Why no looting in Japan?

[DarrinS]

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/edwest/100079703/why-is-there-no-looting-in-japan/





The landscape of parts of Japan looks like the aftermath of World War Two; no industrialised country since then has suffered such a death toll. The one tiny, tiny consolation is the extent to which it shows how humanity can rally round in times of adversity, with heroic British rescue teams joining colleagues from the US and elsewhere to fly out.

And solidarity seems especially strong in Japan itself. Perhaps even more impressive than Japan’s technological power is its social strength, with supermarkets cutting prices and vending machine owners giving out free drinks as people work together to survive. Most noticeably of all, there has been no looting, and I’m not the only one curious about this.

This is quite unusual among human cultures, and it’s unlikely it would be the case in Britain. During the 2007 floods in the West Country abandoned cars were broken into and free packs of bottled water were stolen. There was looting in Chile after the earthquake last year – so much so that troops were sent in; in New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina saw looting on a shocking scale.

Why do some cultures react to disaster by reverting to everyone for himself, but others – especially the Japanese – display altruism even in adversity?

[Marcus Bryant]

That's a bit of an exaggeration. Media outlets in the West tend to focus on the abnormal. No doubt there was plenty of "altruism" during and in the aftermath of Katrina and the other disasters mentioned.

A better question would be why the Japanese response seems somewhat more orderly...

[LnGrrrR]

Does Japan have a "me first" societal attitude? America tends to.

[Marcus Bryant]

Does Japan have a "me first" societal attitude? America tends to.

Not always a bad thing.

[LnGrrrR]

Not always a bad thing.

Not saying it is. The "me first" attitude is also what drives many people to do better. Could just be a societal difference; it's why I asked. (Never been to Japan.)

[coyotes_geek]

Duh. It's obviously because they don't have any liberals or muslims.

[DMX7]

I'm sure there is some looting.

[Stringer_Bell]

The Japanese culture is still largely rooted in honor and unity - it's how they survived a nuclear bomb landing on them after they acted dishonorably. They know what's up...and I think America is capable of shedding the "me first" attitude in a similar nationwide struggle. If people want to be selfish and endanger the greater survival of everyone, we'll have our trusty militias to put bullets in the domes of selfish pricks.

[Cuckolded Sissy]

Duh. It's obviously because they don't have any liberals or muslims.


or blacks

[ChumpDumper]

Why did Darrin post this?

I'll go ahead and blame its universal health care system.

[Stringer_Bell]

Why did Darrin post this?

I'll go ahead and blame its universal health care system.

To remind us about Restoring Honor and using the Sacred Fire of the Founders to light the way...just the like Japanese are doing right now!

[diego]

in chile this is a hot topic. the dominant perception is that Japan is a more egalitarian society (it is), though personally having spent some time there I think the homogenous nature of the society and the culture that stresses community and discipline play a larger role.

[johnsmith]

I'm sure there is some looting going on there as well, but the difference is that we here in America have the worst thing in the history of mankind, 24 hour news channels that are constantly competing with one another over who can 'create' the most news, rather than just report it.

I think Americans gather together in a way that is tough to replicate. Remember the superbowl after we went to war with Saddam (the first time)? Remember the tales of heroism and support after 9/11? Hell, look no further than what the people of Nashville did together just this last year. We have the ability to unite and serve one another when all else seems lost.

We are still human beings in America. We have the ability to empathize with one another and at no times has that been more true than when faced with adversity. This was still the case in New Orleans as well, we just happen to have a certain kind of cancer that "reports" that news to us and therefore, we heard very little about it at the time.

[johnsmith]

Also, I find it funny that the users on this site are so conditioned to automatically disagree with certain posters that they immediately come in and attack the OP when I think this is a valid topic........even when done passive aggressively.


Don't get me wrong though, I 100% of the time hate everything boutons posts, so I'm just as guilty.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

This is an interesting topic. I didn't even consider the possibility that there would be no looting.

