My 45 Minutes In A Japanese Police Station

I have done no fault but nevertheless I had no other option. It was all voluntary, no one was to blame not even the person whose wallet I found in front of my apartment. Yes, I picked (not steal) someone's wallet and because I cannot personally communicate with the owner, I surrendered the item to the police.  

Police Station

A successful trip to the koban (police station) took me 3 days...sometimes it would rain, other times no one was there (which was kinda strange). And because my Japanese is barely survival level, I had to explain how I found the wallet, when I found the wallet in ways which showcased my acting and drawing skills in what seemed like the charades/guessing game.

The wallet I found

But time ticked by as the police officer examined and listed in great detail (credit card number, ID number) all the items in the wallet. He made some calls and later on he was able to obtain the owner's contact number.  He counted the cash placed it inside an enveloped, which he sealed and he had me sign some documents which I never really understood. 

But the final 20 minutes was actually spent on some Q&A which could have been quick had my Japanese been a lot better ^_^ In an attempt to solve the issue they showed me a book with many dialogues in various languages and I also had to call a friend who speaks Japanese.

Police: If nobody claims the wallet after 30 days, would you like to keep it?

Me: No

Police: If nobody claims the cash, would you take it?

Me: Thinks for a while (just kidding). of course I said no

Police: Would you like a reward for returning the wallet?

Me: (shocked for a bit) No thank you

Police: So arigatou gozaimasu is enough?

Me: Hai.

2 days after the incident, the owner called me thanking me for his wallet but actually "arigatou gozaimashita" was all I can make out of what he said over the phone. Too bad I cannot speak Japanese, it was really one of those moments when I wished I could at least say something other than "Iie, dou itashimashite" (you are welcome).

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Scooping For Your Life in a Japanese "Perya"

Goldfish Scooping (Photo Credit)

Okay I admit, the title seems to be an exaggeration but really there is a lot of scooping going on in a Japanese "Perya". For those who may not know the term, it is a shortened form of "peryahan"- a Filipino word (maybe Spanish-derived) for mini-carnivals present in town fiestas or matsuri as they call it here in Japan. When I was young, I loved going to the peryahan and playing all those color and tossing games which I found to be uncommon here.

Typical Philippine carnival game where you need to toss coins into small squares
in order to win a price (Photo credit)

Scooping games, on the other hand, will never be absent in any of their matsuri or even mini fairs. Primarily they are scooping for goldfish which they call kingyo in a traditional game they call as Kingyo-sukui (sukui means scooping). It is not easy but rather tricky because you have to catch the fish using paper nets (poi) which could easily tear if handled wrongly. The goal is to catch as many as you can and put them in a bowl until the poi completely breaks. Don't ask me for any tips though because my best record so far is catching only 2 fast swimmers. :(

Scooping for bouncy balls

Scooping for long fishes (sorry I do not know what they are called)

If you still cannot imagine how they actually do it, you can check out this video below of a previous Japan Goldfish Scooping Competition (Yes they have those too).

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Why Election Campaigns Don't Accumulate Trash

Where I come from, elections and the election campaign greet you in the FACE. What would not be more obvious than this photo below? And because posters would tend to pile up one on top of the other, or the same face would be repeatedly posted in a row, tons of paper and tons of trash will find their way on the busy streets... an eyesore really but surprisingly, things are different here in Japan. The election campaign is as subtle as the personality of a typical Japanese. 

More campaign materials More FUN (really???) Photo credit

Campaign posters are only allowed in designated areas and at least here in my city it is strictly implemented. They have boards which are scattered in various places within the community with each candidate assigned a number in the board. 

And while I don't really understand what they are campaigning for, I find some posters rather interesting. And I have some of them here below...I assume they would be representatives of different kinds of people in the local council. The last candidate is actually a housewife and she has a very interesting slogan, something about "Change in the Kitchen to Change in the Government" 

Campaign materials

While I don't really have any participation in their local election and have only voted once in my lifetime for our own government, I am sure about one thing. Whoever you write in the ballot, irregardless of whether he/she wins or not, defines you as a person. So let us write our definition wisely.

Vote wisely Mina-san

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Mama Mary and Her "Chinky" Eyes

I usually attend mass in a chapel in Suita but not on this special Sunday. We are celebrating a mass for the International Day so we traveled for an hour and a half by train to a cathedral in Morinomiya. It was the first time for me to see a big Catholic church in Japan, much more attend a Japanese mass. And upon entering the church, something or rather someone inside really caught my eye. She was surprisingly unrecognizable at first glance but after peeling away the details I soon realized that it was Mother Mary herself in a way I have ever seen her before. She had chinky eyes and she was clothed in Japanese kimono.

One of the early Japanese martyrs who supported Christianity in Japan

The church was no different than what I expected it to be. Aside from some portraits of Japanese martyrs, typical elements such as tall windows adorned with stained glass, the stations of the cross, the crucifix..they were all there.

Stained Glass Depiction of the Holy Family

Outside the Church

Song book and verses in many languages

What is most interesting is the mass itself, where songs, prayers and readings are in different languages. There were so many people from different countries- Koreans, Spaniards, Vietnamese, Japanese..it was so diverse. And while I find myself often lost in translation, the feeling of solitude and peace I feel in the Father's presence is still unmatched. 

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Japanese Fitting Room Surprises

Shoes Off Please 

OFF WITH YOUR SHOES THEN OFF WITH YOUR CLOTHES

Clothes are not the only things you take off (and well of course put on) in a typical Fitting Room in Japan. As what they would traditionally do before entering a house, customers are expected to remove their shoes as well.  I think it is very convenient because you would easily figure out whether someone is inside the room or not (avoiding bending down to peak through falsely closed doors which I would usually do back home..hahahah)

Facial Covers for Make Up Users

OFF WITH YOUR SHOES THEN COVER YOUR FACE FIRST??

But another surprising addition to a typical fitting room ensemble would be this thin delicate facial mask usually boxed in the corner of the room. While I would often disregard it, I wondered for a while whether this was really necessary for hygienic purposes. As I read through other blogs I later on found out that these masks were designed to protect clothes from female enhancement products (read:make up). It would not take some time for you to notice that Japanese women are indeed make up lovers and as a precaution masks prevent the unwanted transfer of glitters and colors to clothes when they are pulled over the face. Makes sense I guess..^_^

Cover Up Please (Photo Credit)

Happy shopping!

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