I am from NY/Boston and spend half my time in Japan. I have found overall the Japanese are extremely courteous but they will do so much extra for foreigners generally. This is often referred to as gaijin privilege and sometimes I have to admit I take advantage of this when I am in Japan and would like to get a suit tailored, dry cleaning done quickly, an expensive watch fixed (3 dqys rathe rthan 6 weeks), my Apple Computer fixed in Ginza......

On ANA, they have said to me: "We are so sorry Mr. Peloton that the bathroom is occupied, can I get you a cardigan sweater," and when my connecting flight from BOS-JFK was arriving late into Terminal 6 at about the same time the JFK-NRT was departing, I called from the plane the NY office. I found as I was coming up the Terminal 7 escalator, the whole NY check in team waiting for me, they took my bags, and escorted me through security onto the plane which mysteriously was kept at the gate past its departing time.....