On the 11th, a memoir by a Chinese resident in Japan detailing their experience of being hospitalized in a Japanese hospital was published on China's social media platform, Xiaohongshu (RED).

According to the poster, this incident happened several years ago when they had just started studying abroad in Japan and could barely speak Japanese. On that day, they were taking the train to school as usual, but suddenly felt unwell on the way, and their vision went blank. Although they hesitated, wondering "Should I get off at the next station?", their body reacted first, and they stepped out as soon as the door opened. They tried to get outside the station but couldn't endure it and sat down right there.

They were on the verge of losing consciousness, but people rushed over one after another, asking, "Are you okay?", "What happened?", "Are you feeling unwell?", "Should we call an ambulance?". Eventually, someone contacted a station attendant, who then called an ambulance. The poster revealed their emotion about this moment, saying, "Even now, thinking back, I feel like crying."

Upon arriving at the hospital, they underwent several examinations. The poster was simply sitting in a wheelchair, and nurses pushed the wheelchair to every examination room. They said they were wearing canvas shoes that day, but the nurses took them off and put them back on for each examination. The poster reflected, "At the time, my consciousness was hazy, and I couldn't express it, but every time I recall it, a desire to convey my gratitude wells up."

After the examinations, they were admitted overnight for observation. The nurses arranged everything, and the poster was transferred directly to a hospital bed and received an IV drip. The poster wrote sentimentally, "From beginning to end, not a single person asked for money, nor was I rushed through any procedures."

The next day, they were able to be discharged and were guided to the reception desk. However, the poster only had a public transport IC card and their residence card. Feeling apologetic, they said, "May I go home and get money? I'll bring it right away," to which the staff member at the counter replied calmly, "Don't worry, it's alright. Please go home and rest slowly. It's fine if you bring the money another time. And don't forget to bring your health insurance card too."

The poster recalled the situation, stating, "There was no irritation from the staff, no urging, and no pressure like 'make sure to bring it next time.' It was a very normal, usual tone, as if such things were not uncommon," and added, "I've been hospitalized twice in Japan, and each time I felt a sense of security."

Furthermore, they concluded, "Of course, here (in Japan), I also encountered unpleasant people, experienced discrimination, was unilaterally verbally abused without knowing the reason, or was suddenly bumped into on the street. However, these various experiences are one of the reasons why I am currently agonizing over 'whether to stay in Japan or return home'."

In response to this post, Chinese internet users commented, "That's certainly true. Being hospitalized in Japan is really no different from staying in a hotel and receiving services," "What the poster says is true. I also had a similar experience before," "This is a civilized, advanced country. It's different from a developing country," "Japan really is human-centered in these aspects," "Me too. I received a lot of kindness in Japan," and "This is a society with mutual trust."

There were also comments such as, "Japanese medical care is safe even for singles. Even without family, nurses take care of you. I haven't been hospitalized in (China) domestically, but I think family probably has to take care of you," and "Chinese hospitals are truly bad. There aren't enough patient rooms, so beds are lined up even in the corridors. Attendants sleep in the corridors and on stairs. If you don't have money, you won't get treated for your illness. When your deposit runs low, doctors urge you to 'put more money in'."

Furthermore, personal experiences were shared, such as, "I was also hospitalized in Japan, but no deposit was taken. My discharge day was a public holiday, so I couldn't complete the payment procedures, but they just sent me home saying, 'Next time you come is fine'," and "Previously, when my parents visited Japan, my father suffered a cerebral infarction and was hospitalized for 1 month. No deposit whatsoever was taken, and all treatment costs were paid upon discharge. My father, who had never praised Japan before, still says, 'Japan was really different from what I imagined.' He says there's no need to pay money upfront like in China, the hospital food was delicious, and there was no need for family to accompany him and take care of his personal needs."

Additionally, comments included, "China won't catch up in 100 years. During examinations at (Chinese) hospitals, they rushed me to change clothes as if shooing away a dog, even though no one was waiting in line," "Regarding medical care, Japan is truly wonderful. For gynecological ultrasounds, the gel is warmed, and after the examination, you are guided to a separate room where you can slowly wipe your body with a towel before changing. Domestically, you're just handed toilet paper right there," and "A few days ago, I collapsed due to hypoglycemia while walking in a Japanese town. A staff member from a nearby shop came out, gave me an ice pack and candy, and called an ambulance. The male ambulance crew members also responded patiently, and when they realized there was no major problem, they left without charging me. The shop staff even offered to drive me home afterward (tears)." (Translation/Editing / Kitada)