The irony screamed -- so did I.

Walking home from work late one night, I was grateful at just how safe Tokyo is. Not once had I been hassled or mugged . . . THUD! I was on the ground . . . THUD! I got up to face my attacker. He was big. Of course, I would say that, I will hardly admit to . . . THUD! being mugged by a . . . THUD! puny specimen of humanity.

I relied on the tried and trusted response to danger that has served me so well for so long. I sprinted as fast as I could to a nearby police station, trying to compose myself so as not to look petrified or unruffled.