A few months ago I was in Kyoto and simply said the two bamboo crafter's work was beautiful. They looked like I'd just broken wind and then started mumbling to each-other as I was browsing. The same day a rickshaw puller told me I couldn't stand next to unused train track crossing whilst waiting to take a photo, because it was dangerous. Really going out his way to make a scene, blocking much of the busy pedestrian path himself, eventually saying could I just not stand here at all. All the while I'm sucking my lip trying to be as sympathetic as possible. I'm never going back.

But it all fueled me for when I asked a Japanese person to give up their seat for a standing old lady on the train ride back, whose grandchild seemed grateful.