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Driving through chaos, waiting in traffic jams, or hopping onto crowded trains, these are everyday sights in India. Yet, amidst the madness, laughter and chatter are never far away. That sense of joy, even in chaos, became the focus of a man’s thoughtful post, where he compared India’s cheerful energy with Japan’s structured yet stressed-out society. The user on X (formerly Twitter) shared that his reflections came after visiting Tokyo earlier this year. While the city amazed him with its order and modern comfort, he noticed something missing: happiness. ‘Perfect Society But Stressed People’ In his post, the man wrote that happiness cannot be bought; it is a state of mind. “I know this feels counterintuitive given bad roads, crazy traffic, crowded trains and long working hours. But at the risk of being hated for this opinion-let me give it a shot,” he said. He explained that Tokyo seemed like “a perfect society” with punctual trains, cheap food, endless parks, and entertainment options. Yet, he said, the people looked “stressed and tired.” “They haven’t seen salary growth in decades. Many are so lonely they haven’t had human interaction in months or years,” he added, claiming that the price of perfection is a life spent working without joy or ambition. ‘India Has Chaos But Smiling Faces’ The man then drew a comparison with India, pointing out that despite the traffic, noise, and challenges, Indians often find ways to stay happy. “Here, you’ll see kids playing on the street, aunties hanging out, and people chatting in chai shops. People don’t tie their happiness to purely material well-being,” he wrote. He added that foreigners have long noticed this trait, that even those with little find reasons to smile. “Many of us may not understand it because for us, this is simply how life has always been,” he shared, ending his post with a simple line: “Happiness is indeed a state of mind.” He concluded, “The Dalai Lama was once asked – what is the most unique thing about India? He answered that labourers who construct buildings and live in slums nearby never consider robbing or attacking the rich people who will occupy those homes.” Check his post here: I know this feels counterintuitive given bad roads, crazy traffic, crowded trains and long working hours. But at the risk of being hated for this opinion – let me give it a shot. I was in Tokyo earlier this year – it has every luxury imaginable of a first world country – yet… https://t.co/xCNWk0CZQJ — Hardik Rajgor (@Hardism) November 7, 2025 Social Media Weighs In The post, shared on November 7, received over 3 lakh views and sparked plenty of reactions. Agreeing with the thought, a user wrote, “Happiness ain’t got much to do with fancy roads or shiny metros. It’s about human warmth and connection.” Another commented, “It’s not counterintuitive at all.” A person added, “My mum has been to many countries. Japan was her worst experience.” Sharing a similar story, another wrote, “When we were in Tokyo, I opened a packet of bhujiya on the bus. The crackle sound made everyone look at us. That much noise is unusual for them!”
