Nanoha Kondo receives her letter of appreciation from the police.
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Schoolgirl commended by police for helping lost 4-year-old child

42 Comments
By Oona McGee, SoraNews24

On Nov 12, a third-year junior high school student was commended by police with a letter of appreciation, after she helped to reunite a lost four-year-old girl with her parents last month.

According to police, 15-year-old Nanoha Kondo had left a local community centre in Narashino City, Chiba Prefecture, where she was studying for her high school entrance exams, to get lunch at a nearby convenience store when she saw a young girl walking alone in the heavy rain without an umbrella.

At first, Kondo figured the child’s parents must be close by, but she became worried when she saw the girl walk towards National Highway 357, a busy road that was teeming with traffic at the time.

Despite the child being soaked from the rain, all the adults in the area walked past the girl without stopping to see if she was okay. When it looked like the girl was about to dash out onto the road, Kondo stepped in to stop the girl, thinking, “It’s dangerous to leave her like this.”

Kondo said the girl was so soaked from the rain it looked as if a bucket of water had been poured over her, and her body was cold and her face stiff. Kondo took off the jacket she was wearing and put it around the girl, asking her what her name was and whether she was okay and if her family was around.

The four-year-old only responded to her questions with “hmm”, so Kondo became worried about the child’s physical condition, and took her by the hand and led her to a nearby police box. As they walked to the police box together, the girl’s face appeared to brighten a little, which came as a relief to Kondo.

According to police, the four-year-old had left her home without her parents knowing a few hours before Kondo found her. The girl was safely returned to her parents, who had been looking for her, and police say the story may not have had a happy ending had Kondo not stepped in to “help with kindness and courage”.

Commenters online agreed, while also pointing out some of the problems with the current state of society, saying:

“The kindness and action of this junior high school student is so wonderful. As for the adults around her, though…”

“She could help because she’s a junior high school girl. If a single man did this, he wouldn’t be commended, he’d be treated as a suspect.”

“If a man reaches out, he’ll be treated as a suspicious person, so lifesaving should be a woman’s duty.”

“It’s hell for women when men stand by and do nothing.”

“It’s sad when children have to help each other because the adults turn a blind eye.”

It really is a sad state of affairs when men think it’s better to turn a blind eye than get involved for fear of being branded a suspect, especially when a child’s life is potentially on the line. And there really is no evidence to support any theories that men will become embroiled in a police conspiracy when trying to protect women and children.

If you don’t have anything to hide, and you’re not running away from women chasing you, then rest assured, the people you’re helping will not only vouch for you but be forever thankful for your assistance.

As Kondo herself says, “If something like this happens to someone in the future, I’d like people around them to look after them.” Here’s hoping more adults take a leaf out of her book and act with kindness courage to step in when assistance is needed.

Source: Asahi Shimbun via Yahoo! News via Jin

Read more stories from SoraNews24.

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© SoraNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

42 Comments
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Well done, young lady! - Truly commendable actions by this young person.

15 ( +16 / -1 )

The article brings up Japan’s societal norm of “mind your own business” as an additional issue here. So then, why does the author use this opportunity to just bash “men” in particular ? (Only select comments are used.) Surely, there were other ‘people’ that overlooked the child’s plight and “men” specifically were not cited by the heroine nor the child as ignoring the child, on this occasion. -

14 ( +16 / -2 )

Despite the child being soaked from the rain, all the adults in the area walked past the girl without stopping to see if she was okay. 

That's today Japanese society, just mind your own business, if a foreigner really try to help that toddler they might accused that foreigner of kidnapping first before really try to understand the fact.

11 ( +17 / -6 )

God bless you Nanoha chan. Well done! You might have saved that child's life.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Wow! Congratulations to her. Thank you very much! A real hero.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

“If a man reaches out, he’ll be treated as a suspicious person, so lifesaving should be a woman’s duty.”

How utterly purile.

In any case, what a smart young lady. Good stuff.

-2 ( +8 / -10 )

If you are a white male in Japan I do not suggest rescuing children directly: years ago I was watching my daughter play with another girl in the play area of a department store when her mother walked off. When the mother returned the girl was gone but I knew exactly where she was, and when the mother looked right the girl went left. Soon the mother's face was an expression of panic and she fled up the escalator to search but the daughter was still on our floor. Rather than taking the girl by the hand and leading her to her mother, a move that would likely put me behind bars, I went to the mother and took her to her daughter. Mumbled thanks. But that was more than I expected.

