
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
The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows
Japanese hair salons going bankrupt in record numbers
Beard Papa goes beyond just matcha with its new premium green tea cream puffs
Samurai Coffee: Try Edo period coffee once enjoyed by Japanese warriors
Uniqlo’s high-end sunglasses are a fashion minefield for anyone who isn’t Mr. Sato
Studio Ghibli releases crystal glass paperweights featuring Totoro and the Catbus
Eating cheap sushi in a narrow building in Tokyo is an adventure for bold diners
Hayao Miyazaki’s Whisper of the Heart concept art revealed in new Ghibli illustration book
Is Mister Donut’s all-you-can-eat Donut Buffet still worth it?
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
Studio Ghibli releases new anime keychains that are like miniature figurines
Dorayaki from 89-year-old Japanese confectionery shop is one of the best sweets hidden in Tokyo
Retro-style Evangelion T-shirts coming to Uniqlo sister brand GU[Photos]
Sega opening 65th anniversary store in downtotn Tokyo with deep-cut game merch
Viral tweet suggests Japanese convenience store ripping off customers with donuts, so we investigate
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
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
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
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
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