I'm Going To Japan

Reader's Digest just published its list of the 35 most courteous cities in the world. Their methodology seems less than scientific, but contrary to popular myth, New York (where I live) was ranked the most courteous city.

And Tokyo didn't even make the list. Does this jive with your own experience?


World of Courtesy: Ranking of 35 Cities
Below is a ranking of the most courteous to the least courteous -- 35 major cities included in RD's Global Courtesy Test. Figures reflect the percentage of people who passed in each city. When multiple cities had identical scores, they are listed in alphabetical order.

New York USA 80%
Zurich Switzerland 77
Toronto Canada 70
Berlin Germany 68
São Paulo Brazil 68
Zagreb Croatia 68
Auckland New Zealand 67
Warsaw Poland 67
Mexico City Mexico 65
Stockholm Sweden 63
Budapest Hungary 60
Madrid Spain 60
Prague Czech Republic 60
Vienna Austria 60
Buenos Aires Argentina 57
Johannesburg South Africa 57
Lisbon Portugal 57
London United Kingdom 57
Paris France 57
Amsterdam Netherlands 52
Helsinki Finland 48
Manila Philippines 48
Milan Italy 47
Sydney Australia 47
Bangkok Thailand 45
Hong Kong 45
Ljubljana Slovenia 45
Jakarta Indonesia 43
Taipei Taiwan 43
Moscow Russia 42
Singapore 42
Seoul South Korea 40
Kuala Lumpur Malaysia 37
Bucharest Romania 35
Mumbai India 32

New York made the list and not San Francisco or Tokyo? Did they survey NY during a blizzard?

dochira wrote:New York made the list and not San Francisco or Tokyo? Did they survey NY during a blizzard?

i've read articles about NY'er courtesy on the rise after 9-11...but that survey is just ludicrous.

as i related long ago before about my trip to tokyo



In one instance, while eating sukiyaki in Akasaka, Tokyo at Yoshihashi...after paying for the meal, I asked the hostess in Japanese what was the best way to reach the nearest subway station...the woman personally walked my friend and I to the station which took about five to seven minutes, bowed and left!?!? Shocking.

That is not even remotely possible in most major American cities.

Tu_triky wrote:
That is not even remotely possible in most major American cities.

Unless they are going to the same place... you're on your own buddy.

dochira wrote:
Unless they are going to the same place... you're on your own buddy.

for sure...this lady was working too...it wasn't even i'm heading in your direction...she was an employee of the restaurant.

Tokyo Tower at 4:55am JST:
[image]

http://www.nttls.co.jp/webcam/

dochira wrote:Tokyo Tower at 4:55am JST:
[image]

http://www.nttls.co.jp/webcam/

i bet you japan was rockin with that first goal of the match....dayem that shot was a thing of beauty. :say_yes:

Tu_triky wrote:
i bet you japan was rockin with that first goal of the match....dayem that shot was a thing of beauty. :say_yes:

I think I may borrow this match from the video store once it's available.

dochira wrote:
I think I may borrow this match from the video store once it's available.

from the looks of it..this has been a wide open game with lots of attacks....far from boring.

Tu_triky wrote:Reader's Digest just published its list of the 35 most courteous cities in the world. Their methodology seems less than scientific, but contrary to popular myth, New York (where I live) was ranked the most courteous city.

And Tokyo didn't even make the list. Does this jive with your own experience?


World of Courtesy: Ranking of 35 Cities
Below is a ranking of the most courteous to the least courteous -- 35 major cities included in RD's Global Courtesy Test. Figures reflect the percentage of people who passed in each city. When multiple cities had identical scores, they are listed in alphabetical order.

New York USA 80%
Zurich Switzerland 77
Toronto Canada 70
Berlin Germany 68
São Paulo Brazil 68
Zagreb Croatia 68
Auckland New Zealand 67
Warsaw Poland 67
Mexico City Mexico 65
Stockholm Sweden 63
Budapest Hungary 60
Madrid Spain 60
Prague Czech Republic 60
Vienna Austria 60
Buenos Aires Argentina 57
Johannesburg South Africa 57
Lisbon Portugal 57
London United Kingdom 57
Paris France 57
Amsterdam Netherlands 52
Helsinki Finland 48
Manila Philippines 48
Milan Italy 47
Sydney Australia 47
Bangkok Thailand 45
Hong Kong 45
Ljubljana Slovenia 45
Jakarta Indonesia 43
Taipei Taiwan 43
Moscow Russia 42
Singapore 42
Seoul South Korea 40
Kuala Lumpur Malaysia 37
Bucharest Romania 35
Mumbai India 32

I read the full article they did not even visit Japan and they based friendliness off of Thank you's at stores, people holding open doors for you and people helping you picked up papers you dropped on the ground.

