Either what you did, or experienced.
For me I had a student give me an ice-cream cake from Baskin Robbins (31) for my 31st birthday.
I had joked to them that I should get an ice-cream from there after work to celebrate my birthday, and after their lesson they came back with a whole cake that they bought on a whim.
I was extremely grateful, then very stressed out since my workplace only had a tiny fridge with no freezer, and my home was 30 mins away, with a very full freezer from a recent supermarket shop. I also still had lessons for another 4 hours.
Another experience is an older senior student ‘cleaned up’ the toilets after her using them, but flushing the unflushable wipes and clogging said toilet.
Edit: I meant something with negative results (If you say that a person or their actions are well-intentioned, you mean that they intend to be helpful or kind but they are unsuccessful or cause problems)
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My first year in Japan a random lady at the stairs said “Itterasshai” as I was passing by which I thought was weird but I replied with a thank you anyway. 5 years later for some reason I remembered that scene and I just realized that it was not for me but for the kid that was ahead of me (which I only saw at the bottom of the stairs) and I cringe every time I remember that scene.
My much older apartment neighbor started gifting me fruits and little notes to go with them, which was very sweet.
It then very quickly spiraled into gigantic portions of cooked meals every single night without any notice, which was very difficult because I’m quite petite and couldn’t even finish half of a single meal he cooked. But the meals kept coming, and my fridge would seriously be full of food JUST from him (I couldn’t cook myself food because there was literally no space in my tiny fridge ever).
Then he told me what his bicycle looked like along with the bicycle’s passcode entirely unprompted (he ran into me while I was leaving the apartment building). Then a week later, he very adamantly told me to use his bicycle whenever I felt like it (out of nowhere as well).
Then he started mentioning “share the food with your boyfriend!” out of nowhere for every single meal he gave me (I don’t have a boyfriend 😔), and then all the nice gestures started feeling very, very strange. So I had to ask my school to tell him to stop interacting with me 🥲
All of this after only two weeks of living here. Well intentioned at first, ended on a slightly creepy and very overbearing note 🥲 To be noted, I did try explaining that I can’t eat everything he gave me, but that did not stop him at all lol
Was hanging clothes in my 3th floor veranda when a strong gale sent two shirts with the hangers down on the road. A nice young boy picked them up, waved then ran up the stairs and handed them back to me.
Dropped my wallet on the train as I rushed out after abruptly waking up dazed with AirPods on. A young salaryman who sat next to me ran after me and gave it back after I was already up an escalator. Then he went back down and waited for the next train. Thanks, random salaryman with a cat pattern necktie.
Other small events too but these stand out the most to me.
Inspired me to help others in need more without hesitation or expectations.
People give food gifts a lot here, but I’m allergic to wheat, so most of said food I cannot eat. However, people who know this about me will get me something allergy friendly. That something is usually jelly. Unfortunately, I do not like jelly. So, I have an endless supply of snacks I don’t like but can’t say anything since people are being super nice by getting me something I can eat.
mate said he’d wash his wife’s new car (1 week) by hand as machine car wash brushes are too harsh.
Sunday morning he loads up a bucket with shampoo and gets his young son 3yrs old to help him hosing down the car and then gives him his own sponge to wash the bubbles on the lower parts of mummies new car while dad did the high parts. Loads of strangers walking past saying “kawaii” and “irai”, stuff like that. Back to the hose to wash off the bubbles, great father son bonding time and they get points for helping mum. Mate thanks his son and says that dad will do the rest and he can run inside and tell mummy he did a good job. couple of minutes after using a clean towel to dry the sunny side of the car to prevent streaks, he hears a loud “a.ra..maaa” from a stranger walking past on the other side of the car.
Scoots around to see his son using a handful of gravel to dry off his side of the car. It was pretty scratched but fortunately 90% were cut out with compound. She was pissed.
The car only got machine car washes after that.
I was teaching “verb the noun please” to some kids. Most of it was like “close the window” or “turn on the tv”. The class clown wasn’t paying attention so I said “clean the toilet please” thinking the funny phrase would get the kid to at least react with a big “No way!”
Nope. Kid said “ok!” Then actually went to clean the toilet instead of just acting out like everyone else. Tried to stop the kid, wasn’t having it. Kid cleaned the whole damn bathroom. I had to report myself for potentially bullying the kid and letting them handle cleaning products.
I found myself lost in a bustling city I had never visited before. Navigating the unfamiliar streets and trying to make sense of the map on my phone, I couldn’t help but feel a bit overwhelmed. As I stood on a street corner, contemplating my next move, a stranger approached me.
