On the 20th, a post on China's SNS Xiaohongshu (RED) about things learned for the first time after living in Japan generated a great response.

The poster mentioned, 'Since coming to Japan, I've gradually come to understand that some lifestyle habits cannot be changed just by deciding to change them.' As an example, they cited that while in China it is very natural to ask acquaintances questions like 'How's work lately?', 'What did your child score on the test?', or 'Have you bought a house?', Japanese custom involves people keeping a slight distance from each other. They wrote, 'I wasn't used to it at first, but gradually I've come to find this sense of distance very comfortable.'

Waiting in line is another example; they said that previously, when there was a long queue, they would think, 'Is it okay if I go a little further in (cut the line)?', but now, seeing everyone quietly queuing, they too have learned to quietly join the end of the line. Even on trains, they used to wonder, 'Why doesn't everyone talk?' in the beginning, but now they say, 'Even when answering the phone (in the train), I unconsciously lower my voice.'

The poster wrote, 'What I realized by changing my living environment is that perhaps it's not the environment that actually changes, but myself. Of course, I haven't completely adopted the Japanese way, and there are some habits I just can't change. Still, there's one thing I've learned: to respect others' boundaries (personal space) and accept that others live in ways different from myself.'

In response to this post, Chinese netizens left comments such as: 'You can't come back (to China) anymore, can you?', 'People are products of their environment,' 'It's probably a matter of manners/upbringing,' 'Sensitive people understand all of this even while in (China) and feel that those around them are savages,' 'I myself am a loud talker, so I'm embarrassed to speak in Japan. If I brought my mischievous child, my shouting might echo through the streets,' and 'Remember this: happiness is your own. If you are happy, that's all that matters.' (Translation/Editing: Kitada)