Japanese Work Principles to Emulate

How to pay for petrol in Japan

If you have a car in Japan, you might know how to fill up at a petrol station. Most petrol stations in Japan are self-service, with no staff serving, so you have to fill up and pay by yourself. The payment system also varies, some are cash, some are pre-paid, some are with a credit card system.

Pre-paid card

To fill up with petrol, I always use a pre-paid card, where I always top up the money on the card. Because it is in the same shape as a credit card or ATM card, it is very vulnerable to being lost/dropped off.

One day, when I was hurry on something, after filling up my gas tank, without realising it, I dropped the card at a petrol station near my house. I completely forgot about it until it was time to fill up again. I searched everywhere but couldn't find it. I gave up and let go of the remaining balance on the card. (The card can be used by anyone because it does not use a PIN)

While filling up at my regular petrol station, I was approached by a friendly staff member who seemed to be making sure I was filling up correctly. I was asked,

Staff: ‘What system do you use for payment? Do you have a (pre-paid) card? I'll give you one, it's free’.That was the start of an amazing conversation that ended with a super happy ending.

Me: ‘Yes, I actually have a card, but I lost it, I've looked everywhere but I can't find it. I still have about 4000 yen left’.

Suddenly the staff's face lit up,

Staff: ‘I see. And by the way, when did you lose it? A month ago? Wait a minute, I will be back‘.He went to his office as if to get something. And came back with a piece of paper with a card.Smiling, he handed the card to me, and I shouted happily.

Me: ‘Yes! This is mine! This is my name!’ (I had written my name and signature on the back of the card).

Staff: ‘Then, to make sure this card is yours, show me your ID card’.

Then after showing the driving lisence card, and confirming that the card was mine, he handed it to me. Alhamdulillah, Allah is good.

Two moral messages from this experience

Two moral messages that I got here. A few days earlier I donated something, without demanding anything back. So I am even more convinced, fortune has indeed been arranged by Him. Don't hesitate to give / let go of something, because if it's yours, something that you have given up / let go on something, will come back to you. It is not only cash, it may be blessings of health, safety, and happiness, etc.

Another lesson was the honesty and integrity of the staff working at the petrol station. Although he said: ‘I was on duty at the time and found the card’, it still seems to me that people who work in Japan are sincere and dedicated and do not immediately “blinded” when they find valuable items falling. Thank you Sir, stay healthy and may you be blessed with abundance of fortune and happiness.