Japan: The Melody of the People
Japan is one of those places where there is a feeling of synchrony, a feeling of harmony. I noticed the difference in atmosphere the moment I stepped off the plane, queues perfectly alined, a comforting silence, like the feeling one gets in a library. This synchrony continued throughout the five or so days I was lucky enough to be there for. Though it was around day two when I realized that this harmony developed from a particular part of Japanese culture. (As a foreigner who has only experienced this beautiful country for a short time, my perspective is limited, but I have only good things to say and hope it doesn’t offend anyone.) The part of the culture I am referring to is the mindset that every action is for the good of the people, the greater good.
You don’t realize the stark difference this seemingly small mindset change makes until you actually experience it. Simple things that may be overlooked are tackled as a community in Japan. Let me bring an example to the table: in the United States, have you ever walked onto a busy escalator? It seems efficient enough, right? People moving effortlessly up or down, getting from point A to point B. Everyone moves at the same speed as they travel to their desired floor level.
In Tokyo, however, they implement a simple change that left me shocked at the difference in efficiency. If you are standing on the escalator (i.e., not moving), you politely move and stay to the left side, always leaving room for others on the right to walk up at their own pace. This isn’t just something that happens most of the time; you will almost never see an escalator where this procedure isn't in use.
I hope this example gives you a better picture of what I mean. I could go on for a long while with examples, like how everyone politely waits to the side of the subway doors, letting everyone on the train out before the first person steps on.
出る杭は打たれる
"The nail that sticks out is struck."
(Japanese Proverb)
Anyways, harmony and greater good aside, if you ever find yourself in Japan, you will understand what I mean when I say things just make sense.
Japan is home to many practical and efficient procedures and tools, often overlooked by those unaware of better alternatives (i.e. myself). These quality of life improvements are tucked away in the most mundane, everyday settings, yet when you encounter them, its like a light bulb goes off in your head. "Oh my god, why have I never thought of this and why isn't this used everywhere?"
Let’s start with a simple question: why do we have to count our change at the register? Have you ever really thought about it? I sure hadn’t. Now that I’ve mentioned it, you probably know where this is heading. In Japan, you don’t have to count your own change. Instead, you pour all your coins in a small machine hanging on the counter. This little-machine-that-could counts and distributes the money appropriately giving the exact amount of change right back to the customer. Is this not the best invention ever? This machine is everywhere, in grocery stores, 7-11's (which btw are incredible in Japan), and more. The more you use it, the more its presence is lost and that right there, is the beauty of it.
Let's consider another example: the tenji block. Named after the Japanese word for braille, these blocks were designed to help visually impaired individuals "read" the sidewalks. The idea came from Seiichi Miyake (who, unfortunately, has no relation to the famous designer Issey Miyake). It is said that Miyake was inspired after witnessing a blind man nearly get hit by a car.
Miyake's creation was a tile with a series of raised blisters, mimicking the feel of braille. He first tested it at a school for the blind, where the tiles were installed on a train platform. The success of these tenji blocks led the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to lay 10,000 blocks throughout the city. This initiative began in the 1970s, and since then, over 30,000 kilometers of tenji blocks have been installed across Japan. These tiles have significantly improved the safety and mobility of visually impaired citizens nationwide. As a traveler I walked out of the airport and immediately notice the bright yellow tiles.
A few days later, I discovered their meaning and importance and I was amazed. These tracks are quite literally... everywhere. It is these quality of life improvements that become obvious solutions to problems we didn't know we originally had, and I think thats beautiful. There is thought and intention in everything.
花より団子
"Dumplings over flowers"
(Japanese Proverb)
Overall, Japan was an eye-opening experience, and I definitely plan to return more than once. While I’ve rambled on about the cultural aspects in this post, there’s so much more I’d love to share. Stay tuned for my future posts, where I'll dive into some of my favorite spots and food recommendations from this amazing country.
Talk to you soon!
~ Cyrus Foroudian
