Japanese People.

Japanese people are amongst the most hospitable I have encountered in my travels around the globe. I encountered Tokyoites who wouldn't hesitate to take time out from their busy schedules to offer help to this hapless gaijin. In this respect Tokyo has an almost small town vibe to it, which is strange considering that it is arguably the largest metropolis in the known universe. http://www.citymayors.com/statistics/largest-cities-area-125.html I have also found that Japanese people have a genuine curiosity and desire to learn more about other people and cultures. Being a vegetarian my dietary requests in a restaurant would inevitably invoke questions as to my religious beliefs and more often than not sympathy as I would invariably be left hungry.

The Japanese peoples' hospitality quickly disappears when bargains are afoot. This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Kobo-San flea market in Kyoto. People who I'm sure are normally placid in most situations became pushy and overly assertive in their desire to attain the bargain basement priced trinkets and antiques. I have never been trodden on as much in such a brief passage of time, and I can only recall a solitary 'sumimasen' which normally gets thrown around like a baseball at a Hanshin Tigers game. As I have mentioned in my previous posts Iam blown away by the verve and dedication of Japan's elderly population. Without doubt they were the most domineering and bargain conscious of the lot. They give no quarter and take no prisoners, if any one got the better of them on Sunday I failed to witness it.

My prevailing impression of Japanese people is that if respect is shown it is invariably returned. They carry with them a sense of pride and decency which should be held up as beacon for western countries which have let such notions dissapear in a relentless pursuit for monetary gain.