So I just finished my 'battle' with NHK-man again. I mentioned in the comments before that he'd come over again to my apartment last night while I was hiding from him, and after giving up ringing the doorbell, he dropped an english version of the NHK bylaw pamphlet in my mailslot. I found hiding wasn't going to deter this dude. So tonight, he came a knockin' again at 8:30ish, wearing his smart suit/tie with yellow jacket, and a determined look on his face. He pulled out another copy of the pamphlet, but I told him that I'd already read the pamphlet. Luckily, the pamphlet didn't have corresponding Japanese beside the most important part, which said that anyone owning a TV must pay regardless of watching or not watching NHK. So he couldn't point at what he wanted to communicate. He kept asking if I HAVE a TV, which I never directly answered, but at one point I just said 'NO TV'. He then had the suspicious look of 'oh you don't have a TV? Why?'. I knew this guy was too savvy to go for that, so then I used the ol' confusion ploy and just talked a lot, said I didn't understand the law, I mostly just watch videos, and watch TV sometimes but definitely not NHK (which is mostly true), and always used a tone of reasoning, never anger or frustration. By the end, he had the look of defeat, and I said sorry, and he said, 'thanks', stuck out his hand and we shook. Maybe he thought, "Good fight my friend. Maybe we will meet again.", and went off into the pouring rain. I actually felt sorry for him... for a second. Then I realized I saved myself from paying over 14,000 yen over the course of the year! Phew. Hopefully that'll be the last time I see him or any other of the gestapo. Actually I wish I paid him with the tons of 1 yens I have just to get rid of them, but he wasn't that much of an asshole for me to be able to do it. Maybe if there's another NHK man...



..and on that note, (even though it's not the same situation) here's an exerpt from Seinfeld:

Plaza Cable guy at Kramer's door, exhausted. Leaning against the
doorpost. After having chased Kramer across Manhattan.

(knock knock)

Alright I know you're in there, I know you can hear me. You win, okay?
You win!

I can't do it anymore...

What do you want from me? Apology?

All right. I am sorry... There! I said it! I am sorry, I am sorry... I
see now how we made you feel. How we made you sit home, waiting..

I don't know why we do it, maybe we just kind of enjoy taking advantage
of people!

All that is gonna change. From now on no more nine to twelve, no more
one to five. We're gotta have appointments.

Eleven o'clock is gonna mean eleven o'clock and if we can't make it
we're gonna call you... To tell you why..

For God's sake! If a doctor can do it, why can't we..

Anyway, that's it...

(Kramer opens door)
I am sorry boy..
(embraces the Plaza Cable guy)