/lit/ - Literature

As an American sailor I had a wonderful experience while in Japan. i had been drinking and got lost while trying to find my way back to the landing for the boat to the ship which was anchored in the harbor of a small traditional Japanese town. At about 2AM I was walking down a road under a full moon through a beautiful landscape right out of a woodblock painting. It was summer and I could have walked all night :) A very old Japanese man putted up on his motorbike on this empty road and stopped and spoke to me in Japanese. I don't speak Japanese and so he motioned to get on the bike behind him and we putted off at about 10 mph. Eventually we came to a kiosk where he made a phone call. While we waited I offered him a cigarette and he happily accepted. We stood there smoking and smiling and police car pulled up. The two police officers, who spoke English, introduced themselves and explained that the old man had called and said that he thought i might need some help. They politely asked me to come with them and I gave the old man some cigarettes while thanking him. His smile is still with me today. At the police station the officers took their shoes off, relaxed and made tea for us, I shared my cigarettes with them and we talked and laughed for a couple of hours. I was treated very nicely and really enjoyed speaking with them. When I got tired, they showed me a couch where I slept until the shore patrol from my ship arrived the next morning to take me back. I will always remember how kindly i was treated and how nice that old man and the two police officers were