I hadn't landed at Narita airport but 30 minutes when I was presented with an "only in Japan" moment. It was a long moment — five minutes, to be exact — but it was nonetheless a stitch in time that sparkled so brightly, I knew I'd never forget it.
It made me stop and think, what makes something "only in Japan"? At first, it may seem obvious: Someone was generous, precise or quirky. Or someone went beyond the call of duty, or left you puzzled, or did you a favor for no apparent reason except for you just being you.
But like most things, there's more to it than that. Dissecting my only-in-Japan moment, I realized it isn't just the lengths that people go to here to do things for others, it's also the lengths they go to not do certain things, and this I find extraordinary.