Service Supreme
Readers of my previous posts may notice I have changed the title of this journal to 'I'm a Stranger Here Myself', a tip of the hat to Bill Bryson's wonderful book of the same name. After some reflction I thought 'Stranger in a Strange Land' a bit of a cliche so using Bryson's title seemed to be a better fit. i'm sure he won't mind.
I think a few words praise on the level of customer service I have experienced here are in order. On more than one occasion most of you reading this have likely encountered rude and indifferent customer service from shop clerks, wait staff, and so on in the United States and elsewhere. In Japan, though the level of customer service is a different story. It is innate in the Japanese culture to be polite and the service industry here exemplifies that attribute. In every restaurant and shop I have visited we've been treated akin to VIPs. There are multiple businesses at every level competing for patrons and providing less than exemplary service is a rarity, unless of course one doesn't wish to have regular customers.
I'm not saying one will not encounter poor service in Japan. There are exceptions to everything. I will say though in the 22 years I have been coming here to visit and the 5 weeks since I became a resident I have yet to experience it. Come visit and find out for yourself...
Comments
Loving this journal so far. Can you post pictures?? I would like to see everything and anything. Also FOOD. All the food pics please! Maybe not anything weird with animals, but all the other stuff lolol
Five weeks? Wow, that was fast.