The other day, there were more people than usual when I lined up at the check-in counter of an airline during a return trip from Japan. Because I still had a cold and I was coughing, I asked about upgrading to business class seats, but they were fully booked. While I thought that I must prepare a mask, the attendant who understood my situation tried to book an economy class for me. After boarding, I was surprised that the next seat was vacant. Furthermore, it was happened again even after the transit, so I couldn’t think that it was accidental. Of course, it was impossible if there was no seat, but I was very grateful to the thoughtfulness of ensuring the best seat from among the few vacant seats, and at the same time, I felt the attention and kindness of Japanese people. I was able to spend my trip to Cambodia with a warm feeling. I can only thank those working at the check-in counters of Thai Airways at Narita Airport in this case.
Also, it was not airplane-related, but I often hear troubles about VISA recently. The other day, I had an opportunity to go to Japan with Cambodian people. VISA were not issued despite them being decent people, and they submitted balance statements from banks and various other documents. They hastily had the Japanese company issue the invitation documents, and finished without any trouble. Although I didn’t say it was bad, since Japan has at least made various efforts to increase tourists and tourism promotion services, isn’t it a required delicate response in order to lower hurdles a little more?
Certainly, I can understand that there are those who work without returning to their home countries after going to Japan or who go missing, and there’s increasing vigilance of terrorism worldwide. However, I want as many people as possible to experience the goodness they don’t know if they don’t go and see, such as the closeness of Japanese people, the beauty of cityscapes, the accuracy of rules and behavior. In Cambodia that I live in now, not only Cambodian people vaguely thinks “Japan is a good country”, but by really visiting and experiencing it, I think it can help even just a little to the country’s development. During the visit to Japan as mentioned above, Cambodian people seemed to feel very interested in separated trash boxes and gutters of the service areas of the highways, a stop, or pedestrians which follow traffic lights rather than the beautiful scenery and tourist attractions photos of Japan. I watched them and was convinced that the time will come when those experience they obtained will be useful for this country. Of course the scrutiny of Japanese immigration is necessary. Nevertheless, it would be as clear as day that the two countries will be better because of the increase of people bringing back what they have directly seen, touched, felt, and experienced.
Souvenirs of invisible “Japaneseness”.
