LOOKING FOR THE HONEST

This was written when we lived in Higashi Tokorozawa, Japan so it must have been between August 1993 and November 1996.  As I wrote in the mission statement of my blog, I'm writing from notes I took on many subjects years ago.

Looking For The Honest

 It is refreshing to see someone other than "Honest Abe" willing to go that extra mile to return something that didn't belong to him.  This is exactly what happened recently to Steve, my husband.

Steve was helping some friends move their belongings into an apartment because they were to be married soon.  As he was jostling boxes and items from the car into their new abode, his bank book slipped unnoticed from his jacket pocket, which often happens.  It wasn't even missed until two days later when he was preparing to go to the bank and withdraw some money.

Examples of Bank Books

He was frantic!  Where could he have lost the bank book?  He searched the house, then the car, then his briefcase, then the house again.  No bank book to be found.  Steve racked his brain to think about where it could be.  Thank goodness his bank card was not with the bank book because without the card money couldn't be withdrawn.

Later, when he went to the bank to report that it was lost, they told him someone had found the bank book and had taken it to the nearest police station.  Steve breathed a sigh of relief.  Now the only problem was getting to the right police station and claiming the lost item.  So, two or three days later, when the police station had been visited, papers signed, and the bank contacted, all was back to normal and things were set right.  The honest man was also called and thanked profusely for his kindness.

Interestingly enough, a few weeks later, we had a similar incident in reverse.  We were near the Yokota Air Force Base area and saw a bicycle on a trash heap.  Usually we just pass those by, but this one looked practically new.

Our son wanted a new bike, so we thought we'd take it, thinking someone had thrown it away.  We wondered about the new condition of the bike and noticed the key to lock it was still in the lock.  Then we remembered the kind person who returned our bank book, and  we decided to take it to the nearest police station.  We found out the bicycle was registered with the police, which is the law now.  The police had us sign papers and wait for several weeks.  If no one claimed it we could keep it.  One week later the owner was found.

Abandoned Bicycle

Since that time though, we have noticed an increase in bicycle theft, especially among teens.  They steal a bicycle from the train station, ride it to a place near their destination and dump it along the sidewalk or trash dumping place and leave.  Most people in Japan have always followed the practice of "if it's not mine, I don't take it" and report things to the nearby police.  Sounds like a Biblical principle of "do not steal" doesn't it?  But times are changing here in Japan. 

Bicycles left behind

Coming from a country like the United States, where thieves run rampant, nothing is sacred from robbers, and purse snatchers and pick-pockets roam the streets, it is refreshing to see people who are honest.  It also reminded me to "do to others the way I would want to be done to".  The next time I see something in the street I will be sure to take it to the police, so that someone else will be reminded that "honesty is the best policy".