02/02/2025
Why do I like living in Japan? It's safe, it's clean, and it has order. There are very few surprises. Trains are on time. When you go to a restaurant, the food that arrives is exactly like it is pictured. The bakeries and food halls are immaculate. Shop workers are professional, have manners and take their jobs seriously – no phones in sight, or even talking to their coworkers about personal things. For the most part, the streets are spotless, especially in the suburban areas. You are unlikely to see weeds or stray rocks on the ground, let alone trash. I have heard some people say that the silent trains have no life, but as someone who values peace and quiet, it suits me perfectly. It is an OCD paradise, a place built for introverts as much as extroverts. I don't know how Tokyo manages it, but despite being one of the busiest cities in the world, I have found a calmness unmatched by anywhere else. Seeing a line of workers on the train platform today, cleaning a barrier that wasn't even that dirty to begin with, shows me a sense of pride, that every detail is important, and deserves attention and respect.
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