Japanese culture has always placed a strong emphasis on mindfulness. As a close-knit population of high-density, mindfulness works wonders.
What many do not realize is the huge advantage that Japanese culture has to turn its dense population into a highly efficient working society. Sure, things like technology and advanced infrastructure have a part to play in it too. However, once you understand how deeply rooted Japanese culture is in their everyday living, you’ll come to see how it also boosts their economic and technological success.
How Mindfulness led to a Convenient Society
One of the most attractive aspects of Japanese society is the high level of convenience offered on a daily basis. From endless vending machines to a myriad of convenience stores that sell just about anything, you are never too far from the things you need. Indeed, you can feel you are being cared for in Japan even when no one is directly communicating with you.
This is because Japanese culture has embedded in its citizens the mindset of selflessness and care for those around you. Mindfulness is an attribute of the Japanese people that seeps into the workplace and even influences some important high-level decision-making processes. For instance, the government’s decision to enrich both the city and countryside with vending machines and combinis originated from mindful planning intended to make the lives of everybody in the country easier.
Japanese Culture makes Busy Areas Tolerable
If you’ve ever been on a crowded train or a busy shopping center, you’ll know the pain of people pushing and shoving each other to get through. This restless behavior is a rarity in Japan as being impolite or noisy is greatly frowned upon. The Japanese mentality of mindfulness is engraved in their very laws, and as such, the citizens develop good habits early on with greater recognition and a deeper understanding of why they do what they do.
In typical Western societies, many impolite behaviors are not addressed by government laws, resulting in a greater prevalence of crime and conflict within such nations. Japanese culture has such an incredible impact on the laws that it has allowed the country to thrive despite a dense population. Whether it’s the strategic placement of rubbish bins or marked lines for queueing at train stations, everything is thought through.
At Shinjuku station, that is, the world’s busiest train station, you’ll find markings on the train platforms that are situated exactly where the train’s carriage doors will present themselves. These lines also work as a queue, allowing passengers to line up for their train in an orderly fashion and eliminating unnecessary movement on a busy platform. Japanese culture also recognizes the greater vulnerability of women compared to men, implementing women’s-only carriages for those that feel safer traveling in them.
A Deep Understanding Goes a Long Way
Above all, it’s the deep understanding of certain situations that allow the Japanese to prevail against all kinds of daily adversities. The ridiculously packed peak-hour trains of Shinjuku are like no other. However, if you ever find yourself in one of these jam-packed carriages, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how understanding everyone is. Instead of hearing complaints or profanity while people push and shove their way through, as often seen in Western societies, you’ll simply hear the silence of everyone minding their own business or the occasional “sumimasen” as someone moves to get through.
Indeed, mindfulness goes a long way in making Japan safe and even fun in many ways. For example, wearing a helmet is not mandatory by law when riding a bike, and a great reason for this is the safer circumstances of the country. Smaller streets, smaller cars, and bicycle-friendly pavements are all factors that make Japan a bike-riding paradise!
Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are travelling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!
