stanfordmed
09-21-2005, 10:24 PM
I passed by a very old man on the alley that was down on the ground. It looks like he was trying to get up or perhaps have fallen and can’t get up. There were several people around just watching him about 3 ft. away, but not doing anything. I wanted so much to ask and offer him assistance if needed, but I can’t speak Nihongo and at the same time, I didn’t want to impenge or do anything that is not expected in Japanese culture.
Could anyone give a feedback on what is expected to do in this case? Is it advisable here in Japan to lend a helping hand to a stranger in this kind of situation?
I feel uneasy and guilty that’s why I’m posting this 
twinkle
09-21-2005, 10:58 PM
as a neophyte in this place ( japan, just arrived august actually)i think it is not the custom, culture or the belief that one should extend help to others whatever nationality they come from, whatever you believe is right then you can lend a hand especially if it is really a need. In your case, i dont think you will be jailed or whatever if you got to help the person. Its just a matter of lending a hand to those who needs it. Even you dont talk their language but the effort to reach out to the needy needs no words at all. Even though you didnt wrote what you have done, but sana tinulungan mo. Its a very good samaritan act and surely a very wonderful feeling.
Keep on helping others who needs help. Its a different pleasure and sorta kinda different high!
crister
09-21-2005, 11:22 PM
I passed by a very old man on the alley that was down on the ground. It looks like he was trying to get up or perhaps have fallen and can’t get up. There were several people around just watching him about 3 ft. away, but not doing anything. I wanted so much to ask and offer him assistance if needed, but I can’t speak Nihongo and at the same time, I didn’t want to impenge or do anything that is not expected in Japanese culture.
Could anyone give a feedback on what is expected to do in this case? Is it advisable here in Japan to lend a helping hand to a stranger in this kind of situation?
I feel uneasy and guilty that’s why I’m posting this
na experience ko na rin yan, na guilty rin ako…tama ang sinabi ni twinkle…kaya pinapalangin ko na maulit ang ganyang pagkakataon para makabawi sa pagkakamali…kasi nga napagisip isip ko na walang pinipiling dahilan ang pagtulong sa kapwa(like for example, tulungan lang natin itayo, kahit na hindi tayo magkaintindihan at least yung maitayo lang sya eh ayos na yun diba?)
Stacie Fil
09-21-2005, 11:30 PM
I passed by a very old man on the alley that was down on the ground. It looks like he was trying to get up or perhaps have fallen and can’t get up. There were several people around just watching him about 3 ft. away, but not doing anything. I wanted so much to ask and offer him assistance if needed, but I can’t speak Nihongo and at the same time, I didn’t want to impenge or do anything that is not expected in Japanese culture.
Could anyone give a feedback on what is expected to do in this case? Is it advisable here in Japan to lend a helping hand to a stranger in this kind of situation?
I feel uneasy and guilty that’s why I’m posting this
Don’t blame yourself. I guess your impulse was right/natural. Mayroon naman kamong ibang Hapon na nasa paligid at mas malapit. Nakapanghihinayang nga lang at di maliwanag ang situation saka hindi mo na try. Minsan lang kasi talaga dumarating yung chance na makagagawa ka nang bagay sa kapwa. Siguro mapaghahandaan mo na next time. Ang alam ko lang kasi yung simpleng tanong like “daijobu ka or yorushii des ka” with some small hand or face gesture. Or if you see in someone’s eye that he/she really needs/want your assistance. “Tetsudaimasho ka ?”
stanfordmed
09-22-2005, 12:59 AM
Let me clarify my first post: I, of course will not hesitate to assist even if it was not a medical emergency (Good Samaritan Law (Good Samaritan law - Wikipedia)) . He didn’t look hurt and I wasn’t aware of what transpired prior to that. If I saw him falling or seen him fall down, I won’t think twice about helping him.
I just wondered if it’s considered an impingement/intrusion here in Japan to butt in because there were several people standing and watching him at arms reach and no one seems to be doing anything. My uneasiness or guilty feeling is from not being able to ask him or the people around him if in fact he fell down and needed assistance.
puting tainga
09-22-2005, 02:39 AM
After talking with a few educated Japanese, I am writing this:
You did the right thing, before doing something, you looked around to see what other Japanese were reacting.
