Regarding Amy Chavez's Feb. 21 column, "Driving in Japan is not for the gullible": Actually, the most dangerous thing about driving in the suburban and rural parts of Japan is the trucks.
While driving on an almost deserted road in central Hokkaido — just us, the cranes and foxes — we slowed down and signaled to make a right-hand turn. As we went to make our turn, the only other vehicle for miles, a truck going God knows where, decided to pass us.
It passed on the right, going three times our speed. Had I not looked over my right shoulder — gee, who does that when they make a turn — we would have all been killed. River banks, hah. Watch out for the truck drivers.
hajime omiya
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