I really hope that you will become interested in Japan and the Japanese
people
because you have read "my opinion"
Now lets move to some good stories about us. Do you think that Japanese are kind? I think so. |
If you visit Japan and lose your way, someone definately will ask you "What is the matter?", or "Are you lost?"or "May I help you?" It is said that the Japanese show no emotion, but I can say that this is not so! It depends on the situation. |
Let me explain about our culture a little bit. I think that our culture has been based on "endurance", "endeavor" and "guts". We are often taught that we have to endure when we are in trouble. When you endure something, you don't smile, do you? |
Japanese are well known as hard workers. When you work hard with "guts", you don't smile. ( I am not sure if you work with guts). Anyway, Japanese are not good at smiling because of the culture. However, that does not mean that we are not kind or friendly. |
I have a good story. A foreigner lost his wallet in a park. All his money was in it. He had to go back to his country the next day. He was at a loss and all he could do was just sit on a bench in a park. A Japanese woman came to him and asked what had happened. He told her his story. She could not speak English at all but she understood what he said. The woman took him to a KOBAN (small police station in town), which was near the park. She explained it all to the police officer, and they tried to find the wallet in the park but they could not find it. He almost gave up. A few minutes later, the police officer received a phone call, A boy picked up the wallet in the park. He came to the KOBAN and handed it to the foreigner! He really thanked the boy and also people who had helped him. " |
How is it? This is a real story. Even if you leave your bag in a train, I guess you could find it. Most Japanese are very honest. If I were the boy, I am sure I would go and tell an officer in KOBAN what I did. |
Even if you pick up something, that is NOT yours. It must belong to somebody. This is one of our virtues. I know that this is not the same in some countries but Japanese think like that way at least. I don't know how you feel to hear it, but I am proud of this story! |
Let me tell you another story: You can see@a price board on the wall when you go into Mc Donalds in Japan, which says, "Hamburger \100. Smile \0" We are not people who do not smile!!! Even if you pick up something, that is NOT yours. It must belong to somebody. This is one of our virtues. |