Can the reports of no looting even be trusted?

[ChuckD]

http://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss-Japan-Quake-tabbed/Day4_ss-110313-japanquake/ss-110314-japanQuake-jc-04.grid-5x2.jpg

What's to loot?

[hater]

advanced society

[hater]

Does Japan have a "me first" societal attitude? America tends to.

bingo

[hater]

Not always a bad thing.

except when the food and water run out

[boutons_deux]

greedy "me first/fuck all y'all" in charitable, Christ-obsessed America? nah, can't happen.

[johnsmith]

greedy "me first/fuck all y'all" in charitable, Christ-obsessed America? nah, can't happen.

Predictable.........not shocking.........

[Wild Cobra]

except when the food and water run out
That's not happening. It only affected a small portion of Japan.

[diego]

I'm sure there is some looting going on there as well, but the difference is that we here in America have the worst thing in the history of mankind, 24 hour news channels that are constantly competing with one another over who can 'create' the most news, rather than just report it.

I think Americans gather together in a way that is tough to replicate. Remember the superbowl after we went to war with Saddam (the first time)? Remember the tales of heroism and support after 9/11? Hell, look no further than what the people of Nashville did together just this last year. We have the ability to unite and serve one another when all else seems lost.

We are still human beings in America. We have the ability to empathize with one another and at no times has that been more true than when faced with adversity. This was still the case in New Orleans as well, we just happen to have a certain kind of cancer that "reports" that news to us and therefore, we heard very little about it at the time.

not to be a prick, but the US is not the only country in the world with media. Do you really think Japan doesnt have 24 hour news channels? Even if they didn't, the world media wouldn't report looting? Maybe I'm missing the meaning of your post but the difference is not media coverage.

Having looters doesnt mean the whole country is heartless. It doesnt even necessarily mean that the looters themselves are evil, as there are definitely gray areas (for ex, there are no legal alternatives to acquire essential items; or a person has lost literally everything in the disaster and cannot use the legal alternatives).

Here in Chile however you had people breaking into the local walmart / costco type stores and leaving with champagne and lcd TVs. Some were breaking into the homes of their neighbors and stealing their jewelry and electronics. and some who were caught doing this kind of stuff were white collar professionals with multiple cars and salaries hundreds of times over the local average. it is interesting that this happens most everywhere, from England to Haiti, but not in Japan. that is why i think the difference is more cultural than just socio-economic or political in nature (I read after posting yesterday that japanese law is quite severe with criminals), though those are factors to consider as well.

[TeyshaBlue]

It's been reported that some Japanese supermarkets have cut prices to help people buy necessities.


"Plumes of smoke are still rising from the wreckage and the roads all lead to nowhere. But nothing was going to stop this Japanese businessman arriving at the office as usual. Walking through the ruins of the port of Sendai, the unnamed worker symbolised a whole nation’s determination to get back on its feet in the aftermath of the disaster. According to reports in Japan, many workers turned up as normal yesterday, even in the devastated coastal areas, offering to do whatever they could to help rebuild. Toshiyo Shishido returned to the agricultural supply store that he manages in the coastal village of Yamamoto even though he knows it may be months before business is back to usual. ‘We have to rebuild,’ he said. ‘It’s the duty of those of us who are left.’ Unlike in the U.S. in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, there have been no reports of looting in Japan. Some supermarkets are said to have cut their prices to help survivors buy supplies and vending machine operators are giving out free drinks from the steps of their crumbling stores. Schools close to Sendai also opened for classes yesterday to keep life as close to normal as possible for the traumatised pupils.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1366186/Japanese-tsunami-earthquake-Markets-plunge-insurers-face-38bn-bill.html#ixzz1GfrGsAVe

[jack sommerset]

"The police were found innocent, lets start a riot and loot."

[Agloco]

That's not happening. It only affected a small portion of Japan.

