We live next to a river and there’s a big embankment next to us. Since we moved here about three years ago, we’ve never cut the grass and weeds that grow there, because it’s not out land. Our neighbours *do* cut the grass on the embankment next to their houses (note: they also used to cut the extra ten metres of grass by our house too, but don’t any longer). We asked at our village office and they said we don’t need to, but one of my neighbours accosted me this morning and very politely complained.
From what I understand, we don’t have a legal requirement to, but is there a Japanese, societal obligation? Our neighbours are generally very nice and I do want to be kind and helpful to them, but I don’t want to buy an expensive gardening tool, either.
22 comments
Tell them to cut grass
I think it’s specific to your group of neighbors, it’s not a practice I see in this neighborhood. My advice would be to go along with it, though, because it’s much better to be in harmony with your neighbors than to have an antagonistic relationship with them. There may come a time when you need them, so being seen as a part of the neighborhood rather than an outsider is probably to your advantage.
If you don’t want to do it, it’s totally fine. As you stated that you asked to village office and they said you don’t need to do it. But, you are not living alone. Especially you have a polite and nice neighbor. If I am in your position, I’ll cut the grass. You don’t need to buy fancy gardening tools, a grass shear should be enough. It only cost 1k yen per I check. And if you have a close friendship with your neighbor, just borrow it from them. There is nothing wrong to have tidier environment and neighborhood. Especially you can keep the neighbor being nice around you. 👍🏻
The only obligation is politeness and community spirit, I would say. Fine to leave it, but you probably shouldn’t expect much community spirit towards you afterwards. Some people prefer it that way.
It’s interesting this comes up! I run next to a local (very small river) and I’ve noticed older men tending to the embankments (cutting grass, etc). They didn’t look like city workers so I always kind of wondered if they were neighborhood people, and now I guess I know they are!
Is that area a place the neighborhood association tends to? Or is this just something that specific neighbor wants done?
Our neighborhood gets together occasionally and tends the common areas. You don’t have to, but it is a social obligation. I’d see it kind of like that. You each do your part.
Depending on how much work it is, I’d just do it. 10, 15 minutes with a weed whacker every two weeks will earn you a lot of goodwill in the community.
Bring out a couple beers to share, cut the grass, and enjoy the neighborhood.
If your concern is just buying an expensive tool, then ask the people who previously tended to the weeds if 1) they have it 2) you can borrow it. Of course be a decent neighbor and clean up (and/or gas up, if it’s one of those man-portable motorized weed whackers) the tool before you return it.
Or if they don’t have it, or won’t let you borrow it, then maybe you can ask the village office if they have one. And if they don’t, maybe renting is possible. And if not, it’s shoganai tiems ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
are those neighbors and all comments here like old retired ppl? If you one of them – yeah, you could cut it. If you have other things to do and no extra money for the weeds that you don’t own – skip it.
Just do it. It’s fun.
It helps keep the bugs down which would also be a benefit to you also , no ?
I’m part of the neighborhood clean up also.
It’s all been said below, just do it, I do and more. In Chugoku semi-inaka.
Is there a societal obligation, yes. If you are able to do it, you will be making things easier on yourself by doing it. But it’s also part of an old system that isn’t sustainable in a world with single generation, double full time job families – you won’t be the only person not doing it if you decide you can’t. We have a property in the inaka and do all of our responsibilities there to the best of our ability. We also currently rent in the city and don’t get involved in that kind of stuff. My calculation for now is that in the inaka it’s worth putting in the effort, in the city it’s past time for local government to find a way of doing things that doesn’t rely on forced “volunteers.”
Offer middle ground. Say you would love to do it but could your neighbours come and help the first time and show you how to do it as you are new to this sort of thing. Even if they just watch and advise 🙂
> Our neighbours are generally very nice and I do want to be kind and helpful to them, but I don’t want to buy an expensive gardening tool, either.
If you simply don’t want to do it then don’t do it.
If it’s just the cost of the tools, ask if they will lend you said tools (which they presumably have if they’re doing it in the first place).
I would do it, peace with thy neighbors is super important and you don’t know how that might come back to bite you in the ass.
Tell them thank you for bringing it to your attention, and ask them what’s easiest way to get it done considering you’re a busy person. Ask them if they are paying someone to do it, and offer to chip on to extend the covered area to cover the one in front of your house.
Yes it’s a community obligation and not a legal one. I think you should do it. Yeah it sucks, but part of being an adult is handling your responsibilities.
Having a good relationship with your neighbors is really important and can really improve your quality of life.
Having shitty neighbors sucks.
If your neighbors are nice and cutting the grass would make the neighborhood look nicer, why don’t you just do it?
“I’m sorry. It’s not my property. You’re welcome to cut it if you want since the village office won’t.”
> but is there a Japanese, societal obligation?
> […]
> Our neighbours do cut the grass on the embankment next to their houses
You answered your own question.
If you want to be part of the neighborhood community, then do the sorts of good things that the neighborhood does.
You don’t need anything fancy to do it. Even a long-handled sythe will be fine. Get a weed wacker of some sort if you want to make the work easier.