national

Tokyo civil servant reported for eating ice cream in front of convenience store

16 Comments
By grape Japan

"A (civil servant) is eating ice cream in front of the MINISTOP (convenience store)"

Such was the nature of a complaint recently submitted to a Tokyo ward office, according to Twitter user 区役所の人 kuyakusho no hito (lit. "city ward person"), who regularly posts information and fields questions relating to city office duties, as well as their personal thoughts on their work.

The person who filed the complaint seemed to think this was wrong and wanted to do something about it.

On Sept 12, kuyakusho no hito posted the following tweet:

Screen-Shot-2022-09-22-at-9.43.02.png

"Someone complained that: 'A (civil servant) is eating ice cream in front of the MINISTOP (convenience store' but that's because their Beni Imo sweet potato soft serve ice cream is only available for a limited time and it's delicious :) (it was during their lunch break)."

The tweet, which sought to draw attention to the problem of frivolous and unreasonable complaints, was widely shared online, garnering over 74,200 likes and 14,000 retweets at the time of writing.

In an interview with IT Media Japan, kuyakusho no hito explained that the Tokyo ward staff member "guilty" of eating ice cream was his friend. In order to accommodate visitors who come during lunch hours, the office has a rotating lunch shift. That day, it was his friend's turn to work the lunch shift, so he was allowed to take his lunch one hour later from 1 p.m. It would seem that the person who filed the complaint was of such a rigid mindset that they didn't imagine a ward office worker could be taking their lunch at any time other than from 12 to 1 p.m., so they probably assumed they were slacking off and taking a break when they weren't supposed to.

Of course, civil servants are free to do what they want during their lunch break, and if they feel like eating ice cream in front of a convenience store, there's nothing wrong with it.

Unfortunately, as kuyakusho no hito explained in a separate tweet, "complaints about trivial matters are really just a part of everyday life for us."

Why are there so many frivolous and unreasonable complaints in Japan?

survey on "customer harassment" (harassment of employees by customers) compiled by the Japan Federation of National Service Employees in 2021 points to a combination of factors. Some of them, such as "prolonged stress and social disparity as a result of novel coronavirus pandemic" and "the increasing use of the Internet" are not specifically Japanese problems. However, factors such as "the spread of the customer-is-god mentality" and "the constant provision of services that exceed the value of the product, which has been exacerbated by deflation" are more specific to Japan.

Kuyakusho no hito's post elicited numerous reactions, both incredulous of the complaint and supportive of his post:

"Hey complainer, don't you take breaks and eat ice cream once in a while? Do you work non-stop all day long? Don't complain! This civil servant has done nothing wrong!"

"Is it wrong to eat ice cream during your lunch break? I think you'll be able to work better if you can have a refreshing break with ice cream during lunch."

"Oh, I get it. They were complaining because it was in front of the convenience store. During this hot weather, he should have enjoyed it inside the air-conditioned store at the 'eat-in' area."

"This is probably the same type of person who saw a classmate doodling in their textbook and tattled to the teacher in elementary school."

Kuyakusho no hito noted that his post has also been picked up by several media sources, bringing attention to the problem beyond the reach of Twitter.

If it can contribute in any way to a change in attitude resulting in fewer needless complaints, Japanese civil servants will be able to focus their energy on more important matters and have less stress at work.

Meanwhile, kuyakusho no hito wasted no time trying out the ice cream his friend enjoyed at MINISTOP:

Screen-Shot-2022-09-22-at-9.43.45.png

"Thanks to all of you, my tweets have been seen by many. Thank you again for your support m( )m

I thought it was a good opportunity so I also tried the Beni Imo sweet potato soft serve ice cream

It's so good "

Perhaps the person who filed the complaint should go and try it too since it could help them to chill out.

Read more stories from grape Japan.

-- Krispy Kreme Japan’s Halloween doughnuts include ‘before and after’ mummified cat transformation

-- Original PlayStation pouch has retro gaming fans pumped

-- Stray cats as onigiri are the cutest rice balls in Japan

© grape Japan

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

16 Comments
Login to comment

There are many frivolous and unreasonable complaints everywhere and not only in Japan, but this complaint is really comical.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

People have been conditioned to thinking they can go anywhere while eating and drinking. It's infantile behavior.

I remember standing in a bookstore in Virginia, near the Pentagon, watching an Air Force captain in uniform licking an ice cream cone he held in one hand while he handled the merchandise. Unsanitary and inconsiderate as hell, IMO.

Another thing I can't stand is watching is Americans who have the loathsome habit of carrying their coffee or jumbo-size soft drinks onto the plane when boarding. I have complained about this to the crew members. The cost to the airlines for cleaning up their spillage must be enormous.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

A sociology professor I once had would have blamed an incident like this on the complaintant having been subjected to overly strict toilet training.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Nothing else to do but to watch and report on city office staff activities, Twitter needs to clean up this scum.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

BroncoToday  07:22 am JST

There's a segment of humanity that constantly berates others and sticks there nose in other people's business.

Don't do this... Don't do that... tighten up your mask... hey your showing too much leg ... etc.

MYOB.

wallaceToday  07:30 am JST

Less important the snitching and even lesser important to write an article about it. A gossip.

This must be taught to all the boys and girls. Don't be a snitch. Don't be a tattler.

Nobody likes a tattler.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Seems like an ADS to me

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Civil Servant: Sorry. deeply bows

Boss: Unforgiveable! You have damaged our honor! You know what you must do.

Civil Servant: HAI! ritual suicide

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Was the "incident" pre-arranged to promote the brand-new ice cream?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It’s a …joke!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Everybody should first look at their own "house door" before they look at others.

Millions of people are taking a coffee break, having a small talk or eating a small snack during paid working hours.

EVERYONE is doing that!

So first, look at your own "house door", and if you are free of "guilt" then maybe you can complain.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Just how pathetic and boring must your life be for you to make such a complaint?...

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I really don't get why Japanese are so judgmental about what people consume.

The complaint wasn't about what they were eating, it was when. The person was a civil servant (paid by taxes), and the complainant thought they were supposed to be at work.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I really don't get why Japanese are so judgmental about what people consume. I've read articles and experienced it personally that there are certain drinks that are looked down up when consumed in the workplace, such as cola, hence the invention of clear-colored drinks. I also understand that civil servants and other government workers such as police needs to maintain a high bearing compared to others, but this is just unreasonable and even comical. Who cares if a civil servant is seen eating yakitori and beer on a friday night, it's their life.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Less important the snitching and even lesser important to write an article about it. A gossip.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

You couldn’t PAY me to eat that.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites