Okay, summer vacation is over at last, and I suppose it’s time to quit slacking off on these blog posts. Or at least it’s time to try. We’ll see how that goes. Today, though, I’m particularly motivated to write something, due to events that took place on my morning commute that still have me fuming here at the end of the day.

The Japanese people are justly famous for their manners. Every interaction is governed by a strict system of social etiquette and protocol, varying in formality according the circumstance. People are generally very polite to friends, family, colleagues and strangers alike. I don’t even think someone here would tell you to go to hell without adding “please”. I’m noticing more and more, though, that there are situations where a certain level of what can only be called rudeness is allowed to creep into people’s behavior. Shoving your way through…