5 ms·
Just as an anecdote from a NYC resident, a couple years back I found a Japanese woman's wallet on a commuter bus. From the address I saw that the owner lived in
by zuminator 7y ago
Just as an anecdote from a NYC resident, a couple years back I found a Japanese woman's wallet on a commuter bus. From the address I saw that the owner lived in my neighborhood so I went by her home after work to return it. Nobody was home so I left a little note with my phone number. She called me, and I met her the next day to return it to her. I considered our business concluded but about two months later she and her husband sent me a Christmas card with a gift card inside. I thanked them but sent the gift card back.
I have also lost my own wallet on multiple occasions when I was younger and more careless, and I would say it was returned maybe two out of five times. Not great, but not that bad either.
- ido 7y agoI don't know about Japanese culture, but where I'm from accepting the gift would be the polite thing to do (vs rejecting it).
- selectodude 7y agoYeah, spending postage and effort to return a $20 gift card (or whatever it was) is so rude. I'm not sure where in the world that wouldn't come off as rude.
- TomMarius 7y ago> From the address I saw that the owner lived in my neighborhood Probably went on his foot
- zuminator 7y agoSince they sent me a Xmas card, I reciprocated in kind, also enclosing the gift card with a note apologizing but asking that they give it to a needy person at their church during the holiday season. (They had also sent me an invitation to attend services.) So no additional postage needed.
- magduf 7y agoIf they attend a church, they are really odd for Japanese, since almost no Japanese are Christian (at least in Japan).
- jbn 7y agothey represent about 1% of population (see https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Asia-Insight/Pope-Francis-Japan-visit-spotlights-a-safe-haven-for-Catholics https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Asia-Insight/Pope-Francis-...), seems to me that "almost none" is bit strong :)
- FriendlyNormie 7y agoYou could have just given it to a needy person yourself.
- ipnon 7y agoAmericans would find it rude because accepting help is a burden on the giver and a failure of the receiver's independence.