The Measure of National Tolerance Through Car Horns
Traveling abroad brings many new realizations.
One of them was something surprising.
Honking car horns is commonplace and normal overseas.
When I first went to Hong Kong, I was shocked by the sound of car horns honking all over the city.
Despite the deafening noise, locals simply walked around as if nothing had happened.
This phenomenon is not limited to Hong Kong, but is also seen in Southeast Asia and other countries.
However, in Japan, the response is the exact opposite.
There are many cases where honkers have been subjected to violence or even murder.
I have personally experienced this.
One time, I lightly honked my horn at a car in front of me that hadn’t moved even after the light had turned green.
Suddenly, the driver got out, banged on my car window, and started yelling angrily.
I remember being so scared I couldn’t move.
This happened several times.
Honking the horn in Japan is something I find very scary.
When I’m abroad, the sound of lots of honking horns really tells me the level of tolerance in that country.
Moreover, the citizens of these countries seem to have a very calm and generous atmosphere.
I hope Japan can have a similarly calm atmosphere.
