the gas man

About a week ago, Adam and I filled up the tank to our car, after FINALLY being able to legally drive it. Getting gas, as trivial and everyday as it may seem, has been one of the highlights of my stay in Japan. And this is why: In Japan, most gas stations are full service. But they’re not just full service, they’re full service Japanese style.

So, we pull in and a friendly, giddy young man in a cool jump suit motions us to the pump. He smiles at us and asks us what we want. We say, “mantan” (fill it up), “reguraru” (regular). With a jump in his step, he begins to fill our car up. He then procedes to wash all of our windows, and then asks for any trash that he can take. We didn’t understand this part of the process, so unfortunately we were unable to take advantage of it. When the tank is full, he takes our cash (everything is cash here) and runs (literally) into the station to get our change. Next is the best part. He gives us our change and asks us what direction we are going. We point and he runs to the street. During rush hour on a two-lane street he stops traffic for us to make a right turn (the equivalent of a left in the States, remember)! We drive away and he departs with a bow.

I can’t wait to get gas again…

~Melissa

~ by amfenrick on September 5, 2009.