Being Autistic in Japan

Japan is a lovely place. For a relatively small country geographically, it packs a punch at all levels from the majestic mountains and the bountiful nature to the technological and engineering innovations that make daily living so much easier to its kind and good natured population that is so respectful and courteous to each other. I have had such a positive experience visiting the country for a relatively short period of two weeks.

One of the fascinating things for me to observe is how orderly most things are. There is hardly anything out of turn, not a step out of line in a queue at the grocery store, not a movement out of line in the train and barely an extra sound anywhere. This seems to be the social order that everyone is comfortable with or have gotten used to, including some small children.

This left me reflecting on the state of those like me, those with unruly bodies that do not play to the order one’s own mind has, leave alone the society. I struggled in public places, particularly in trains, to conform. As hard as I tried, I could notice that my body made some cringe and a few outrightly annoyed. I wondered if they would have seen anyone stim or know how important stimming is for autistic people to process the sensory overload that some of the advancements, technological or otherwise, bring. 

I really longed to see a few others like me on the train or in other public places. I wanted to see how they managed their unruly and unreliable bodies in public. And how society reacted to that. Maybe I did see them but did not notice? Or maybe they are not out much in public to maintain the social order? Questions I will continue to ponder as we get ready to leave.