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Journalism of Courage
Japan is synonymous with cleanliness and hygiene, with public spaces such as trains, parks, and streets remarkably clean. On the other hand, India has been widely criticised over trash flying across roads, commuters littering, and more. Recently, a Japanese creator criticised an elderly street vendor making egg toast in Kolkata; the video capturing the scene has over two million views.
Sharing the video on X, the creator, who goes by the handle @MyColleagueMio2, wrote, “Could your stomach handle this hygiene? An elderly man makes egg toast at a Kolkata street stall. I, as a Japanese, couldn’t handle.”
The viral video shows the street vendor slicing a toast and roasting it on a traditional chulha. He goes on to crack an egg and prepare an omelette without using hand gloves while fanning the chulha. The surroundings of the food stall look seemingly soiled.
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With over two million views, the video prompted widespread debate. Several users mocked Indian street food, highlighting the lack of hygiene followed by street vendors, while many lauded the older man’s hard work. “OK, the food doesn’t look tasty or clean. But I would probably eat it just because he is a hard-working dude. And I have a pretty strong stomach,” a user wrote.
“Average Indian stomachs are built for this; else, we’ll need vitamin supplements to remain healthy,” another user commented. “Whatever anyone says about Indian’s, they clearly have quite incredible immune systems,” a third user reacted.
In October, a video showing a juice vendor using a cloth to clean his private parts and then using the same cloth to hold utensils at his stall in Dehrahun sparked widespread outrage. According to reports, the vendor was detained and his cart was seized after the video went viral.
