Tokyo has an unmanned, honor-system electronics and appliance shop

High-Trust vs Low-Trust Societies

• Many see Japan as a paradigmatic high-trust society where unmanned shops can work; several wish similar systems could exist in “low-trust” countries.
• Others argue you get “high-trust enclaves” inside low-trust societies (college campuses, community centers, rural areas, wealthy districts).
• Some doubt that US colleges are truly high-trust, citing high petty theft.

Examples of Honor Systems Worldwide

• Multiple anecdotes from rural US, New Zealand, Sweden, Germany, Pakistan, and UK: roadside stands, farm produce, crafts, firewood, and bus self-check systems often work reasonably well.
• Theft happens, but at a scale small enough that systems remain viable.
• Contrast is drawn with urban areas where even guarded shops or locked goods (e.g., baby formula) are common.

Immigration, Diversity, and History

• One line of argument: high trust erodes with large-scale immigration or strong cultural mixing; Japan’s low immigration and social homogeneity are seen as protective.
• Counterexamples are raised (e.g., Switzerland, Denmark) where significant, but often highly vetted, immigration coexists with relatively high trust.
• Some suggest destruction of traditional cultures via colonialism contributes to low trust; others challenge this as an incomplete explanation.

Policing, Justice Systems, and Deterrence

• Japanese low incarceration rate but extremely high conviction rate sparks debate.
• Explanations include: prosecutors only bringing “ironclad” cases vs. criticism of “hostage justice” (long detentions, coerced confessions).
• Comparisons with the US: longer sentences, heavy reliance on plea deals, overloaded courts.
• Several emphasize that certainty of detection and punishment, more than severity, is a key deterrent.

Technology, Surveillance, and the Tokyo Store

• Some point out the “honor” shop uses facial recognition and multiple cameras, likening it to Amazon-style monitored retail.
• Others argue this level of security is now common in Western supermarkets, yet outcomes differ due to culture, enforcement, and police/insurance follow-up.
• View that such shops require both low baseline criminality and credible response to theft.

Culture, Shame, and Economic Conditions

• Shame, social norms, and desire to be seen as a “good citizen” are cited as powerful self-policing forces.
• Improved economic stability and reduced inequality are linked, in anecdotes, to falling petty crime and greater everyday trust.