Peaceful Tokyo

The tranquility of Tokyo is not due to a lack of sound, but rather to a harmonious beauty where all relationships become gentle.

Tokyo is often thought of as a city that never sleeps – a place of dynamic, fast-paced industrial life. But the picture of Tokyo also has another shade: a quiet, orderly, and peaceful atmosphere that makes one feel gentler and more amiable. That's the feeling we had when we wandered through a small alley or stopped at a subway station.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, there are rhythmic, calm footsteps that bring a sense of peace to our hearts. Photo: HONG NHAT

There's a compelling charm to the quiet beauty of this city. It lies in the way people queue neatly in public places without being told, in the precise timing of trains arriving and departing. The intricate network of subway stations deep beneath Tokyo is a vibrant, clean, sunless world teeming with shops, restaurants, and mini-supermarkets. Everyone may be in a hurry, yet it's not noisy. The subway trains run smoothly, and people speak softly. For the most part, it's quiet, with people taking advantage of the time to sleep, read, or listen to music. It's rare to hear shouts or arguments.

This place also demonstrates a positive message: dropping something doesn't mean losing it. Greedlessness is a prominent virtue of the locals. This is reflected in the telling statistics: In 2025, Tokyo residents handed over a record 4.5 billion yen (over $30 million USD) in cash found on the streets to the police. More than 3.23 billion yen of that was returned to its owners. According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (Keishicho), people voluntarily brought in millions of lost items. Specifically, 83% of mobile phones (approximately 130,000), 73% of personal documents (over 545,000), and 65% of wallets (240,000) were returned to their owners on the same day. Japan is among the leading countries in the region and the world in returning lost phones and wallets. It's pleasant and reassuring to find such a generous and appreciative spirit in this bustling city.

Perhaps peace doesn't lie in absolute stillness, but in how people preserve civilized ways of life in their ordinary daily actions. Photo: MINH HA

Systemic honesty is increasingly solidified thanks to advantages in infrastructure, culture, and law. First, there are the densely distributed Koban – small police stations – which not only handle violations but also serve as support centers for the public. Simultaneously, there are socio-psychological factors, education , and life philosophies, with consistent standards preserved across generations. We increasingly understand that peace is not something to be sought, but can be created by how we live together.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/binh-yen-dong-kinh-196260321183337122.htm