On the other side of the equation, what do non-Japanese think of this Japanese custom of punctuality? We asked non-Japanese people living in Japan. “Mail and parcels came punctually during the specified hours and that surprised me at first,” said one Canadian man. “Japanese people arrive at least 15 minutes before the agreed time. If you are only a little bit late, they look cross. I can’t understand why they get so upset, just over someone being late,” commented one Korean woman.