Today I broke a vase.
This could have been a pretty big deal, as dishes and pottery in Japan are not something to be taken lightly. Most places require you to handwash all articles, and some places with especially nice pieces only allow the owner to wash them. This is taken to the extent that there are professional dishwashers in Japan that deal with old or famous pieces. Japan is unlike most of the world in that, with expensive dishes, each piece is handcrafted and not a duplicate. Often tea people will have pieces dating back hundreds of years that they keep stored and only bring out when special tea ceremonies are held.
Luckily my boss is pretty laid-back and the vase turned out to not be so expensive. (I put it in front of an open window and a strong gust blew it off the sill.) In another place, this could have cost me my job.
Near the end of my shift, Fugu Senpai gave me a piece of fish to practice slicing and I got tips from him and Soba Master. That would have never never never happened in most places. I'm really lucky to be where I am.
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