18 ( +21 / -3 )

Japan really takes "mind your own business" to the point where they'd ignore a FOUR-YEAR-OLD CHILD wandering around the streets in the rain. That's not minding your own business; that's playing ignorance and being stupid. What kind of person sees a little child soaked to the bone, wandering around and continues on their way? Japanese people apparently. Horrible mentality. Good on the student for using her head and listening to her instincts to help the kid.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

At first, i was like, that's nice, well done girl. But those online comments make this type of situation debatable, esp in the countryside but also in the town. If a guy touches child just to make sure child is okay, he will be in media full of questions.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

if a foreigner really try to help that toddler they might accused that foreigner of kidnapping first before really try to understand the fact.

I don't think so. If you can speak the language, you can communicate exactly what happened.

That said, you would have spend several hours in the koban until things got sorted out. They wouldn't just let you go with a thank you and "We'll take it from here. Leave us your number in case we need to contact you."

The men are right to a certain extent. The police won't just be asking themselves "Who's this child?" but also "Who's this guy who brought her in?" And they won't let you go on your way until it's all well and sorted.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

When you step into a koban (unless you're just asking for directions), you don't come out for hours. No matter the circumstances and how good your intentions are.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

On Nov 12, a third-year junior high school student was commended by police with a letter of appreciation, after she helped to reunite a lost four-year-old girl with her parents last month.

This provides some hope though, as in general Japanese people normally don't want to get involved in anything that does not concern (or benefit) themselves.

"Oh, I didn't notice!" or, "It was raining too hard, and I couldn't see well!".

Tokyo-mToday  09:10 am JST

I once found a driving license and handed it in to the police. After that experience I never want anything to do with them again. Sadly, if I saw a lost child I would not help out because I know that somehow I would become suspect number one for any crime going.

Not doubting you, but I have found 3 wallets, one with a driver's license, all with cash, and I turned them in at a koban. They just asked if I wanted the owner to have my contact information, and if I wanted the legally authorized percentage of the money (Zichi can research the law on that finders-keepers aspect) after 30 days or whatever..

0 ( +4 / -4 )

With all due respect @zichi 10:19am think that @9:55am user is perhaps referring to a ‘previous’ post where someone gave an account of turning in some found bank books and stated something to the effect of “*Never again.” *?

Someone later provided it was perhaps 6 months.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Her parents should be very proud of the amazing young lady that their daughter is growing into.

I know that I would be proud if one of my daughters took action to ensure the safety of a young child.

As for the matter of whether a man should help a lost child that they've come across. As a man myself, I would ensure that that child was taken to the closest police station.

Many might fear about how the police would handle the situation and/or how long you'll be in there for helping their enquiries. However, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I ignored that child and something bad happened to them.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Pro tip: Stay away from Kobans if you are a foreigner, unless you particularly want to waste hours and have every passer by gawking at you through the window automatically assuming you've done something wrong. And if they know you then it'll be all round the neighborhood by dinner time.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

As clear as daylight.

Oh, yes. Unmistakable.

Disturbing. Creepy.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

“The kindness and action of this junior high school student is so wonderful. As for the adults around her, though…”

I wonder if she got any monetary award,

She probably got Zilch.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Schoolgirl commended by police for helping lost 4-year-old child

So glad this girl could be of help, wonderful news.

 the four-year-old had left her home without her parents knowing a few hours before Kondo found her. The girl was safely returned to her parents, who had been looking for her

I won't get into blaming the parents though, as that's a whole other can of worms to open. What parents would ignore their child to that point? They should be investigated.

“If a man reaches out, he’ll be treated as a suspicious person, so lifesaving should be a woman’s duty.”

This

And even worse if you're a foreigner.

The police and their ignorant ways make it SO difficult to want to do anything involving them.

They are utterly useless and hassle the wrong individuals.

It's a wonder why so many criminals have to turn themselves in, if not, who would do the police officer's duties?

Not the police, that's for sure.

Once again, kudos to the young lady who saved the little girl. We need more people like her in Japan, that's a fact.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I am glad she did what she did! Personally, I wouldn't! Fearing of being accused/suspected of some weird behavior!

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

“If a man reaches out, he’ll be treated as a suspicious person, so lifesaving should be a woman’s duty.”

Sad but true. But even worse the suspensions are often based in fact. A man could call the police on a cell phone, however. That would help.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I think its largely true that men would be under more suspicion that a woman, particularly when the child is female. The police would want to make sure he had not been involved in her disappearance or that he had not done something when "rescuing" her.

But instead of getting mad at women or society or the police, get mad at the men who rape and abuse children and women. They are the ones you should aim your ire at, as they are the reason men fall under suspicion.

