On May 31, 2026, a post titled "I used to think Japanese people were always cold" was made on China's SNS Xiaohongshu (RED), garnering a reaction from Chinese netizens.

The poster wrote: "Just now, when I was on the train, a man suddenly had a severe nosebleed. Blood fell onto the floor, but he quietly wiped it by himself, looking down. Those around him didn't notice what had happened and just thought he was wiping the floor. I was sitting opposite him and was the first to notice something was wrong. I had wet wipes, but for some reason, I didn't have the courage to offer them. Everyone around him was looking down, and no one seemed to look at him. A strong atmosphere of 'it's better not to interfere with others' pervaded the area."

On the other hand, the poster explained: "After that, a young woman suddenly knelt on the floor and, while wiping the nosebleed on the floor, gently asked him, 'Are you alright?' At that moment, it was as if a switch had been flipped in the train car's atmosphere. Everyone started looking at him; some offered tissues, others offered wet wipes. I, too, hastily handed over the wet wipes I had been hesitant to give. Furthermore, I emptied the bag from when I bought asparagus at lunchtime and handed it to him to put the blood-stained tissues in."

The poster stated: "At that moment, I suddenly realized something. In many cases, people are not cold at all; they are just waiting for someone to take the first step. I realized that goodwill truly spreads from person to person."

Regarding this post, many Chinese netizens expressed views such as, "That's actually true. Everyone doesn't have ill will; they have goodwill. It's just that sometimes you can't quite predict how the other person will react, so it's difficult to speak up first," and "Japanese people fundamentally prioritize 'not bothering others.' But if asked 'Please help me,' I don't think many people would refuse," indicating a tendency to refrain from active intervention out of consideration for others.

Additionally, opinions considering Japanese values and behavioral principles were observed, such as: "While you can somewhat predict reactions from people of other countries, it's quite difficult to read the true feelings and thoughts of Japanese people," and "I think the fundamental values of Japanese people are 'not wanting to stand out' and 'not wanting to bother others.' So, if they judge that the other person can solve it themselves, they don't offer much help. Of course, everyone is different, so there are both cold and kind people. If you encounter a similar situation next time, I think it's perfectly fine to offer help yourself," and "I think Japan is a society with strong conformity pressure. Things that are different tend to be excluded, and this is reflected in clothing, possessions, and even language. Perhaps such values are ingrained in education as well."

On the other hand, voices questioning the image of Japanese people being cold were also seen, such as: "Where did this image of 'Japanese people are cold' come from? The Japanese women I met were all kind regardless of age, and during my trip, two different women approached me at separate times and asked, 'Are you in trouble?'" and "I've never felt that they are cold. I've collapsed on the train and in the restroom before, and they helped me immediately then."

As for specific personal anecdotes, episodes such as: "I think Japanese people are quite kind. When I first went to Japan before, I got lost looking for Don Quijote at Umeda Station, but I mustered up the courage to ask two young women for directions, and they led me directly to the store. I've experienced such small acts of kindness many times," and "Years ago, I got lost in Europe and was in a situation where I had to rush to catch transport, but a Japanese woman approached me and helped me. What's more, she even called her family and arranged for me to be driven by car. I still can't forget that," were posted. (Translated and edited by Iwata)