LIVING IN JAPAN

3 Mistakes I Made After a Traffic Accident in Japan

And the magical power of apologies

Public apologies in Japan, video recording and press conference. (Illustrations courtesy of irasutoya.)

I recently happened upon an interesting live talk by Dr. Igor Prusa, an expert on the world of public scandal rituals in Japan. While listening to his description of the almost ceremonial procedure public figures in Japan follow to be reinstated to society, Dr. Prusa’s emphasis on the art of public contrition and apology struck a chord in my memory.

In Japan, a well-executed apology from a public figure can be a magic key, unlocking the door to their return to the limelight, wiping the slate clean of past sins.

I am no celebrity, but I did once find myself caught in this bizarre need to express contrition.

The car accident

Japanese kei-car. (Illustration courtesy of irasutoya.)

Many, many years ago, I was driving four of my children in my husband’s kei-car, a pint-sized vehicle one could be forgiven for mistaking for a toy. I entered a dark tunnel, driving in the right-hand lane of a two-lane highway. Midway through the darkness, a van loomed large, partially obstructing my lane. I hit the brakes, realizing too late that the…