After visiting the international metropolises of Tokyo and New York within only several months, I couldn’t help but draw comparisons between the two. My thoughts also wandered back to the Shanghai of my memories, where I lived for many years, and to my current home in the Greater Toronto Area. I must admit, these four cities—each the largest in their respective countries—embody differences as vast as the unique cultural identities of their nations.

On our first night in New York, we ventured out in search of food, walking about twenty minutes just to find a bowl of ramen. I am a steadfast noodle enthusiast and an ardent devotee of Japanese ramen, so wherever I travel, I make it a point to seek out a ramen shop. As we wandered the streets past nine o’clock, the nocturnal sky was illuminated by the gleaming lights of towering skyscrapers and our path was flanked by hotels with opulent lobbies visible through vast glass windows. Well-dressed doormen and service staff stood at attention, while the streets bustled with traffic. The ubiquitous scaffolding extending over the sidewalks seemed to frame Manhattan’s particular brand of “vitality”: sleepless skyscrapers, upscale services, bustling streets, and endless construction.

Yet, one thing stood out in Manhattan—something that even drew my eight-year-old son’s attention—the homeless individuals who sleep on the streets everywhere.

In Toronto, we also encounter the homeless, though they are usually found in makeshift tents scattered across parks and grassy areas. But in Manhattan, the homeless seem to rest with a certain calm on bare pavement, often without so much as a mat or newspaper for comfort. They sleep mere inches from passing pedestrians, even at the busiest bus stops, seemingly oblivious to the world around them. And the passersby, in turn, have grown accustomed to their presence.

My son asked why there are so many homeless people in New York. I pondered this deeply. You would never see homeless people in Shanghai or barely see them in Japan, but that doesn’t mean those societies are necessarily wealthier or more comfortable than New York or Toronto. While the reasons behind homelessness are complex and numerous, one observation from my years in Canada stands out: Although every country has its share of homelessness, in North America, their presence is tolerated by society and protected by law.

In China, you won’t find homeless people on the streets, especially not in prominent cities like Shanghai. If someone were to sleep on the street, the city management would swiftly remove them. Public spaces are “protected” for the sake of public perception. Anything that might disturb this image, like the presence of homeless individuals, is not tolerated. Similarly, in Tokyo, we didn’t see any homeless people. I can’t definitively say they don’t exist or fully understand Japanese policy, but from my limited understanding of Japanese society, people in Japan care deeply about how they are perceived by others. Even the homeless might avoid sleeping on the streets in Tokyo, not wanting to disrupt the public’s view. Tokyo’s orderliness stems from the self-discipline of its citizens, while Shanghai’s cleanliness is a result of government regulation and societal acceptance of that regulation.

From another perspective, this phenomenon may highlight the difference between North American individualism and Eastern collectivism. The homeless in North America sleep on the streets without much concern for how they are perceived by others. In contrast, in Eastern societies, collective interests often take precedence over individual rights.

(To be continuing)