Dragging my luggage around while trying to navigate Japan’s public transit system was no small feat—especially when I kept encountering the rigid tiles running right down the middle of the sidewalk. They were everywhere.After losing control of my luggage for the umpteenth time, I exasperatedly said to my wife, “Whose idea was it to put these bumpy tiles right in the middle of the sidewalk?” She responded, “They’re for blind people.” Awkward!That’s when I started taking a closer look and noticed a deliberate pattern. The tiles ran straight down the sidewalk, making turns at corners and intersections, directing visually impaired people to important places like ticket counters and train stops. They were everywhere.These tiles must be a crucial guide for people who
