Diogenes Finds His Man

I had read of such things happening in Japan but I wondered if it were true. Today, I have proof that good people still exist.

Gman and I were on the way to Roppongi Hills this morning so he could join a group taking a train out to his school (an hour away). At Roppongi Crossing I handed him a 5,000 yen note (about $70) and he took off toward the Spider where he was to meet others. I started for my appointment near Tokyo Tower but something told me I needed to check on Gman - something bad had happened. When I caught up to him he told me he had lost the money and was retracing his steps. We looked but couldn't find the bill. There were so many people on the sidewalk I felt sure someone had picked it up. No way were we going to find it. I gave him a replacement and he rushed off to catch his group.

As I walked back to Roppongi Crossing I noticed the Azabu Police Station and a policewoman at the door. On a hunch I asked her if anyone had turned in a 5000 yen note. We went upstairs and she checked the computer. Yes, someone had just turned it in at a police box (koban) a couple hundred feet away. I couldn't believe it. Someone had picked up $70 and instead of pocketing it, had turned it in to the police! a policeman went to retrieve the bill while I filled out a little paperwork. They handed it over to me and gave me the contact information for the man that had turned it in. They explained that it was customary to contact the person and offer them a reward of 5-20% of the money turned in.

I had to ask myself how many people in my home country would have turned in money found on the street. Or in any country other than Japan? For one thing I think the police would have told the honest man (a Mr. Nakano) to keep the money and go away. Too much paperwork! Only 2% of Japanese are "religious" according to surveys but despite (or because of?) this they must be the most individually honest people in the world. Surveys say 80% of my countrymen are "religious" but has that made us all as honest as Mr. Nakano? Would this happen in New York? Yes, many of my countrymen are honest - but what are the chances? And would the police have helped? Would they have even had a system for realtime tracking of lost items?

When I told people at work about this they told me this was not uncommon but that things were changing in Japan. Still, I'm very impressed. I'm going to get the bill framed as a reminder of a standard we should live up to.

PS: I'm still trying to reach Mr. Nakano.