14 Proofs That Japan Is A Country That Cares About People’s Well-Being

Japan is well known for great inventions, but that doesn’t mean the Japanese live by technology. The little everyday things, like offering baskets for customers to put their bags in restaurants, show that much of what happens in the country is thought for people’s well-being.

O awesome.club decided to take a closer look at the simple and important things that happen in the Land of the Rising Sun. Check it out right now and get ready to pack your bags.

The Universal Symbol of Accessibility is a person in a wheelchair, but Japan has chosen to use a four-leaf clover to represent disabled drivers. The idea is to avoid any confusion that would lead people to think that everyone with a disability uses a wheelchair. As the four-leaf clover is generally considered a symbol of luck, it ends up passing on an idea of ​​something unique, that is, it does not highlight negative interpretations.

In Japan, the recommendation is that drivers aged 70 years or older wear the senior sticker (called Kōreisha), especially if age affects driving ability. Those aged 75 and over are required to wear the patch, primarily to make others more aware and show respect for any signs of inattention. This mark also gives drivers the right to park in special spaces.

Pregnant women can wear a badge with the phrase “There’s a baby in my belly”. It is a way of warning and asking others to give up their seats on public transport. The idea is simply to make pregnancy a less tiring and stressful phase for women.

You may have heard about the fancy bathrooms in Japan, but did you know that some are heated (which is great during the winter) and come with a sink? The idea is that after using the toilet you wash your hands and the water used is used in the next flush. That is, in addition to being practical and comfortable, it helps to save water.

Braille in Japan is widely used and can be found on beverage cans, in toilets, on maps, on train seats, in coin machines, and even in cola pots.

Inspired by Braille, Seiichi Miyake created the yellow tactile lines. They are this color so that people with vision problems (not blind) can easily identify them. The dots serve to warn of danger ahead and the bars guide in the direction.

Some places in Japan offer umbrella holders to prevent theft. This way, people can walk more easily indoors without bumping into each other. This method is also a way to avoid walking with a wet umbrella, which makes the floor more slippery and dangerous.

Using a tray to pay cash is not only polite, it’s also practical. This way customers can see that their change is correct and there is less risk of a coin dropping to the floor.

Despite the widespread use of smartphones, Japan still has payphones for emergency situations such as natural disasters. They are often placed below eye level to accommodate people using a wheelchair.

In addition to recognizing hearing-impaired drivers, by introducing these stickers the country is alerting other drivers, reinforcing that they should be patient with those who have this marking on their cars. The symbol represents ears and looks like a butterfly. When duplicated, the word “chou” (to hear) means butterfly (“chouchou”).

As in Japan children have the habit of moving around alone, they often have to cross the street without the presence of an adult. To avoid accidents, yellow flags that warn drivers are available on the sidewalks of busy streets. Children can use and return them across the street.

In order not to disturb others, workers should try to minimize the noise level in buildings. Some works are only done at certain times and there is always a clear orientation for pedestrians, in case there is any change in route. Also, they often use fluffy cones, which makes the situation much lighter.

Food packages in Japan, especially those sold in convenience stores, usually come with instructions on how to open them. They are designed for the minimum effort by the customer and still preserve the freshness of the food.

Bags in Nara are made with cartons of milk and rice bran, so the deer don’t eat the plastic bags that are usually forgotten by tourists. Although there has been a drop in tourism in the region, companies continue to work to preserve nature.

Have you ever heard about these particularities of Japan? Do you think ideas like these would work in your city? Tell in the comments.