I know I usually share some frustrating news or engage in activism to modernize Japanese culture.

But let me share some things I've been appreciating about living in Tokyo recently (specially in the current situation):

24/7 shops and all they have available. I have 2 convenience stores and 1 supermarket (all 24/7) just nearby my apartment. It's been really handy for midnight runs in these times of increased anxiety/insomnia.

And the level of hygiene they've adopted as well, it's impressive.

More on hygiene and good manners, masks have always been part of the culture here (normally it would be more common during flu or pollen season, but of course now it's all the time, anyone, anywhere), it's never been a political issue.

This is on the elevator of my building:

Hitori Karaoke (going to karaoke by yourself) is a thing and I found it to be the perfect when I really need to get out of the house and relax (they disinfect everything in the room when you leave)

(Karaokes are also everywhere. I have 3 options within walking distance)

How some people are incredibly helpful when you're a lost "customer" (I know this doesn't happen all the time, and that I'm also privileged to look the way I look here).

This week I had a government form to fill and I thought I needed to go to the ward office to complete it...

It turned out I didn't, but this receptionist not only answered my question, as she also helped me fill the entire form in Japanese and kept the envelope herself to mail it for me.

I'm sure that was not her job, and she was just being helpful because I can't speak Japanese

Anyways, there's a bunch of other great stuff here, and yet none of this erases the huge issues Japan has either. But I just thought I'd share a bit of gratitude I've been feeling recently.