Finally, even if a man were to fall under suspicion when helping a child, it would soon be cleared up and they'd be on their way. I'd hope that the end result - a safe child - would be worth the annoyance.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Apparently, the foreigners posting have spent large amounts of time in kobans aka police stations and are expert in adjudging the response of the police. Mostly the posts seem to exist of muddled nonsense with a queer criticism of the police. And contrary to reality. One wonders why certain foreigners live in Japan, as they are hypercritical of the culture and see themselves as some odd persecuted minority, especially among white males. The article is about the kindness of a young woman and being recognized as such by the authorities for a good deed.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

as an alternative i guess for us white males, we can choose to run to the koban and tell the police there is a young child over there and have them approach the 4yr old instead... and that avoids the "oh that foreigner is up to no good with that child"

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Perhaps the words you’re looking for @RichardGallagher 12:49pm are “a few” or “some” as opposed to all all-inclusive “the

*- @Richard Gallagher 12:49pm: “Apparently, the foreigners posting have spent large amounts of time in kobans aka police stations and are expert in adjudging the response of the police. Mostly the posts seem to exist of muddled nonsense with a queer criticism of the police. . . *

. . . *especially among white [??] males*.”

How did you come that conclusion about ‘specific’ races ?

*- @12:49pm: “The article is about the kindness of a young woman and being recognized as such by the authorities for a good deed.” *

Yes, and she should be praised. It is the author the turned the latter half of this piece into an indictment of Japanese society, and particularly, the reluctance of SOME men to act in some situations. It was not your fellow readers here that started that dialogue. It was the media (again).

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Richard GallagherToday 12:49 pm JST

One wonders why certain foreigners live in Japan, as they are hypercritical of the culture and see themselves as some odd persecuted minority, especially among white males.

Why to single out 'especially white males'?

I am a white straight man living in Japan since more than 40 years.

I still prefer to continue to live in Japan and not in Europe out of many reasons.

It is however true that there are some strange foreigners in Japan and as far as I can say of any race and any gender who are persistently complaining about all and everything Japanese. Don't ask me why they are living here.

The article is about the kindness of a young woman and being recognized as such by the authorities for a good deed.

It is really a nice gesture by police towards this schoolgirl to show up in her school and to thank her for her help. So far my own experience in Japan regarding police officers is fairly good.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

PaulToday 11:29 am JST

I am glad she did what she did! Personally, I wouldn't! Fearing of being accused/suspected of some weird behavior!

I fully understand your concern, what might happen if you - as a man - would do EXACTLY the same as this schoolgirl - (talk to her, take your raincoat and put it around the girl, ask if her family is around and take her by the hand leading her away from the place you found her) and suddenly her mother is showing up - a man would be arrested immediately and not only in Japan.

Text from this article: Kondo took off the jacket she was wearing and put it around the girl, asking her what her name was and whether she was okay and if her family was around.

The four-year-old only responded to her questions with “hmm”, so Kondo became worried about the child’s physical condition, and took her by the hand and led her to a nearby police box.

I think, about this case, it remains the question why should a foreigner step in and help this little girl while many Japanese are around nearby and ignore her, doing nothing...

I would also be hesitant, but I have my mobile always with me. I guess in such a situation as I speak Japanese I would keep some distance, not to initiate any contact with her and call 110 and ask a police officer to come and take care of her.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Nice story, but as others said, as a gaijin male I would be very hesitant to just touch an unknown child. In this situation, I would rather just stop one of the passersby and ask for help, so it is not just me and the child.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@wtfjapan

…. So you know they will treat you as guilty until you prove your innocence … so if you didn’t regularly go out of your way to hand things etc and show your are a great guy, you think they would suspect you.

That just proves the point others made above.

maybe they wonder why you hand in so much stuff…

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

""all the adults in the area walked past the girl without stopping to see if she was okay. ""

And the reason adults can't help because this society treats favors as a crime, simple as that, and I learned it the hard way, so now I do exactly what all the adults did. SAD and painful but true.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

*girl_in_tokyo:** * I think its largely true that men would be under more suspicion that a woman, particularly when the child is female. .... But instead of getting mad at women or society or the police, get mad at the men who rape and abuse children and women. They are the ones you should aim your ire at, as they are the reason men fall under suspicion

The number of men who commit rape or child abuse is so minuscule that it is statistically insignificant, so the real problem is the hysterical reporting and the over-reaction of the public. You yourself agree that a man would come under more suspicion than a woman, but this is absurd. There should be no suspicion of anyone - man or woman - who helps a lost child.

The media create idiotic scare-stories to sell papers, the gullible public become hysterical, weak politicians feel they have to respond to public pressure, and the sad result is that men become demonised.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

At long last, a happy news to read.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

In some cases it is what it is, and in some cases you are damned if you do, and damned if you don't!! Looks like this is a stand still where society's evil verses society good! If you help someone you might get punished for it and doing nothing you get looked down upon!! This is a messed up world!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I was walking around the Sumida River area when I spied an idiot run over a glass bottle, shatter it, and a shard flew into the NOSE of a girl walking to her Dojo…the driver RAN into the house after looking straight at me. I went over and called into the dojo and told what happened, of course the master thinks I did it, always the Gai’ji

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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