If this was done in Japan I would think Japan would be in the middle or towards the bottom third. The reason I say that is Most people in Japan do not hold open the door for each other and if you drop something very few would help pick things up for a stranger. The service at stores would get good rankings because the employees always say thank you. This is why I think the survey is really poor. It seems like a very narrow view of what courtesy is. That's just my 2 cents though.

MonsterZero-65 wrote:

I read the full article they did not even visit Japan and they based friendliness off of Thank you's at stores, people holding open doors for you and people helping you picked up papers you dropped on the ground.

If this was done in Japan I would think Japan would be in the middle or towards the bottom third. The reason I say that is Most people in Japan do not hold open the door for each other and if you drop something very few would help pick things up for a stranger. The service at stores would get good rankings because the employees always say thank you. This is why I think the survey is really poor. It seems like a very narrow view of what courtesy is. That's just my 2 cents though.

i agree and just to elaborate on your argument....most of the doors that i saw in japan were AUTOMATIC anyway so most ppl simply can't open the door...it's tecnologically irrelevant in many instances

technology makes people less socialable.

Tu_triky wrote:


In one instance, while eating sukiyaki in Akasaka, Tokyo at Yoshihashi...after paying for the meal, I asked the hostess in Japanese what was the best way to reach the nearest subway station...the woman personally walked my friend and I to the station which took about five to seven minutes, bowed and left!?!? Shocking.

that is almost like what my uncle had experienced. except for the woman was just a passer-by. but they were not heading to the same direction.

MonsterZero-65 wrote:

people holding open doors

i thought they use sliding doors in Japan? :beaten:

krim wrote:technology makes people less socialable.

that's a well-documented fact.

Tu_triky wrote:Reader's Digest just published its list of the 35 most courteous cities in the world. Their methodology seems less than scientific, but contrary to popular myth, New York (where I live) was ranked the most courteous city.

And Tokyo didn't even make the list. Does this jive with your own experience?


World of Courtesy: Ranking of 35 Cities
Below is a ranking of the most courteous to the least courteous -- 35 major cities included in RD's Global Courtesy Test. Figures reflect the percentage of people who passed in each city. When multiple cities had identical scores, they are listed in alphabetical order.

New York USA 80%
Zurich Switzerland 77
Toronto Canada 70
Berlin Germany 68
São Paulo Brazil 68
Zagreb Croatia 68
Auckland New Zealand 67
Warsaw Poland 67
Mexico City Mexico 65
Stockholm Sweden 63
Budapest Hungary 60
Madrid Spain 60
Prague Czech Republic 60
Vienna Austria 60
Buenos Aires Argentina 57
Johannesburg South Africa 57
Lisbon Portugal 57
London United Kingdom 57
Paris France 57
Amsterdam Netherlands 52
Helsinki Finland 48
Manila Philippines 48
Milan Italy 47
Sydney Australia 47
Bangkok Thailand 45
Hong Kong 45
Ljubljana Slovenia 45
Jakarta Indonesia 43
Taipei Taiwan 43
Moscow Russia 42
Singapore 42
Seoul South Korea 40
Kuala Lumpur Malaysia 37
Bucharest Romania 35
Mumbai India 32

I can't believe Japan is not included in the list. This survey lacks basis.

Having taken my own survey at Dodger games, I have found most N.Y. Mets fans are jerks and all Japanese tourists are the most friendly and polite people on the planet. :victory:

Saito_Hajime wrote:

I can't believe Japan is not included in the list. This survey lacks basis.

that list is bogus..

Japan should be #1 :beatyou:

qilver wrote:


that list is bogus..

Japan should be #1 :beatyou:

Yeah, or at least should made it in the top 10.

Saito_Hajime wrote:

Yeah, or at least should made it in the top 10.

to go there and experience the service, the land, the people, is truly an experience....and worth it. :applaud:

qilver wrote:


to go there and experience the service, the land, the people, is truly an experience....and worth it. :applaud:

I'm just happy when I go to Book Off and they say "irrashimasae" when I walk in :woot: [/list:u]