The sumo wrestlers on my midnight flight to Tokyo Narita offered me the first glimpse of Japan. Though it would be freezing when we land in the early hours, they went on board in nothing more than their cotton yukata and rubber flip-flops, something they were expected to wear in public irregardless of the weather or time of the year.
With their unique hairstyle, clothing and sheer size, they stood out among us in every possible way. And that first impression of Japan probably rightly summarises the nation, its people and its culture. That with their unique way of life, they are absolutely different from the rest of us.
Neat individually packed toiletries containing hairbrushes, razors, cotton buds and rubberband, toothbrush and toothpaste can be found in almost all hotels. Family-size shampoo and body wash is also available, so the only things I had to use from my overpacked, bursting toiletries bag (the result of poor travel research) were conditioner, facial wash and saline lotion.
It doesn’t take long for you to see that packaging is everything in Japan. The workmanship of the products is meticulous and detail-oriented. Everything seems to be lovingly made to make sure they look good and work well. The people pay attention to their choice and cut of clothes and are ever so sleek and carefully co-ordinated. Nobody seems to be getting any misses in the fashion department.
I’ve not once heard anyone talking on their cellphone while on the train. I’ve not spotted any rubbish or dirt on the subway or trains. Nobody squeezes on board till other passengers have gotten off. Nobody leaves any rubbish behind. There are no bins on the road but there is no litter too. They give way and say “Excuse Me”. It was a joy to visit the public toilets. There was paper and it was clean.
On cold winter days, nothing feels better than sitting on an electrically heated toilet seat when you need to visit the loo. And though I was initially hesistant to try out the buttons for fear it might spray water all over me, I did give it a go toward the end of my stay. And I was pleasantly surprised at the effect. The aiming was perfect, and I was hooked. I realised it was actually a good, handy invention. You have got to give it to the Japanese.
They set trends. They innovate. They have got guts. Enough of it to eat fugu and want to rule to whole of Asia. But they don’t forget their manners. As our plane home taxied off to the runway, I caught sight of the ground crew, standing on the tarmac in a straight line in their luminous vests, waving us good-bye. My Mum could be the only one who waved back.
They are different and proud of being different. If done right, I guess that too could be our recipe to success.
Miss C
