 |
| A recent shot I took of Tokyo from the newly-constructed Skytree, overlooking Shinjuku with Mt. Fuji in the distance. |
1) Health Insurance
While Brits or Europeans (who have free universal health care everywhere) may not agree with me on this one, for Americans this one is huge. General health insurance is universally free for kids under 15, and quite affordable for everyone else. A good example of this was the cost of my knee rehab; I was going to the same high level clinic that Circ de Sole performers go to for their needs, and with insurance, paying only $7.00 a session. Even without insurance however, medical care is still subsidized, so I would only be paying $21.00. With that, I could easily afford to get the healthcare I needed to get back on my feet and back to work; while had I been in the states, the same injury might have been career-ending.
While Brits or Europeans (who have free universal health care everywhere) may not agree with me on this one, for Americans this one is huge. General health insurance is universally free for kids under 15, and quite affordable for everyone else. A good example of this was the cost of my knee rehab; I was going to the same high level clinic that Circ de Sole performers go to for their needs, and with insurance, paying only $7.00 a session. Even without insurance however, medical care is still subsidized, so I would only be paying $21.00. With that, I could easily afford to get the healthcare I needed to get back on my feet and back to work; while had I been in the states, the same injury might have been career-ending.
This drew a stark contrast to the last time I had an injury in the states. The doctor I saw at a clinic unofficially told me to pretend that we hadn't met, because if we had, he would have to put me in an ambulance, and that ambulance ride would have cost me $5000. (Whereas here, like pretty much everywhere else in the 1st world- they are totally free). Despite having a serious neck injury, he told me my best bet was to take a chance and drive myself to the hospital trying as best I could not to move my neck...which I did. And even so, just getting the MRI cost $1000... Which took nearly a year of ongoing negotiation with my employee (where the injury occurred) to get back.
While Canadians also get free universal health care, I have heard complaints from well-to-do people that even when they are willing to pay for superior service, they still have to get the same care as everyone else...and deal with the impossibly long waits. Whereas here, basic healthcare costs are doable for everyone, but there are options for much better care for those who are willing to pay for it.
FYI, Japan also became ranked as having the lowest infant mortality rate of anywhere in the world. Contrasting that with the states, last I checked, we are #34.
2) Credit Cards work like they are supposed to
Only people who have proven financial responsibility in the first place are allowed to have them. There is no predatory lending, like they do on college campuses on the states. and balances are expected to be paid off monthly. In the case that they can, a 2-3 month payment plan can be set for that balance, and that's all. Furthermore, the kind of interest rates that American credit cards have is actually illegal. (Out here 14% is considered insanely high- and the 29% that many US cards charge these days is actually more along the lines of what loan sharks and the Yakuza takes.
Only people who have proven financial responsibility in the first place are allowed to have them. There is no predatory lending, like they do on college campuses on the states. and balances are expected to be paid off monthly. In the case that they can, a 2-3 month payment plan can be set for that balance, and that's all. Furthermore, the kind of interest rates that American credit cards have is actually illegal. (Out here 14% is considered insanely high- and the 29% that many US cards charge these days is actually more along the lines of what loan sharks and the Yakuza takes.
3) Theft is virtually nonexistent
Out of the 34 countries that I have been do, I can honestly say, Japan is the only one where you can drop a $100 on the ground and then just go to the Police station to pick it up... Because someone always turns it in. The same goes with wallets full of cash and credit cards, expensive cameras, etc. While white collar theft does transpire, cases of personal theft or loss of personal items are quite rare and few and far between.
Out of the 34 countries that I have been do, I can honestly say, Japan is the only one where you can drop a $100 on the ground and then just go to the Police station to pick it up... Because someone always turns it in. The same goes with wallets full of cash and credit cards, expensive cameras, etc. While white collar theft does transpire, cases of personal theft or loss of personal items are quite rare and few and far between.
4) Political mudslinging doesn't really exist
While it isn't illegal, in Japanese politics attacking a politician based on their personal life is considered immortal, and is seriously frowned upon. Political candidates do attack each other, but it is always focused purely on the basis of their campaign, what they plan to do in office, or how they are doing their job. This is about as far removed from the states as you can get.
While it isn't illegal, in Japanese politics attacking a politician based on their personal life is considered immortal, and is seriously frowned upon. Political candidates do attack each other, but it is always focused purely on the basis of their campaign, what they plan to do in office, or how they are doing their job. This is about as far removed from the states as you can get.
5) Virtually everywhere is clean, and virtually everywhere is safe
One of the most striking things about Tokyo for most visitors is that contrasting with most other big cities or countries (that have some nice areas, and some dirty, bad or dangerous areas) In general, virtually everywhere is perfectly clean, and safe. And this goes for pretty much everywhere in the country.
One of the most striking things about Tokyo for most visitors is that contrasting with most other big cities or countries (that have some nice areas, and some dirty, bad or dangerous areas) In general, virtually everywhere is perfectly clean, and safe. And this goes for pretty much everywhere in the country.
Even in a place like Tokyo (that has 10 of the world's busiest train stations), everyone is generally concerned about the health and cleanliness of their city. No one ever litters (even when garbage cans are hard to find), rusted or leaky cars are non-existant, and sick people usually wear a mask to stop other strangers from getting sick. Many people wear masks just to prevent themselves from getting sick anyway, which also adds to the general health of the city.
