What would you do?

[canman]

Had a interesting experience last night at the station. I was there to pick up my son, and was waiting outside the main gate. I noticed this person walking around all bundled up, but couldn't tell if it was a guy or girl. Anyway a few seconds later, she comes over and asks if I was American. I said no I'm from Canada, then she said, "can you give me Y690 I'm in the military and there was a mistake and I have to go to Misawa." I didn't have Y690 in change so I gave her Y1000. She took the money, but didn't say thanks or anything, just hustled to the gate area. My wife was shocked that I gave her the money without the girl giving me her name and phone number, but I never thought about it. But what did surprise me was that she said "give me" not lend me, or help me out. I asked some of my students today and they said they would all ask for a name and phone number. Anyway it was only Y1000.

[Greji]

Had a interesting experience last night at the station. I was there to pick up my son, and was waiting outside the main gate. I noticed this person walking around all bundled up, but couldn't tell if it was a guy or girl. Anyway a few seconds later, she comes over and asks if I was American. I said no I'm from Canada, then she said, "can you give me Y690 I'm in the military and there was a mistake and I have to go to Misawa." I didn't have Y690 in change so I gave her Y1000. She took the money, but didn't say thanks or anything, just hustled to the gate area. My wife was shocked that I gave her the money without the girl giving me her name and phone number, but I never thought about it. But what did surprise me was that she said "give me" not lend me, or help me out. I asked some of my students today and they said they would all ask for a name and phone number. Anyway it was only Y1000.

I'm assuming you were somewhere like Hachinohe, but I would have probably done it too. But, being ex-military, I probably would have been less bashfull about asking for a little more about her and why she was there will no dust to get back and at least, found a touch more about her.

However, being non-military, I could see where you're coming from.

Still that embarasses me from the US and from the military point of view, that she would act like that.

[jim katta]

name and phone number?? I don't get that request. It's only 1000yen. If you can't afford to give it away, don't lend it, that's my policy. That way, if by some chance you get your money back it feels like a bonus.

If I had been there I probably would not have given her the money. If you want my cash you need to at least pay me the courtesy of laying out your full sob story before I open my wallet. Someone just asking 'hey, yo, gimme some money please' will get a big roll of the eyes and an fat $0 from me.

[canman]

Gboothe you are dead on we were in Hachinohe, and I was thinking about asking more, but then I thought, do I really want to hear a whole song and dance from the girl. And I guess it was her demeanor, she looked a little spooked, and I know how that feels.
As for the name and number Jim, I made a mistake. I should have said my students were surprised she didn't take down my name and number so she could contact me again, to repay me. I told them that in North America I didn't think people would be too keen on giving out that information to someone borrowing money.

[Jack]

I would have given it to her. My first trip to Osaka when KIX opened I was trying to get a train ticket to the city and looked darn confused in front of the ticket machine. This girl noticed me being at a loss. She asked me if I needed help. I said I need to go to Osaka Station. It was something like 700 yen. I only had ichiman yen bills. She said "daijyoubu" and took the coins out of her purse and paid for my train ticket then disappeared.

Yeah, I would have given her the money no questions asked.

[amdg]

Yeah nice one Canman. As you say, I'ts just 1000 yen, and its good for the soul to do random acts of kindness every now an then. Especially for someone who might be freaking out about something. Myself, I've always depended on the kindness of strangers

[Takechanpoo]

In J-manner, we repay for what we received, at least, among the same Japanese. But you Canman are not Japanese, gaijijn, so this female must thought she neednt to repay you. J-doublestandard

[American Oyaji]

I think her asking to give her the money made sense, though the lack of gratitude is disturbing. She probably never would have been able to find you and she was probably trying to get to a train quickly. When you're in the military, sometimes, you've got to be back at the base by a certain time.

But I would have expected at least a mumble of thanks.

[Charles]

Hmm.. I vaguely recall hearing of an obscure law that dates back to the Edo era, something about travelers on the Tokaido Road, that local communities are required to give stranded, penniless (yenless? senless?) travelers a small sum of money to help them continue their travels. I remember hearing about this in a news story about how some nihonjin found out about the law and took advantage of it to travel across Japan almost for free. I'm not sure if this law sprung from an urge to aid those in need, or the urge to keep undesirables moving and out of their community.

[GomiGirl]

I did read somewhere - was it on this forum? - that a foreign guy was making a living or extra pocket money at least by hanging out around Hiroo station and giving foreign some sob story about losing his wallet and could they spare 500yen so he could get home. He said he often targeted women with small children and he made a fortune every day pan-handling like this.

Sounds like this chick was just trying it on.. if that is the case then she is a free loader and you are right to be pissed off - I would be. Get a job and stop begging!!! If she was really genuine then she would have given you more information.

[momotobananaoishii]

She was a ghost...

[ttjereth]

I did read somewhere - was it on this forum? - that a foreign guy was making a living or extra pocket money at least by hanging out around Hiroo station and giving foreign some sob story about losing his wallet and could they spare 500yen so he could get home. He said he often targeted women with small children and he made a fortune every day pan-handling like this.

Sounds like this chick was just trying it on.. if that is the case then she is a free loader and you are right to be pissed off - I would be. Get a job and stop begging!!! If she was really genuine then she would have given you more information.

I met a girl in Germany who made a couple of hundred dollars a day panhandling.

She was kind of cute and would hit people up at stations for handouts. Me and some friends got hit up and got to talking with her, ended up buying her lunch and hearing her whole story. She lived in a nicer apartment than the dorms we were crammed in

[Behan]

I met a panhandler-kind of gaijin on the train on the way to work one day. He was carrying a rabbit in a cage, probably to get attention from women. He was making a big deal about giving up his seat to people standing up, too. But I think that was also a part of his act.
He told me he was sleeping on the beach and had nowhere to say, but between the lines he was telling me to give him money.
Before I got off the train I gave him 1000 yen but later I realized that our whole conversation was part of his plan to get money out of me.
What an idiot, both of us that is.

[Samurai_Jerk]

If she was really genuine then she would have given you more information.

I don't know about that. The longer the story the less I trust a person.

[canman]

SJ, I tend to agree with you. Especially if the story sounds rehearsed. Now maybe I'm an easy mark, but I just don't think I could bring myself to say no to someone asking for such a small amount of money. Now, if she had asked for me to buy her a shinkansen ticket, I would have said no, no matter what sob story she told me.

[yanpa]

One way of putting people on the spot in that kind of situation is offering to buy whatever it is they want for them. In this case, assuming the story held up, I'd also ask some details like name, rank, unit / base or whatever, and put in a written claim to whoever's in charge (on general principles, not because I'd expect a prompt refund).

[Mulboyne]

Canman, you said she looked a little spooked. Like you, I'd rather have given the money and put up with the fact that I might have been scammed rather than not given anything and perhaps abandoned someone in genuine need.

[joshuaism]

Yanpa's got the right idea, I think, though I wouldn't give her the third degree unless she refused your offer to buy a ticket. I'd avoid contacting her command just because they might make a big deal out of nothing and come down on her for acting irresponsible, stupid, or whatever. Hopefully she felt bad enough for screwing up and would know better next time without getting chewed out by her superiors.