About one year ago I visited Japan for the first time with my family. The scale of the trip to go to Japan from Chicago was daunting. Although we have traveled extensively as a family, even internationally, this trip just seemed more complicated and tedious to plan. When we landed, my wife was so tired that she swears she doesn’t remember how we got to the hotel. Although we took a direct flight from Chicago, the flight time was 13.5 hours. When you add on the two hours in Chicago, and the 1.5 hour ride from Narita Airport to our hotel in downtown Tokyo, it was a very long day.
To say that it was worth the long travels would be an understatement. Japan is nothing short of a miraculous country to visit. The contrast and balance between the quiet and serene Japanese gardens and the hustle and bustle of their fully developed metro areas is nothing short of shocking. What we all were most surprised by were the Japanese people.
Obviously one of the purposes of travel is to experience the world outside the normal confines of day to day living. The contrast of the US and Japan’s architecture, culture, and way of life is remarkable. However, the contrast of the people of Japan was the most stunning. Never had I or my family ever experienced a people as kind as the Japanese people. There is no tipping in Japan as it is considered their pleasure to serve you. In the almost two week trip, we were constantly amazed by the Japanese people and their kindness along with their willingness to assist you in any way they could.
We were standing in the downtown Tokyo train station trying to decipher the signs to our next destination. A random Japanese person came up to us asking us, in broken English, if he could help. Almost everyone under the age of 50 speaks some English, and love to use it whenever they have a chance. The man not only helped us with the directions but walked us down to the correct gate for the train. Having traveled to New York City for years, and being nearly trampled for stopping to read a sign in the subway, this was nothing short of remarkable. These acts of kindness were the norm during our stay. On another occasion, I had left some Yen on a counter at the hotel and a man came chasing me down to the other end of the hotel to return it. There were too many other acts of kindness and generosity to mention.
This is a people who knew how to get along, and only wanted to help others. I have never seen such a thing. In the US, we can be so disconnected with others, their needs, and be selfish in ways manifested by indifference. I am sure there are drawbacks to their way of life, but by the end of the vacation, my wife and I were talking over dinner and she said to me that if we ever had the opportunity, she would LOVE to live in Japan.
The earthquake, tsunami and now nuclear nightmare occurring in this country is more than even the worst countries on the globe deserve. For Japan and its people to endure these almost biblical disasters is just beyond my comprehension. To see such kind people suffer in this way creates such sadness for me. Although Japan had some of the most cutting edge technology I have experienced in the cities, it was the peaceful balance of the culture and the calm along with their striking use of technology that made our stay most memorable. While they have smart phones, computers and 200+MPH trains, they had peace, serenity and kindness. Technology was a tool, but not a way of life. Balance is the hallmark of Japanese culture.
When you use your Smartphone to text someone, remember that the world still exists around you. Take the time to look up and if someone needs help, stop what you’re doing and help them. The text will still be there when you look down again, trust me. Our society in the US would be better if we tried to find the balance that the Japanese people have found. Put the technology down once and a while. There are tremendous opportunities to help people and bring real satisfaction to your life.
The Japanese people need us to look up from our computers, Smartphones and iPads and offer them help. There are now news articles being published by ABC, CNN etc. about the lack of American generosity in the relief efforts. With all the corrupt countries that are much less worthy of our help that we do help, there may be no society that is as deserving or would be as grateful as Japan. If you have the ability to do so, donate money to help the victims of the disasters in Japan. Let’s help a society that really deserves it.
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