Reading time: about 4 minutes
Who this is for
- People who feel uncomfortable with door-to-door sales or phone solicitations
- Those who regret not being able to say no when they were younger
- Anyone concerned about recent home repair scams
- People who want to avoid unnecessary trouble involving their home or money
Conclusion
When someone suddenly comes to you with an offer,
ignoring it is usually the right choice.
Something felt off about “We’re working nearby…”
Not long ago, a man suddenly came to my house in Sagamihara.
He said he was doing roof painting work nearby.
“Your roof looks a little damaged.
Since we’re close, I could take a look for you.”
I was honestly startled.
You don’t usually stare at your own roof, do you?
Part of me thought, “Is it really broken?”
and another part panicked, “What if it is?”
He sounded kind, but something didn’t sit right.
To be honest, he looked a bit intimidating.
Work clothes, strong tone — not necessarily a bad person,
but I didn’t feel comfortable letting him inside.
Also…
Were they really working “nearby”?
Sagamihara is big.
It felt too much like a convenient excuse.
So I said,
“I need to talk to my wife before deciding.”
A weak excuse, maybe — but it worked.
Looking back, I’m convinced that was the right decision.
When I couldn’t say no to newspaper sales
This wasn’t my first experience.
When I was younger, a newspaper salesman came to my door.
I opened it just a little — chain still on.
The moment I loosened it,
he shoved his foot between the door.
Two intimidating men stood there.
I froze.
Before I knew it,
I had signed contracts for two newspapers.
Two.
Even now I laugh bitterly and think,
“How many newspapers did they think I could read?”
I had just moved to the Kanto area back then.
Not even Tokyo proper — but still,
I remember thinking, “Wow… this place is scary.”
Every morning when two papers arrived,
my mood sank a little more.
I canceled them quickly,
but that fear is still vivid.
“Just listen” — a religious solicitation
There was also a religious invitation.
“Just listen.”
“There’ll be snacks and videos.”
Looking back, it was obviously suspicious.
But I was young, alone, and new to the area.
Honestly… I was bored.
Yes — a single man lured by snacks and videos.
Pretty innocent, right? (laughs)
I don’t remember the content of the video at all.
What I do remember is sitting in a small room thinking,
“Am I actually going to get home?”
After that, people kept coming to my apartment.
Every time the intercom rang,
I felt exhausted just hearing it.
“Come to Shinjuku” — the phone call I’ll never forget
One phone solicitation stands out.
I don’t even remember what it was about.
But I clearly remember this:
“Could you come to Shinjuku once?”
I was living in Sagamihara,
so technically it wasn’t that far.
But why would I go somewhere
without even knowing what it was about?
I didn’t go.
When I finally said,
“I’ve decided not to go,”
the caller suddenly exploded in anger
and hung up.
That moment genuinely scared me.
Once again, I thought: Tokyo is terrifying.
From phone books to smartphones
Before smartphones were common,
every house had a landline.
Phone books with names, addresses, and numbers
were freely distributed.
During dinner — always during dinner —
unknown numbers would ring.
Looking back,
we were incredibly exposed.
Different forms, same pattern
Roof inspections.
Newspaper sales.
Religious visits.
Mysterious phone calls.
Different forms — but the same tactics:
- They create anxiety
- They pressure you to decide immediately
- Their attitude changes when you refuse
I’ve never had a good experience
with something that came to me unsolicited.
If anything,
I just got better at saying no. (laughs)
What I think now, in my 50s
When I was younger, I worried:
- “Is it rude to refuse?”
- “Am I being unkind?”
Now I know:
protecting yourself matters more.
Anyone who suddenly shows up saying,
“You need this right now,”
has never been right in my life.
Scams are increasing.
And sometimes, just knowing about them helps.
When you think,
“Ah, this is one of those,”
you can step back and stay calm.
Final thoughts
If I could speak to my younger self, I’d say:
- “It’s okay to say no.”
- “It’s okay not to answer.”
- “It’s okay not to open the door.”
If you feel scared, that feeling is already your answer.
And one more thing:
You don’t need to go to Shinjuku. (laughs)
Staying home, doing nothing,
and having a quiet day —
that’s happiness.
Thank you for reading.
🔗 Related Articles
- I Quit All My Insurance — What I Believe Is Truly Necessary Now
→ A personal reflection on preparedness —
not driven by fear, but by conscious choice.- A 50-Something Man Pauses in Front of a Supermarket Price Tag
→ A quiet moment in everyday life that led me to
stop, think, and reconsider money in an age of inflation.- A Family of Four Pays Just ¥4,500 a Month — Cutting Smartphone Costs to Prepare for the Future
→ A practical example of reducing fixed expenses
to protect everyday life and long-term stability.
コメント