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Why Japan is so successful at returning lost property

bbc.com

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Re: Why Japan is so successful at returning lost property

#191

Post by numpad0 »

mjevans wrote: post #138
cookingrobot wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I once found a wallet on the sidewalk outside a mall in Japan. I tried to drop it at the mall's lost and found, but the security guard there took me with him to a police box. The policeman there took me to the local police station, and we spent the next hour filling out a report. They were all very friendly and appreciative that I turned it in, but it was really quite an ordeal. If I were to find something valuable a…

I think this might have more to do with you not being one of the locals. A good 'hack' to this might be to pick a set of 2-3 local looking people and loudly point out the item in question so that someone else can deal with it.

I happened to study the process few days ago. Officer pulled out an elaborate form, asked the guy if he wants his copy, wants rights to the item if owner didn’t show up, to which he said no and no, and then he was asked to sign the blank and was told him they take care of the rest. Took 5-10 mins max.

Technically no one should ever sign a blank sheet, ever, but that could be done, I guess.

Re: Why Japan is so successful at returning lost property

#192

Post by dreamcompiler »

jyounker wrote: post #84
jrsdav wrote: post #5

I experienced this while visiting Japan. While doing a transfer on the Shinkansen in Hiroshima, I left my camera bag at a noodle kiosk on the platform (around $3k worth of equipment). Didn't realize it until 2 hours after getting on the next train. When we arrived at our destination, I told my friend we were meeting (a Japanese native) what happened, and she reassured me that it would be right where I left it (said s…

On the other hand, the Japanese are inveterate umbrella thieves. So much so that you will find locking umbrella racks in many buildings. The pressure has to go somewhere.

I noticed this the last time I was in Tokyo. This is a place where if a stranger saw me drop cash on the sidewalk, they would hunt me down to return it. So what's the deal with all the umbrella locks? TFA explains it.

Re: Why Japan is so successful at returning lost property

#193

Post by hoi »

When I was living in Japan, i once lost my wallet on a bicycle ride. It must have fallen out of my pocket somewhere on the route i was taking.

I didn't notice it was missing until I got home, got my keys out to open the door and realised the wallet was missing. I went back out on the bike and retraced my route but couldnt see the wallet annoyed that I would have to cancel cards, get a new ID card.

After I got home again, i was procrastinating about cancelling the cards for about 30mins and then decided to crack on. After I picked up the phone to start, the front door bell rang, I opened the door and there were 2 ladies with my wallet, they handed me my wallet, asked me to check everything was there and then apologized for taking so long to return my wallet.

Apparently they found my wallet, went to an address I had left in there, but I had recently moved apartments, so they went to the Koban, Police officer told them my address based off my ID card and then they came to my address.

Re: Why Japan is so successful at returning lost property

#194

Post by lovemenot »

Reedx wrote: post #95
jyounker wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the other hand, the Japanese are inveterate umbrella thieves. So much so that you will find locking umbrella racks in many buildings. The pressure has to go somewhere.

The article hits on this, suggesting that they are viewed as communal property since they're so abundant, cheap and frequently forgotten. Umbrellas are also an on demand item, so can see how this could evolve as a sort of community solution to the rain problem.

A beat-up genic mamachari bicycle sometimes fits this pattern.

Left unsecured near a station, it might get "borrowed" by a drunken salaryman and discarded somewhere near his home a kilometre away.

Re: Why Japan is so successful at returning lost property

#195

Post by dreamcompiler »

wisty wrote: post #161
jrsdav wrote: post #5

I experienced this while visiting Japan. While doing a transfer on the Shinkansen in Hiroshima, I left my camera bag at a noodle kiosk on the platform (around $3k worth of equipment). Didn't realize it until 2 hours after getting on the next train. When we arrived at our destination, I told my friend we were meeting (a Japanese native) what happened, and she reassured me that it would be right where I left it (said s…

If you steal even a few dollars of merchandise from a corner store, the police can hold you for a number of days without trial. And most people won't feel sorry because that's what happens to thieves, so you should have known not to do it. A society decides what's acceptable, and how far they're willing to go to uphold these expectations.

Likewise DUI in Japan. Japan is much more strict than the US. One beer before driving and you become a guest of the state for 3 years. Just don't do it.

Re: Why Japan is so successful at returning lost property

#196

Post by disbshdns »

irrational wrote: post #107
Reedx wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The article hits on this, suggesting that they are viewed as communal property since they're so abundant, cheap and frequently forgotten. Umbrellas are also an on demand item, so can see how this could evolve as a sort of community solution to the rain problem.

What is the rain problem? I live in the Pacific Northwest where it rains for 9 months out of the year. Our solution is to not use umbrellas at all. Everyone has a waterproof rain jacket.

I find ppl who wear rain jackets smell (and look goofy)

Re: Why Japan is so successful at returning lost property

#197

Post by dreamcompiler »

mjevans wrote: post #138
cookingrobot wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I once found a wallet on the sidewalk outside a mall in Japan. I tried to drop it at the mall's lost and found, but the security guard there took me with him to a police box. The policeman there took me to the local police station, and we spent the next hour filling out a report. They were all very friendly and appreciative that I turned it in, but it was really quite an ordeal. If I were to find something valuable a…

I think this might have more to do with you not being one of the locals. A good 'hack' to this might be to pick a set of 2-3 local looking people and loudly point out the item in question so that someone else can deal with it.

That's the beginning of a very common confidence game in Europe so I'd probably not do it. But IDK, maybe not in Japan.

Re: Why Japan is so successful at returning lost property

#198

Post by boomboomsubban »

ghaff wrote: post #104
boomboomsubban wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In America, the primary "road safety" I was taught as a kid was "look both ways before crossing the road." I think the Japanese priority is based more on obeying traffic lites, though this is just conjecture from media and my experience. This said, when people are around there are more likely to be sudden cars as well. It's easier to justify jaywalking at midnight than noon.

Adhering to crossing lights is a very cultural thing. There was a thread that came up about this a week or two ago. Even within the US, perhaps especially within large northeastern cities like Boston and New York, people will cross if there's no traffic (or even if a driver has hesitated for a moment). Whereas on the West Coast people mostly obey the lights.

There's probably a historical influence here to. Most of Western US cities were designed after the introduction of the car, while Eastern cities were designed for carts and walking. That would also help explain why Japan follows them, and Europe is to massive to generalize.

Re: Why Japan is so successful at returning lost property

#200

Post by laurieg »

asdff wrote: post #149
laurieg wrote: post #93

Funny this story should come up now. Two days ago I was on my regular running route and I saw a wallet on the ground. It had 5000 yen (around 50 USD) sticking out of it. The weather was a bit damp and it was far from a police box so I didn't want to risk getting randomly stopped and searched on my way to hand it in so I just put it on a fence post and went on my way. I run the same route everyday, so when I ran the n…

Is getting randomly stopped and searched a concern?

It doesn't happen that often but it does happen. Foreign residents are required to carry a resident card at all times and the police are allowed to check for it. This can come with a search.

Japanese nationals don't need to carry any form of ID by law, so you can see that how the police choose who to stop might be somewhat problematic.

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