■Nathan Shiga: December 2

A white cross and a heart on the red square – have you ever noticed that mark? Perhaps not so often but you might have if you are attentive. It’s called Help Mark – the mark that tells you that its bearer needs your help. It’s an official mark with the Olympics 1000 days away. So. folks, watch out for the mark and, should you spot one, you should know what to do.

The Help Mark was coined by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government five years ago with a view to introducing a way for some people to tell others around that they are the carriers of “risks” – ‘some people’ who have trouble with their heart, kidney, and other internal organs or those with immune failures. People with artificial legs and joints, cancers, and dysgnosia, or recognition difficulties, might carry the Help Mark without you folks noticing it. So, let’s watch out for the mark.

The Help Mark tag is issued by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and available free of charge. The tag has a space on the backside to say what’s wrong with its carrier – like “I’m hard of hearing and need a pen and paper to communicate with you”, etc. There are a few lines ready-drawn there to indicate the carrier’s personal data, his or her doctor in charge, family particulars, etc.

Tokyo’s initiative has prompted other municipalities to follow suit and some 13 prefectures, including Hokkaido, Aomori, Kanagawa, Gifu, Osaka, Hiroshima, etc., now have their own versions of the Help Mark by the end of October.

What should we do when we spotted the marks? The Metropolitan government has a 3-point guideline to tell you what to do. It says 1.
to offer your seat to the Help Mark carrier on the bus and train, 2. to say a few words of courtesy to each Help Mark carrier at the train station, at shopping centers, etc. and 3. to help the carriers safely evacuate in the emergency.

So, there it is. We now have one more sign to watch out beside SOS: Help Mark. Watch out, folks.

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