I came back from my first foray into Tokyo on vacation a little over a week ago, and I want to go back, dammit. Why? Based on my experiences there, keeping in mind I was only there for ten days and only barely scratched the surface of their immense, rich culture...Japanese folks are so much more polite and mannered than Americans, for the most part. Hear me out on this one. I do love America, but Japan is giving it some competition now in my heart.

Yes, I know, they were likely thinking the Japanese equivalent of "Bless your heart," (in the sarcastic Southern belle sense) every time, but you know what? Even with language barrier firmly in place most of the time, they were willing to at least try and help an earnest foreigner bumbling his way through their country and their complex ways as best he could. My tiny bit of Japanese being exercised regularly no doubt helped even a little. That and being earnestly (to use that word again) polite, thankful, and appreciative of whatever assistance they could offer as opposed to whatever other foreigners act like when they're in Japan might have helped a bit as well.

Sure, I'm well aware that there's a radical party over there who want to kick out foreigners and put things back the way they were before the Restoration in 1868. Sure, I'm aware that Japanese people are not always overly fond of foreigners--and after the likes of Logan Paul making a ridiculous spectacle of himself, I don't blame 'em. But the fact that they were willing to set any of that aside just for a minute or two to try and help at all made a world of difference for me while I was poking about various areas in Tokyo. I can't say the same about a lot of Americans.

Ever since I've come back and returned to work--I work with the public--I've seen the difference even more starkly between us and them. That difference being that all too many Americans tend to be mean, rude, indifferent assholes with a raging sense of entitlement, in comparison. That's what's making me want to go back to Japan above all. The people. The fact that even though I wasn't One Of Them, they still were kindly enough to even try to help at all when I needed it.

Of course, don't get me wrong, I know there are plenty of Americans who would do the same and expect nothing in return, but unfortunately, there are just as many Americans who will only do something for someone if they will get something in return. Is this just me?