled 10KLRS: 10,000 Lakes to the Rising Sun. 
I lost a video camera once in Tokyo, around 12pm. It fell from the bicycle basket on a bumpy slope and I didn’t notice until 23h. I redone the path and found the camera sitting on a little wall in front of a house waiting for me.
Seriously late for a shinkansen together with my boss (His fault btw.), sprinting up the escalator . He loses his shoe and it flies up the escalator in a majestic arc. Businesswoman standing there collapses on the spot laughing. Made her day, made mine. We also made the train.
I was on a bus and the old lady by me got to chit chatting. I asked why her English was so good and she got misty eyed and quietly said. There was a guy in college.
Grandma fucked and I hope she still does.
Honestly, the police gets so much shit on here, and rightfully so, but I really like the part they play in the community in day-to-day life. Back home I’d only go to the police if something bad happened to me, but here I’ve gone because I saw a stray dog or because I needed to know how to get somewhere. Police being very approachable and close to their community really helps with feeling safe, imo.
That’s something I honestly can’t imagine back home.
Walking after dark and not getting mugged, not having to see the humanitarian crisis that is homelessness running rampant, or having to worry about stepping on human shit while walking down streets.
Those are pretty nice reminders everyday
1st story.
My wife and I were visiting Japan a few years ago, long before we moved here. My mother-in-law brought us to Nitori for the first time. It was fairly busy too. We were walking down the escalator and she noticed a 5000 yen bill on the ground. Back home that’s a big score! She then picked up and placed the bill on the divider between the two hand rails so the person that lost it could find it. When we left Nitori about 45-minutes that bill was still stitting there in plain sight. To this day I’ve always wondered who eventually picked it up.
2nd story.
We live next to an onsen and parking is very close to our front entrance. The other night our doorbell rang and this young couple, maybe early 20s, were prefusely apologizing for something. My Japanese is still trash, so our broken communication left me with that dumbfounded “I’m new to Japan and can’t fully understand you” look on my face while I try to decifer what they are apologizing for.
It turns out I left a clay pot on our curb and they knocked it over with their bumper and it broke. I’m from Toronto, if that happened in Toronto I would expect someone to drive off without any explanation or try to blame me for damage to their bumper. I’m still in shock that someone felt the need to knock on our door and apologize for that.
Anyways, not overly exciting, but that would never happen where I’m from.
I remember when I was infornt of the ticketing machines in a station somewhere in Osaka. I was looking how much do I need to purchase… then somebody tapped my shoulder.. I got surprised and scared at first then when I turned back, it was a cute grandma.. handing me her 1-day pass because she will not use it anymore and will go home 🥹
I was browsing a giant display of Coke bottles in the supermarket. It was that “Share a Coke with TANAKA” series that featured a range of generic Japanese names.
I was looking closely and my girlfriend asked “What are you looking for?”
Without missing a beat I replied “SAMURAGOCHI!*” , which sent the middle-aged lady standing next to us into a fit of giggles.
*The Japanese “deaf” composer with a very unusual name who was in the news at the time for not actually being deaf and using a ghostwriter to write all his work.
Super lost at Tokyo station in 2014. Was looking at some directions on the map display for about 10 minutes and unable to decide where to go. 2 guys came to me , asked me where I wanted to go and personally escorted me there to make sure I was not lost again. Best story of my life in Japan.
Crowded train platform, a blind person is about to walk off the platform. Seemingly from no where, 5 people rushed, but a young girl was the fastest, it was as if she was trained for it. She just calmly hugged/hold his arms and asked “where are you going” then proceeded to escort him to the correct door of the correct train.
I love seeing all the self-service fruit and veggies stalls that you happen upon while driving or sometimes just alongside a hiking path. Just recently, I came across one that had bentos too! Once in Kii-Katsuura, I came across a self-service seafood shop and got some maguro to enjoy down by the dock. Back home, someone would have ripped the money box off and probably taken some of the produce along with it.
Going to the clinic because I was deathly sick and didn’t have NHI. I brought 40,000 with me hoping it was enough.
I saw the Dr got several test’s and two weeks of medicine prescribed to me.
The bill came and they were apologetic about having to charge me such a high rate since I didn’t have insurance. It was 10,000 yen. I quickly paid and left but was super shocked at the low price.