
Quick-thinking senior puts what he learned at his old job to use one more time.
A lot of senior citizens get up pretty early, including, apparently, Hiromitsu Senba. The 86-year-old resident of Warabi, Saitama Prefecture, was up and out of bed at around 5:40 a.m. on the morning of Monday, June 5, when he spotted something unusual: someone was sitting in the road near his house.
He saw that it was a young woman in her 20s with her head slumped forward onto her knees. Intoxicated and passed out, she’d apparently been partway home from a night of drinking when all the alcohol caught up to her, and she soon slid onto her side, lying in the lane cars drive down.
A less compassionate senior might have grumbled about the sloppy irresponsibility of kids these days, but not Senba. Instead, he went back into his house, took out some traffic cones, and set them up in the street to alert drivers that there was someone collapsed in the lane and that they needed to slow down and go around her. After placing a call for emergency medical services, Senba, who used to work as a security guard and seems to still own some equipment related to the job, grabbed a light-up baton from his house and stood in the street waving it and directing traffic until help arrived.
“I didn’t want her to get hit by a car if I just left her there like she was when I found her,” Senba said. “Young people are the ones who are going to take care of the future, so I wanted to help her.”
The woman was later safely reunited with her family, and on June 13 Senba was presented with a certificate of commendation from the Saitama Prefectural Police’s Warabi precinct.
Source: Yomiuri Shimbun via Livedoor News via Jin
Top image: Pakutaso
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

81-year-old Japanese man leaps into river to save drowning 86-year-old woman
Japanese train travel isn’t all packed cars and gropers, old man’s flash-formed relay team proves
Japanese “street racer” grannie takes mobility scooter into street, blocks traffic, doesn’t care
Japanese woman arrested for cyberstalking elderly man twice her age
Massive manga collaboration bringing 100 years of Shueisha manga to Uniqlo T-shirts【Photos】
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Canned cuteness as Hello Kitty and friends kick off Can Chara capsule toy line【Photos】
Majority of Japanese women in survey regret marrying their husband, but that’s only half the story
New adults go wild at Seijinshiki Coming-of-Age ceremony in Kitakyushu, Japan 【Photos】
Is Mario’s Birdo a boy or a girl? Years after her first appearance, the debate rages on
Tokyo day-trip hot springs: Beautiful Mt. Fuji-view bath is just one highway bus stop from Shibuya
Why Sensoji temple in Asakusa is better at night
What’s inside Starbucks Japan’s fukubukuro lucky bag for 2026?
Senkoji: The Japanese temple that’s more like a theme park to heaven and hell
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.
Japanese women showing rebounding interest in giving Valentine’s Day chocolate【Survey】
Totoro cream puffs and Catbus cookies are finally available in downtown Tokyo
Princess Mononoke magnets return just in time to treat yourself to awesome anime decorations
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
82-year-old Japanese man arrested for driving without license, says he had one 60 years ago
Japanese video 18-Year-Old Grandpa has important, moving message behind its silly-sounding title
54-year-old Japanese woman stops armed robbery at her convenience store with her brute strength
Mysterious Japanese woman gives one million yen in cash to man she’s never met, then disappears
Elderly Japanese couple’s cute restaurant anecdote brings smiles and “d’aww”s to the table
Elderly woman drives at speed on sidewalk in Japan 【Video】
89-year-old Japanese man rides bike 600 kilometers to visit his 61-year-old son
79-year-old Japanese granny who fell in love with Initial D sports car finds perfect new owner【Vid】
Japanese teen saves elderly woman’s home from fire, credits love of anime for his heroism
82-year-old woman fights off bear in Japan: “I sent him flying”
Japanese woman finds out fiance she met when he “found” her lost phone is the man who stole it
Japanese gyaru-turned-mom is more concerned with making her son a gentleman than a scholar
Japanese woman wants office romance but has no job, figures out how to make her dream come true
Random man attempts to punch female reporter on Tokyo street【Video】
Pregnant woman takes teen boys to task for calling their friend “lame” for offering her his seat
Leave a Reply