7) Shootings are nonexistent
As the only people who are allowed to own guns are hunters, and police, public shootings are more or less non-existant here. The last time a person snapped and tried to go on a killing spree here was in my wife's hometown of Toyocho. The guy tried to go on a stabbing spree with a knife put another person hit with a flagpole and then two more guys tackled him to the ground. A few people were injured, no one was killed. This draws another stark contrast to the states. Even incidents of police actually using firearms are rare and few and far between.
As the only people who are allowed to own guns are hunters, and police, public shootings are more or less non-existant here. The last time a person snapped and tried to go on a killing spree here was in my wife's hometown of Toyocho. The guy tried to go on a stabbing spree with a knife put another person hit with a flagpole and then two more guys tackled him to the ground. A few people were injured, no one was killed. This draws another stark contrast to the states. Even incidents of police actually using firearms are rare and few and far between.
8) Murder is also rare
So rare in fact, that when it happens, it's national headlines.
So rare in fact, that when it happens, it's national headlines.
9) Excellent public transportation
One of the things that keeps the air in Tokyo so clean is that the regulations on cars are extremely strict. So strict in fact that most Tokyoites can't be bothered to have one, and as such Tokyo has evolved one of the most impressively comprehensive public transportation systems imaginable. Contrasting with other big cities that might have 5-15 train lines, Tokyo has over 50. Everywhere is within a 10 minute walk to a train station, and all of the public transportation is also perfectly clean, and punctual to the minute... Even all of the buses. (How they manage that is still beyond me).
One of the things that keeps the air in Tokyo so clean is that the regulations on cars are extremely strict. So strict in fact that most Tokyoites can't be bothered to have one, and as such Tokyo has evolved one of the most impressively comprehensive public transportation systems imaginable. Contrasting with other big cities that might have 5-15 train lines, Tokyo has over 50. Everywhere is within a 10 minute walk to a train station, and all of the public transportation is also perfectly clean, and punctual to the minute... Even all of the buses. (How they manage that is still beyond me).
10) Food quality (of all sorts) is incredible, and food contamination/disease is rare
Having had hundreds of years to figure out the ins and outs of eating fish and otmeats raw, the Japanese have incredibly high standards of food quality and safety. While this does make things more expensive (and most likely contribute to the fact that portions are smaller), it also makes for amazing eating. Most visitors even say that the McDonald's here is excellent.
And just for the heck of it, here are three more...
Having had hundreds of years to figure out the ins and outs of eating fish and otmeats raw, the Japanese have incredibly high standards of food quality and safety. While this does make things more expensive (and most likely contribute to the fact that portions are smaller), it also makes for amazing eating. Most visitors even say that the McDonald's here is excellent.
And just for the heck of it, here are three more...
11)Awesome Tax Deductions
Japan is a great place to be a business owner, and tax deductions here kick ass. For as long as I have lived here, I have never met an American business owner here who complains about this place being hard to run a business in, and conversely virtually everyone has told me that tax deductions for businesses are way better and more diverse out here.
Japan is a great place to be a business owner, and tax deductions here kick ass. For as long as I have lived here, I have never met an American business owner here who complains about this place being hard to run a business in, and conversely virtually everyone has told me that tax deductions for businesses are way better and more diverse out here.
I've also found that to be the case as an entertainer. (As an example, virtually all of the clothes I buy are tax deductible because they constitute part of my image as a public figure).
12) Virtually the entire country is middle class
Of course Japan has it's ultra-wealthy and it's poor people, but in general, the whole country is more or less middle-class, and the average household savings are right around $100,000 dollars. For those who have less, there is also strong social welfare structures; (single mother support, healthcare, high literacy in public schools). In effect, they made democracy work the way it's supposed to.
13) No terrorism, no Ebola
Ever since the atomic bomb was dropped, Japan has an had a peace-oriented constitution, and has also been active in building up and developing the third world. While to be sure, there are other reasons as well, at present, there has been no terrorism here. Also, given the extremely high regard for public safely, there has also been no cases of Ebola either. (Knock on wood!)
Of course Japan has it's ultra-wealthy and it's poor people, but in general, the whole country is more or less middle-class, and the average household savings are right around $100,000 dollars. For those who have less, there is also strong social welfare structures; (single mother support, healthcare, high literacy in public schools). In effect, they made democracy work the way it's supposed to.
13) No terrorism, no Ebola
Ever since the atomic bomb was dropped, Japan has an had a peace-oriented constitution, and has also been active in building up and developing the third world. While to be sure, there are other reasons as well, at present, there has been no terrorism here. Also, given the extremely high regard for public safely, there has also been no cases of Ebola either. (Knock on wood!)
So, in preparing this list, I'm certainly not out to prove that Japan is the best place on earth to live. It has it's issues as well. Like anywhere else, domestic abuse, bullying, suicides, and most other social ills are issues here as well. Also, while outward police brutality is rare, basic human rights abuse in prisons or detention (particularly of foreigners) is also a serious issue.
The thing that is so interesting for myself as an American however, is the fact that so many of the issues that we deal with in the states simply don't exist here, and for the most part, "the system" runs the way it is supposed to; not in an idealized way or in some abstract way that politicians use as "proof" that they are correct; but in a very real way that everyone can see and feel around them...
Even if people here love to worry themselves to death over small things, I would say compared to the average person in the states, the average person here seems to be doing just fine. While it would be easy to say, "Well, that's just Japan, and the States is different." I have to think that if they can make it work here, we can sure as he'll resolve these issues on the home front as well. That is, if we can get past all of the gross political polarization that is making the government far less ineffective and inefficient than it should be. In the meantime however, I've got no complaints about where I am at.
No comments:
Post a Comment