For many, the mention of Japan would trigger memories about the turmoils and heart-wrenching events of World War II and the tragic dropping of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945.
But despite all these atrocities, modern day Japan is vastly different.
Any visitor to Japan today can easily sense the complex body of ‘understood’ values that everyone shares.
One of those prevailing Japanese values is mutual respect.
Respect is not only seen during people’s traditional or religious functions. Respect in Japan, and in Tokyo, where my colleagues and I spent almost two weeks recently, is an everyday thing. It is a lifestyle that is lived, it’s what you see at train stations, in public vehicles, on the roadside, in the hotels, in restaurants and bars and even on the bustling streets.
While the streets of Tokyo may seem busy with its fast cars, high rise buildings and a population of 14 million people, citizens go about their lives abiding by an unseen code of reverence and deep consideration for one another.
People quietly chat while walking — no deafening music and unnecessary noise, probably because Tokyo also considered the Royal City, where the Emperor of Japan resides.
Aside from the capital, Shibuya, was another city we visited and it was the opposite of Tokyo; where loud music was played, huge screens overlooked the tall buildings and many young people hung around town. Nevertheless, respect continued to be seen and experienced in this city, known for its ‘youthful’ vibes.
Obedience is another value of life that is prominent in Japan. People obey the law not because they would be punished for breaking it, but just because it is the right thing to do.
The offence of jaywalking is never entertained. Pedestrians would wait at the traffic lights and only cross when the lights allow them to do so.
Fijians who have been to Japan will agree that its people live a lifestyle that exudes honesty, peace and genuine respect for people, property and nature.
You’d be surprised to see cars with its engines turned on, parked outside a supermarket or convenient store while the owner shops. Nobody is there to drive the car away.
I heard about how safe Japan was so I decided to experience and observe this myself. After all, experience helps you pen a better story. So one early morning at about 2am I walked out of Hotel Monterey in Hanzamon (Tokyo City) where we lived and strolled up the street.
I saw women who owned pubs, bars and coffee shops closing up business in the wee hours of the morning and strolling home with their bags, without having to worry about being robbed.
Safety and security could be genuinely experienced and felt in the air.
At every shop, restaurant or Government office you walk into, you’d be greeted with a Japanese bow and a smile followed by ‘Ohayo Gozaimasu’ (good morning) if it’s in the morning.
Meetings with Japanese Government officials happened everyday and as a journalist, you get to realise that geopolitics is deep and real outside our small island home, Fiji.
While most of us are focussed on domestic issues like drugs and crime, it is equally important to understand how the ‘big boys’ play significant roles in the Pacific including Fiji, through the provision of aid.
Tokyo and many cities in Japan have ‘no smoke’ zones except in special kiosks and areas where it’s allowed. And for those who use such places, they will not drop their cigarette butts carelessly. You can’t find cigarette butts lying on the streets because smokers properly dispose them in the provided bins.
For the four Pacific Island journos from Samoa, Palau, Papua New Guinea and myself from Fiji, having Japanese food daily was no problem at all. Although meals were served in small portions, being Pacific Islanders who love big portions, we would combine our meal allowance to ensure there was always plenty of food to eat! Certainly, we could not take the Pacific style out of us!
On the bullet trains which we took to Hiroshima (God bless the Japanese people who suffered the bombing) and Kyoto, I noticed that passengers seated in front would take the time to turn and ask if they could recline their chairs —that’s respect in action!
At the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, the scars and wounds of the 1945 bombing can be felt and there visitors will be overwhelmed with a feeling of respect for the 146,000 people who died in the unfortunate Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.
Silence lingers in this area, among wrecked buildings that have remained standing since 1945-
Torn clothes that looked more like rags, old kettles, eating utensils, sewing machines, letters written by those in that period can be observed at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.
And the story of Teruko Yahata, one of those who survived the bombing will only bring tears to your eyes as she shares what she saw, in particular the common cry for help that surrounded her – ‘water please, water’.
Japan is a definitely a beautiful place to visit as it boasts not only historic sites but one of the kindest and most respectful people on earth. The culture of respect and obedience is instilled in them from a very young age.
The people of Japan display and observe a strong tradition of fimilial piety. They take care of their ageing parents with pride and families are often involved in the community.
This proves that social ills could be overcome if family values and virtues are extolled. Japan’s low crime rate is evident of this.
The trip that I was part of was funded by the Japanese Government. Four journalists representing Fiji, Samoa, Palau and PNG were flown to Japan to highlight and share stories of how the country has worked closely with Pacific Island nations.
