Mafia Tactics: Closure
A few months ago, I shared about an unpleasant encounter with my local jichikai Mafia. The memories that stand out the most are the initial encounter with an elderly man on the street, who insisted I pay a fee for not participating in community cleaning, and the final phone call from the jichikai leader, who told me that leaving wasn’t a decision I could make on my own. He said I had to attend a meeting, present a reason for wanting to leave, and wait for their approval. This contradicted a Japanese Supreme Court ruling, which stated that one could leave such organizations unilaterally at any time. I asked him to put his statement in writing and send it to my address, adding that I was prepared to get a lawyer if necessary. I never heard from him again. I had left a review for Panasonic Homes, the company that owns and manages my apartment, expressing my disappointment in their allowance of such practices. Then, I entrusted the situation to Jesus and moved on with my life. In early December, my doorbell rang. Checking the camera, I saw my neighbor and her daughter. When I answered, they shared the news that no one in our apartment building was required to participate in community cleaning anymore. This wasn’t new information to me—I had already discovered that participation was voluntary since the jichikai is a voluntary organization with no legal power—but I was happy to know they would also be free from it. Unfortunately, no one from the jichikai wanted to inform me directly, so they asked my neighbor to deliver the message. I remember asking God during this ordeal, if my anger was misplaced, to quench it and grant me peace. But if it was justified, I prayed for strength to fight. Through it all, I give God praise and thank Him for His continuous love and support.