The voice on the other end of the line was shrill. "Your gardener needs to cut the tree," said a woman whose English was clearly not her first language. I had no idea what she was talking about.
Tea Leaves
What a tree taught me about Japan's changing society
A misunderstanding highlights struggles, and lessons, amid rising diversity
People cross a street in Tokyo's Shibuya area in July. Japan's overall population is declining but the number of foreign residents is on the rise. © Getty Images
Read Next
.jpg?width=700&fit=cover&gravity=faces&dpr=2&quality=medium&source=nar-cms&format=auto&height=394)
Latest on Tea Leaves
