Being left-handed means running into small, everyday "that's so me" moments — things that right-handed people would probably never notice.
This illustrated series, Left-Handed Life in Japan: A Manga Series, captures those little slices of daily life in comic form. We hope you find yourself nodding along.
After soup ladles and writing, our third installment takes us somewhere many people in Japan pass through every day: the ticket gate.
At train stations in Japan, the card reader sits on the right side of the gate. For someone holding their card or phone in their left hand, a simple tap becomes a small reach across the body. Cross your arm, tap, walk through. Do it again on the way home.
It's hardly a major inconvenience. But when you make that same little movement every day, you can't help noticing that the gate seems to expect everyone to be right-handed.
And it isn't just train stations. Card readers on buses and QR code scanners at cinemas can bring on the same familiar reach. Different places, same small left-handed adjustment.
One workaround? If you use a smartwatch with a compatible transit card, try wearing it on your right wrist. That puts the watch on the same side as the reader, so you can tap without crossing your arm. A small change that can make the daily routine a little smoother.
That's how it is here in Japan. How about where you live? Are the readers on the right side too? Tell us in the comments — we'd love to hear about the little adjustments you make.
More volumes coming soon.
Previously in the series
Vol. 1: The Soup Ladle
Vol. 2: Writing
Illustrated by Haru Kawase
Manga artist and illustrator. Based in Japan. Debut work: "Three Mysterious Days to Get Myself Back" (2021). Also known for "Good Morning, Tail" and "Kumasaki-san" (Bungeishunju). Left-handed.
@kawase_haru on Instagram