If you want to do something, the best response would be:
You ask people standing near by
「どうしましょうか」(do shimasyo ka, ano ang gagawin natin?)
Doshi yo ka, would be too rude for a stranger, Doitashi masyo ka, would be too formal in this situation.
That no one was helping that guy means there was something that makes them think it was better, or common, not to help him.
There are situations that it is common in urban Japan not to help someone, they say.
If you want to help him, the most common expression is:
「大丈夫ですか？」daijy obu desu ka, are you OK?
Daijyobu ka, would be rude or disrespectful.
Daijyobu de gozaimasyoka ,would be too formal.
Never say, “daiboji desuka?”, which is allegedly the way pilipinas in omise always say. 
As for legal matters, if you see a man really
in danger of dying,
or looks like committing suicide,
or trying to do serious crime,
the law in Japan stipulates that you must help him or call the police or ambulance, otherwise you might be charged or indicted, for negligence or being a presumed accomplice, they say.
Most probably this does not apply to your case.
nearane
09-22-2005, 08:00 AM
don`t feel guilty about it. gusto mo naman na tumulong pero hindi pinagkaloob ng pagkakataoon. alam ko na maraming pang pagkakataon para ikaw ay makatulong sa kapwa mo.
naalala ko tuloy `yong na-experience ko dito sa japan. one time kasi papunta ako sa tokyo by densha(train), nakaupo ako pero habang papalapit na sa tokyo ay halos puno na ang densha. meron isang matandang hapon lalaki sumakay, around 70yrs siguro sya, tumayo ako at pina-upo ko sya doon sa inuupuan ko. pero tumingin lang sya sa akin at hindi ako pinansin at lumakad pang palayo sa akin. parang napahiya pa nga ako. hindi ko rin alam ang reason kung bakit sya umalis. siguro (gaijin)foreigner kasi ako na nag-offer sa kanya at hindi nya alam kung papaano mag-re-react o first time na meron nag-offer sa kanya ng upuan o simply gusto niya na nakatayo lang.
anyway wala naman masama, sa opinion ko lang, ang gumawa ng kabutihan sa kapwa lalo na at meron akong chance na ito ay gawin.
stanfordmed
09-22-2005, 09:04 AM
After talking with a few educated Japanese, I am writing this:
You did the right thing, before doing something, you looked around to see what other Japanese were reacting.
If you want to do something, the best response would be:
You ask people standing near by
「どうしましょうか」(do shimasyo ka, ano ang gagawin natin?)
Doshi yo ka, would be too rude for a stranger, Doitashi masyo ka, would be too formal in this situation.
That no one was helping that guy means there was something that makes them think it was better, or common, not to help him.
There are situations that it is common in urban Japan not to help someone, they say.
If you want to help him, the most common expression is:
「大丈夫ですか？」daijy obu desu ka, are you OK?
Daijyobu ka, would be rude or disrespectful.
Daijyobu de gozaimasyoka ,would be too formal.
Never say, “daiboji desuka?”, which is allegedly the way pilipinas in omise always say.
As for legal matters, if you see a man really
in danger of dying,
or looks like committing suicide,
or trying to do serious crime,
the law in Japan stipulates that you must help him or call the police or ambulance, otherwise you might be charged or indicted, for negligence or being a presumed accomplice, they say.
Most probably this does not apply to your case.
Puting tainga,
Thanks so much for the info. and the explanation - precisely on the right track and/or the legal aspect I was looking for.
I’m not familiar with the laws here in Japan and don’t want to be charged with assault, hence my hesitance because I couldn’t ask for his consent (Nihongo wakarimasen).
Assault is often defined to include not only violence, but any physical contact with another person without their consent.
Glad to know Good Samaritan Law (Good Samaritan law - Wikipedia) applies here in Japan as well.
docomo
09-23-2005, 01:30 AM
@stanfordmed… It’s wonderful to see you maintaining optimism, It’s encouraging to those of us who don’t always feel so optimistic when it feels like everything’s going wrong when away from home
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