She was a middle-aged woman with a warm smile that immediately put me at ease. Sensing my confusion, she asked if I needed help. Grateful for her kindness, I explained my situation, admitting that I was a bit disoriented and unsure of where to go.
Without hesitation, she not only pointed me in the right direction but also offered to walk with me to ensure I wouldn’t get lost again. During our stroll, she shared stories about the city, its history, and some of her favorite places. It turned out she was a longtime resident who loved helping others discover the beauty of her hometown.
As we reached my destination, I thanked her profusely for her generosity and kindness. She simply smiled and said, “We’ve all been lost at some point. It’s a pleasure to help someone find their way
A few minutes after attending to moving-in requirements at city hall, I came across a nearby Cherry Blossom tree and took photos. While I was doing that, an old woman passed by, asked politely from which country I came from, and suggested there are more blossoms at a nearby temple. She then said “Enjoy your stay here in Japan”.
Also, our kind landlord and landlady sponsoring eat-out parties every season!
I was waiting at a bus stop to go home and a lady stopped her car and gave me a lift. She worked at a hotel and was used to chatting with foreigners.
On getting home I realise I had left a bag with some shopping in her car. Fortunately she knew someone who lived a few doors away from me in my village (a friend of my partner’s mother). Later that evening friend came round with my shopping.
I felt I had to get them both a small box of chocolates to thank them for their trouble. In the end, the bus would have been cheaper. Still it was a fun interaction.
What happened to the ice cream cake… D:
The first time I ever went to Japan I was by myself in the plane just super excited, about to land. This sweet japanese lady seated next to me asked where I was from and if it was my first going to Japan.
I excitedly replied: “I’m from Mexico!!!! yes!!! it’s my first time here I’m so SO happy!!!!” I don’t remember exactly what she told me but she was really happy for me and gifted me this little towel with chickens on it. It was my first exchange with a Japanese person and it always stuck with me. It was so sweet! 🥹🩷
Next door neighbor and her husband would go kayaking every weekend, probably somewhere nearby. One day I arrived at the same time they were coming back from kayaking, they were climbing the stairs right in front of me when she dropped something from a bag. Without thinking twice, I grabbed it to give back to her… it was her panties.
When I first came here and went to a language school, we were tasked with saying things that we wanted in a conversation. At the time, I wanted some math books (because they are quite pricey), so I said “ほんが欲しいです。” completely forgetting that my conversation partner’s name was “ほん”.
More than a few times I’m walking and won’t be crossing the street but a car stops for me to cross and I cross rather than wave them by.
I was a cyclist. I still ride but at much more leisurely pace these days. Two years ago I was out in a very rural village on a Sunday ride and as I rolled off a main highway onto a very little used prefectural road, I passed three people looking at their car which had dropped the front left tire into a hidden gutter. I rode past and about 500M down the road decided to U turn and go back.
The car was a micro car (kei), very small with narrow tires, one of which was wedged in the gutter. There was a male driver and two ladies with him, all would be well into their late 70s early 80s. He was stuck and the ladies were not much help.
I got off my bike and was able to direct him into steering the wheel perfectly straight, it wasn’t wedged anymore but it was 20cms down and the car was unable to make the 20cm climb as only two wheels were on the ground. We found an old branch near by and by rocking the car he was able to wedge the branch under the wheel so now it was a 10cm hop. By getting the ladies to sit in the back that lifted the wheel another few CMs. Finally I asked him to gun it in reverse and I’d try and lift it out, fortunately it worked. They thanked me and asked me my name and where I was from, I just said the local city I live in. They offered cash, I refused and rode home
Monday afternoon a car stopped in front of the house, a driver delivered a box of honey and dried fruits as thanks from that village mayor who had asked our city mayor who I might be . Turns out that being the chubby old bike riding gaijin narrowed down the search and I got rewarded by the mayor, the younger brother of one of the ladies. Small world in Tohoku.
I was walking to the gym one night in December and I glanced at a house’s front yard and saw what looked like a bundle of clothes on the driveway. When I got closer, I saw it was an elderly woman laying on her back and staring blankly. I went up to her and she said something in Japanese. I didn’t have my phone and didn’t understand what she said so I ran to my apartment to get my then-girlfriend, and we ran back to her. She told my ex that she’d just fallen over and didn’t want an ambulance. I helped her stand up and she thanked us and walked into the house. I remember I used to see her sweeping the sidewalk in the autumn, but I never saw her again after that. I know she lived with a youngish family, and I initially wanted to talk to them about it, but my ex told me I’d done enough, and I was even more culturally clueless back then then I am now and accepted her advice. I still wonder if I should have spoken to them.
