In a country so full of contradictions with some sort of haphazard equilibrium sustaining life here it’s rather difficult for me to fully grasp this society and gather my bearings.

Japanese are renowned for the level of their politeness around the world—but that’s the key here. Often times I have met Japanese tourists back in the states set against the backdrop of Americans and they were very polite considering. But it’s a whole different story here in Tokyo. Occurrences with etiquette here seem more brutal resembling very much American behavior with a tinge of cruelty that we (Americans) lack. I understand the whole concept of lack of personal space but does that necessarily mean that politeness should be sacrificed because of it?

Going on four years here I have seen and felt many things, not of all which have been positive. Just the other day I watched as two Japanese; an OL and a salaryman toppled a young woman on the platform without the slightest hesitation. Adding insult to injury neither of them apologized nor stayed behind to help the young woman up. Both of them just rushed onto the train as the train’s doors closed and sped away. What made the scene more harrowing was that no one else had the decency to help the young woman up. Now correct me if I’m wrong but doesn’t that seem impolite?

The sight affected me so adversely that I knew that this sort of thing would never happen in America. First of all, rushing to work, give me a break. Who are you kidding? No company would have my head if I was a couple of minutes late to work nor is a company so meaningful in my life, but here surprisingly everyone has to make a mad dash to work knocking everyone down in their path to do so. Seems rude to me.

Likewise, common courtesy says that at least you should apologize for knocking the hell out of someone, at least in my country it does. Even more so, if you have deposed someone on the street then you better have an excuse ready and an extended hand to help the person up. So it dismays me that the Japanese politeness that abounds around the world cannot be dispensed to those who it matters to the most: Japanese themselves.