On A Subway In Tokyo

While traveling by subway one afternoon in Tokyo, a young student caught my eye. He couldn't have been more than 7 or 8 years old, and was wearing a school uniform with matching cap and shoes. A large backpack covered most of his tiny back, and a separate book bag draped his front side. After sitting across from me, another boy wearing almost the exact same uniform and gear appeared and sat next to him.

I looked around, expecting one or both of their parents to come along, but as the train doors closed and we accelerated toward the next stop, I watched as the boys sat together, silently reading a large picture book that the first boy had brought out of his bag. It was clear that they were on their own, traveling home from school.

The situation was surreal to me. There we were on a packed train, traveling through the most heavily populated city in the world, and none of the adults around us gave any indication that it was surprising to see these young students commute on their own. I had read that this isn't unusual for Japan, but to see it firsthand was astounding.

A handful of stops later, the second boy got up to exit the train, and as he walked by his friend, they both raised a single hand to communicate a silent goodbye. The first boy put his book away, and sat there for another few stops, chillin' like a university student traveling by subway in any metropolitan city across the world. After he exited a few minutes later, I sat there for while in a daze, feeling like I had just experienced something remarkable.

Today, it's unthinkable to allow young elementary students to commute on their own through metropolitan areas like Toronto, NYC, London, Dublin, Paris, and Berlin. So how is it that Japanese culture allows for such a safe environment for its people?

Spending time in Japan gave me a deep appreciation for its culture of respect and thoughtfulness. There are almost no garbage bins in public spaces, but even its most populated cities are noticeably clean with almost no litter in sight. The streets, subway cars, and indoor spaces are consistently quiet and peaceful.

On multiple occasions, we entered a subway car hoping to find two empty seats together, only to have existing passengers notice this and move to a nearby seat to allow for us to sit together. Such acts of courtesy were common, and I loved how once the time came to go in different directions, the giver and receiver of those thoughtful gestures would invariably share a glance and respectful bow of appreciation. This energy is the opposite of what I have felt on countless occasions in the west, when after yielding to allow a car to go first or enter the space in front of me, a slight nod or wave of thanks were nowhere to be seen.

With each passing year, I'm realizing how incredibly important culture is. The culture we live within has an enormous impact on our quality of life, and we probably don't realize how different our lives would be if we lived elsewhere.

I've long been of the view that wherever we are, we can choose how to process and interact with the world. But after spending more time in East Asia in recent years, I'm now of the mindset that some places offer far healthier environments than others. So for those just starting out or in a position to migrate to a location that better resonates with their personality and interests, I encourage this.

For those who can't so easily pick up and migrate elsewhere, I think there is much value to be obtained from traveling periodically, and when this isn't possible, to explore virtually through books and media. Doing so is certain to broaden our perspectives and appreciation for life's blessings.