My father in law gives me his merc to drive permanently when I first came.
A coworker complimented my English, thinking that it was my second language.
An older female coworker made me a cake for my birthday and gave it to me in the staff room. It was my first year at this job and I was really moved by the thoughtfulness of remembering my birthday.
I gave her a hug and said thank you.
She never spoke to me again….
I learned pretty quickly that it’s better not to mention your birthday to people at work or students you teach as people sometimes feel obligated to do something or buy you a gift. For some people, if they know it’s your birthday and don’t do anything they come off as rude, so they get you a present to save face.
Not knowing this, I was SUPER taken aback in my first year when I got loads of gifts from my students lol. Some of them were really personal too, featuring the character that I liked at her time. I was quite mortified. Then my shit boss was like, “well, you’re the one who told them…”😭
I don’t know if those people did in fact buy me gifts out of obligation, but I felt pretty guilty either way knowing I couldn’t repay the favour. I kept my mouth shut about my birthday from then on haha
wife dropped/lost/forgot my wallet thrice for the past 6 years that we’re here. (with more than 10万 most of the time)
Came back 3 for 3. In my home country, that’s an early gift for them)
When I got fired from a alt job and one of the parents gave me a 10k yen Starbucks gift card xD
I went to a holiday/Christmas event that was hosted by a preschool that I was teaching English at. Basically one big play/musical where all the kids from the various classes put on a small show (usually just a Christmas song and dance). Afterwards as everyone is chatting and leaving I recognize one of my students and because they’re with their whole family (mom, dad, grandparents) they’re suddenly a little shy. But I talk to their family and they ask me where I’m from. I say I’m from Kansas, the middle of the United States. They ask what’s there and I say nothing (not actually that far from the truth) and then they ask what’s famous there, and jokingly I say me. The grandparents then ask if they could take a picture with me. It’s actually one of my favorite memories from that time, it was my first year here and I was missing my family because it was the holidays and this old couple showed me a tiny sliver of just pure sweetness that made me instantly want to hug them.
About 20 minutes later I overheard them tell someone else there’s an American celebrity here. It was still a nice gesture though.
My friend told me this and it cracks me up whenever I remember it.
He was working at a shitty English school and was constantly broke. He studied Japanese and finally landed a decent job at a Japanese company. He was going to be hurting for money big time until his first paycheck (I actually loaned him some). He really likes to talk a lot about his issues and told all his students he was leaving because he literally had no money to feed himself and was starving.
On his last day, his favorite students called him into a room and were like:
Students: “so we know you’ve been having money troubles and that’s why you’re leaving. We’re all really going to miss you. SO, in order to help you, we had a whip round and ALL the students pooled together…..”
My friend said his eyes lit up expecting money (he was still new here at the time) or at the very least some gift cards he could buy food with.
Students: “…..and we got you this crystal vase. So whenever you have money issues, you can look at the beauty of this vase and forget about your money worries!”
And My friend was staring at them like:
https://preview.redd.it/uncooqck9p3c1.jpeg?width=554&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7180160a733ab49226da4474c85727ffa70fcf75
He found out later that it cost 20,000yen+ lol.
I was doing a language exchange with a Japanese person through an app and she mentioned she’s focusing on Vocabulary and Grammar because she gave up on Listening.
I thought she was having a hard time with it so I tried cheering her up and said “Don’t give up on Listening, you can do it!”
Turns out she’s deaf and it was written on her profile that I didn’t read. 😐
Came to Japan as a dyslexic ALT back in 2010. Literally first day in a classroom and I decided to play hangman. I put up _ _ _ _ _ on the board. After a few minutes I realised the word spells COOIE instead of what I meant – COOKIE. I was so embarrassed and worried about what a terrible first impression I’d be leaving by admitting I’d made such an elementary mistake that I lied and said that a cooie is what people in the UK called squirrels. The JTE even spent like 5 minutes explaining this to the kids. To this day I cringe about that and wonder if any of them carried that lie into adulthood.
I just visited japan and was walking and you know how you and someone in the opposite direction both are in each other’s way and one needs to move the other way
Anyways, we were trying to figure out which way to go and then he looked at me and he said bonjourno
I’m indian