Tokyo Tales

As I was crossing a busy street in Tokyo, the traffic light turned green. On an instinct I started running. I turned back & an amazing sight greeted me. None of the cars on either side of the zebra crossing moved an inch. As I reached the other end, a man rolled down his shutters, bowed his head and thanked me.

On another occasion, I hailed a cab for a short journey. The driver took a shorter route & entered into a one way lane, just enough for a single car to pass. The lane was a good 100 meters long & congested by Japanese standards. I was sitting next to the driver & noticed a lady walking in the middle of the road, plumb in front of the cab.

The driver slowed down, turned off the AC & followed the lady silently while maintaining a safe distance from her. After a few minutes, the lady turned back and realized that she was blocking the road. She very apologetically hurried to the sidewalk. The driver didn’t use the horn once as it would have disturbed her.

Why are Japanese so polite?

Japanese society is deeply influenced by Shinto religious beliefs where humility &compassion are basic tenets accepted by people. Early in life parents stress on social manners & peaceful coexistence for children.

Tokyo, London or New york - manners maketh a man.

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