Every neighborhood in Japanhas a tiny police station on the corner.One officer. Sometimes two.A room the size of a closet.It is called a koban.He knows the woman who runs the flower shop.He knows which grandfather forgets his way home.He knows the kids on this street by name.When you are lost,he draws you a map by hand.When your bicycle is stolen,he apologizes as if he took it himself.When you drop your wallet,he sometimes calls youbefore you notice it is gone.There are over 6,000 of these tiny boxes across Japan.Other countries build one big stationin the middle of nowhere.Japan puts a lamp above your walking routeand lights it every night.That is the difference.