Friday, April 23, 2010

Will Miss #159 - easily scaring off solicitors


Newspaper salespeople are a scourge in Tokyo. They frequently come to the door and sometimes aggressively try to convince people to buy subscriptions. I've been told by my Japanese acquaintances that sometimes the salespeople get angry and rude if they are turned down. Some even bang on the door, try to grab the door and yank it open, and one apparently tossed something angrily at a door. Being a foreigner though, I can scare off 95% of solicitors by simply speaking English. Newspaper salespeople in particular tend to simply walk away without another word once I say "yes?" in answer to the doorbell's ring.

I'll miss being able to spook unwanted visitors merely by speaking a few words in my native tongue.