Traveling on trains in Japan is a unique and interesting experience, for some it is a daily routine. You have probably noticed distinct groups of people with notable characteristics. With that in mind, in this article we are going to talk about some types of people you find on trains in Japan.
Table of Content
Train sleepers - Inemuri
Can we start by talking about the most notable one, the sleeping beauty. It's part of the culture to sleep on trains, but some end up lying down and taking up several seats. The Japanese can sleep both standing and sitting, so someone might end up leaning their head on your shoulder.
They sleep in every way, in various strange and funny positions, others sleep with their mouths open and rarely does anyone end up on the floor. The most interesting thing is that they always wake up at the correct station and go on their way home or to work. This practice is called inemuri.
the sumimasens
It doesn't matter if you're on a train or not, you'll always find them. Even if the train is spacious and empty, they find some way to bump into each other, whether by grabbing the door when getting in and out.
One way or another, because of their respect etiquette, sometimes the person doesn’t even touch you and already says sumimasen which means excuse me, sorry, pardon.
They catch you by surprise and discreetly make you move from your place. On the other hand, there are those who não se movem from their place waiting for you to ask for permission.
The phone junkies on the trains
You won't find anyone talking on the phone on trains in Japan, but they never put down their cell phones. They live looking at the screen browsing websites, watching anime, reading and talking on Line.
You may bump into them, give them a tap on the head, and some won't even notice. Standing, sitting, or sleeping, the phones never leave the hands of these japoneses. The painful part was seeing several watching animes on anitube, the precious site that was banned in Brazil and is only functioning in Japan. T.T
Japanese train freaks
The famous perverts do everything to see a panty, even if it doesn't take so much effort. They take advantage of the full train to hump in high school, and unfortunately the victims don't do or say anything.
At one time or another someone is arrested for tousing the clown's hair. There are not only perverted men, I don't know if it's innocence or naughtiness, but some schoolgirls with their short skirts, spread their legs in front of us like there's no tomorrow.
The noisy ones on trains in Japan
Some people imagine that since you can't use your phone on the train so as not to make noise, the journey must be silent. Unless you come across a group of high school girls or a noisy clique. They don't talk quietly, they scream! They talk non-stop and don't care about anyone.
If anyone tries to get these young people's attention, they end up getting even angrier. The situation only gets more embarrassing and nobody does anything. At one time or another you will see people talking loudly on the train, not everyone realizes they are talking loudly, this is natural.
This seat is mine
It is normal to find pregnant women or elderly people standing on the train. Despite the existence of priority seats, when a Japanese person sits, it is difficult for them to get up before their station arrives. Some even think about giving up their seat, but the shame of both parties gets in the way.
When someone thinks about leaving the place for the elderly woman to sit, she simply stands. And another young man ends up sitting in the place, I've tried to do it discreetly but the elderly prefer to stand up to imagine that they are young.
The antisocials on Japanese trains
The vast majority of Japanese people on trains do not communicate, shyness prevails during travel and the possibility of meeting unknown people. Nobody takes the initiative and even if you do, the conversation doesn't usually flow easily.
In reality, the Japanese are afraid of socializing, especially if you are a foreigner, they are afraid of being close to you and not knowing how to communicate and help because of the difference in language. Although no one says anything, the Japanese keep staring at each other, and it's not just foreigners, they stare, especially those of opposite sexes.
These were some of the types of people you meet on trains. There are other interesting types and characteristics that we can find during our life traveling on trains in Japan, if you remember any, comment! Thanks for sharing, we recommend reading too:
