CNN blog featured an article “Why is there no looting in Japan?”
I started to think about the Japanese people and why the whole world is admiring them and learning so much from them during this tragic event.
Then I started asking the people around me – “Why is there no looting in Japan?”
Here are some answers that will help you understand and appreciate the Japanese people.
My husband:
He just smiled back and said , why are people so amazed… It is “atarimae”- meaning, it is natural. ( NOT to loot…)
Instead he posted the question back and me and said – Why should we loot? Why would people take advantage of this situation?
It is more amazing to hear that the world is “amazed” by something so natural.
An elderly man I met at the doctor’s clinic:
“That is “atarimae” he says again, that is within each Japanese” ”It is us, our nature.” It is natural to line up. It is natural to be patient. It is natural “not to loot”. It is nice to hear that people are admiring the Japanese for being themselves.
Two old women at the bread shop line:
I told them that the world is learning from Japan – and then I also asked them again the same question about looting. They said, ” Ehhhh, futsu deshou.” Translation… “Ahhh, that is just normal, or the regular thing to do.”
By this photo:
After the tsunami washed away these merchandise outside the Kirin factory, people were picking up the beer and putting them back.
So here are other photos of “atarimae” things Japanese do:
I have always questioned my friends about lining up for a long time just to buy something, or to eat ramen, or even line up to buy a donut. I did not like that idea of lining up , not until March 11, 2011 . Now I get it , that this is part of being Japanese. And that after all these years of being in Japan, I now appreciate this concept of lining up. :)
After the earthquake, all trains stopped, and people had to line up at bus stations, taxi stands, and train stations. Thanks to AFP press for the photo
People lining up patiently. This is just half of the line from the supermarket's entrance near our place. Taken 4 days after the earthquake - March 15, 2011
Earthquake victims line up to buy their food.
Patiently in line at the Immigration Office with all the foreigners. When in Japan, do what ...
Thanks to AP/ AFP/ Reuters / Jiji Press/ Yomiuri Shimbun for the great photos
I hope many people will learn to follow the discipline and the way of the Japanese people.
Let me end this by what my husband told me earlier.
“You cannot write about this because words are not enough to explain why Japanese do not loot or steal. Stop watching the TV news, stand up and get out of that sofa , imagine standing in the middle of the earthquake and tsunami stricken area… you see families, children lost their parents, loved ones dead, their homes gone. There are so many things around them – will you steal from them? ”
I salute to the Japanese. THUMBS UP !! To land of the rising sun!!!
Thank you Juvy. Yes, Japan will rise and recover. God bless us all.
meaningful “Atarimae”
japanese has taught me a lot of good traits..to be patient, to be strong..to be resilient..and most important,,”to be still amidst worst scenarios”"..wot more I can say I luv my second homeland!! Salute to the land of the rising sun..
I am so proud to be Japanese, with a Canadian twist that is….I had every faith that the Japanese would act in a “Atarimae” fashion!
I’m a foreigner living in Kyusyu for 16 years now. There were careless times that I get out of track with many things like wallets , cellphones and so forth. But those things always get back to me in good hand. Considered lucky but really the kindness and generosity of Japanese people will always be a good example. Being good is kind of a common sense. There is no reason to be bad even in times of tragedy. To Japan with love.
I know what you mean, for them it is natural – just to be good. To give back what is not theirs. Let us continue to pray for Japan. Thanks.
Yes, it’s nomal things in our country! I’m proud of that!
I’m not shocked, but still admire them.. Great,good, and bad happens everywhere… You choose what to do with your life. Whats natural in one area could be shocking in other. I’m sure it’s plenty for Japanese to learn from other country as much as we learn from them!! For now, God bless Japan!!!
Thank you. Yes, many people are learning from Japan now… and yes, the Japanese also learn from other countries… we learn from each other. God bless us all.
ATARIMAE is common in Japan. As my experience in the U.S., I sometimes watched American ATARIMAE lined long up at the airports. Almost all of US citizens I met are very kind.
God allowed this to happen in Japan for us to learn from them… to be patient. I bow to all Japanese
I believe that..I was in Nagano in 1984 went shopping w/my friend..i forgot my wallet at the store,i’m scared to death and worried to much ‘coz my passport and all my cards are there.Went back to the store still there where i left it,and there were a lot of people in that area no one bothers to pick it up.. I’m so thankful.. I was thinking..what if someone (not Japanese) found it? do i get it back?? God Bless the people of Japan
)
March 11, 2011 – The Day the World Admired and Prayed for Japan and the
Japanese, and the Japanese taught the world a good thing or two, such as: “It’s natural not to loot; it’s natural to line-up and wait for your turn.”
Thank you everyone for all your comments, let us continue to pray for Japan. Hoping all these aftershocks stop. And that our lives go back to “normal” – God bless us all.
It says a lot about a society that doesn’t bat an eyelash when it sees a crime being committed but is shocked ( or amazed ) when it sees goodness in action. I hope that society learns a lot from the Japanese. I can’t remember where I’ve heard this story but it was about a group of tourists in their 20s visiting Japan and saw a lot of stores have their merchandise displayed out in front and they couldn’t see any clerk watching over them. When they got back to the US they told their friends that anyone could just practically walk by and steal many things.
Thank you for your comment, sorry I had to delete your last line. ; )