“You’re leaving your laptop here?” my friend from America asked, his eyes wide with disbelief.
I had just placed my MacBook on a small table in a crowded Starbucks to save our seats while I went to order.
To me, this was completely normal.
To him, it was an act of insanity.
That was the moment I realized that Japan’s incredible safety is not something to be taken for granted.
Scenes of Trust: A Normal Day in Japan
Once you start looking for it, you see this unspoken trust everywhere.
You see businesspeople sleeping on the train, their phones sitting loosely in their laps.
You see designer bags used to save seats in busy food courts.
You hear stories of wallets dropped on the street being returned to the owner, with all the cash still inside.
Vending machines full of drinks and cigarettes stand on quiet streets, untouched and safe.
This is a side of Japan that often goes unmentioned in guidebooks, but it’s a huge part of our daily lives and something I’ve come to deeply appreciate.
Why Is It So Safe? My Personal Thoughts
I am not a sociologist, so I can only speak from my own experience.
I believe it comes from a collective, unspoken agreement to respect one another’s property.
There is a strong sense of community and a shared understanding that we are all in this together.
This culture of mutual trust is something I feel is also embedded in our language, like in some of our unique phrases.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that crime is non-existent, and you should always be careful.
But there is a baseline level of safety here that constantly amazes my friends from abroad, and honestly, it makes me proud of my country.
This experience with my friend was a powerful reminder of the cultural differences that make traveling so fascinating.
It’s these small, everyday moments that often teach us the most.
What is it like in your country?
Could you leave your laptop unattended in a cafe?
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This shared sense of trust is a big part of Japanese society and how relationships are formed. If you’re interested in learning more about making connections here, this article might help.