I'm fairly certain that he meant the affected portion. Long lines and water runs out on a regular basis. The stores that are closed aren't being looted either. People simply walk until they find a line for the next open spot. Remarkable behavior considering what's at stake. Feel free to contrast that to the images we saw and the stories we heard after Katrina hit.

The fact that things are more orderly is a reflection of the underlying cultural differences between Japan and the West.

[Agloco]

It's been reported that some Japanese supermarkets have cut prices to help people buy necessities.


"Plumes of smoke are still rising from the wreckage and the roads all lead to nowhere. But nothing was going to stop this Japanese businessman arriving at the office as usual. Walking through the ruins of the port of Sendai, the unnamed worker symbolised a whole nation’s determination to get back on its feet in the aftermath of the disaster. According to reports in Japan, many workers turned up as normal yesterday, even in the devastated coastal areas, offering to do whatever they could to help rebuild. Toshiyo Shishido returned to the agricultural supply store that he manages in the coastal village of Yamamoto even though he knows it may be months before business is back to usual. ‘We have to rebuild,’ he said. ‘It’s the duty of those of us who are left.’ Unlike in the U.S. in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, there have been no reports of looting in Japan. Some supermarkets are said to have cut their prices to help survivors buy supplies and vending machine operators are giving out free drinks from the steps of their crumbling stores. Schools close to Sendai also opened for classes yesterday to keep life as close to normal as possible for the traumatised pupils.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1366186/Japanese-tsunami-earthquake-Markets-plunge-insurers-face-38bn-bill.html#ixzz1GfrGsAVe

Yet another example......

Tell me one store that would do this in the US.

[Drachen]

Yet another example......

Tell me one store that would do this in the US.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/05/AR2005090501598.html

I am not some sort of defender of walmart, but when I read your comment the first thing that came to mind was that I remember walmart lending their supply chain mgmt expertise and tried to search for an article about it. This came up. It seems that they went further than just ISCOM expertise.

[TeyshaBlue]

Wal-Mart! Those bastards!

I also remembering them guaranteeing jobs to Katrina refugees in other cities.

[TDMVPDPOY]

i think its more to do with thats not much to loot when alot of them live in small spaces and they only buy whats needed,

unlike some western countries like america, australia...every fkn room in the house has a plasma or someshit, high level of problems like unemployment and multiculturalism is a bitch, cause the have nots will usually be the first to bitch and whine during extraordinary events and start looting

[Agloco]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/05/AR2005090501598.html

I am not some sort of defender of walmart, but when I read your comment the first thing that came to mind was that I remember walmart lending their supply chain mgmt expertise and tried to search for an article about it. This came up. It seems that they went further than just ISCOM expertise.

:tu

I retract my comment then. Wal-Mart of all companies......

Kudos to them.

[Blake]

Yet another example......

Tell me one store that would do this in the US.

HEB

They treat employees like crap, but they bend over backwards for the community.

[Wild Cobra]

I did hear a news account of some stealing from a supermarket this morning. The media found one incident, and I'll bet later today, will be hyping it.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

You guys are hilarious. I've lived in Japan, and I can tell you there is no looting (or virtually no looting - there's always a bad apple or two) because the Japanese have a strongly group-based culture, and they still believe in old concepts like the group coming before the individual, and respect for strangers.

I've never seen people so well organised and orderly in a crisis, and I saw plenty of mini-crises as I lived in Okinawa which is thumped by multiple cyclones and earthquakes every year. The response every time was for people to pull together, not tear each other apart.

[ManuBalboa]

Funny how Iowa and all the other country bumpkins can get their shit together during floods. America-me first? Not really.

[ManuBalboa]

I did hear a news account of some stealing from a supermarket this morning. The media found one incident, and I'll bet later today, will be hyping it.

According to earlier reports from CNN, that looter was cornered shortly after exiting the supermarket by 10th generation Samurai descendants and forced to perform Seppuku.

[ElNono]

Obviously, there's no VRWC in Japan... :p:

[Oh, Gee!!]

a by-product of totalirianism. don't worry we'll be right there once palin is elected president