Traveling on Japan’s trains 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 will talk about some types of people you encounter on Japan’s trains.
Table of Contents
The sleepers on the trains – Inemuri
We can start by talking about the most notable ones, the beautiful sleepers. It is part of the culture to sleep on the 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 resting their head on your shoulder.
They sleep in all sorts of ways, in various strange and funny positions; some 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 continue on their way home or to work. This practice is called inemuri.
The sumimasens
It doesn’t matter if you are on a train or not; you will always encounter them. Even if the train is spacious and empty, they find some way to bump into you, whether by grabbing the door when getting on and off.
Every now and then, because of their respectful etiquette, sometimes the person doesn’t even touch you and already says sumimasen, which means excuse me, pardon me, or may I pass.
They catch you by surprise and discreetly make you move from your spot. On the other hand, there are those who do not move from their place, waiting for you to ask for permission.
The phone addicts on the trains
You won’t find anyone talking on the phone on Japan’s trains, but they never let go of their cell phones. They are constantly looking at the screen, browsing websites, watching anime, reading, and chatting on Line.
You might bump into them, give them a nudge, and some don’t even notice. Whether standing, sitting, or sleeping, the cell phones never leave the hands of these Japanese. The painful part was seeing several watching anime on anitube, the precious site that was banned in Brazil and is only functioning in Japan. T.T
The perverts on Japanese trains
The famous perverts do everything to see a panty, even if they don’t need to make much effort. They take advantage of the crowded train to grind against schoolgirls, and unfortunately, the victims do nothing or say nothing.
Every now and then, someone gets arrested for being inappropriate. There are not only male perverts; I don’t know if it’s innocence or naughtiness, but some schoolgirls with their short skirts open their legs in front of us as if there were no tomorrow.
The loud ones on Japan’s trains
Some imagine that since you can’t use your phone on the train to avoid making noise, the journey must be silent. Unless you come across a group of schoolgirls or a loud clique. They don’t talk discreetly; they shout! They talk non-stop and don’t care about anyone.
If someone tries to get the attention of these young people, they end up getting even angrier. The situation only becomes more awkward, and no one does anything. Every now and then, you will see people talking loudly on the train; not everyone realizes they are speaking loudly; this is something natural.
This seat is mine
It is normal to find pregnant women or elderly people standing on the train. Despite there being priority seats, when a Japanese person sits down, it is difficult for them to get up before their station arrives. Some even think about giving up their seat, but the embarrassment of both parties hinders that.
When someone thinks about getting up to let the elderly person sit, she simply remains standing. And another young person ends up sitting in the spot; I have tried to do this discreetly, but elderly women prefer to stand to imagine they are young.
The anti-socials on Japanese trains
The vast majority of Japanese people on the trains do not communicate; shyness predominates during the journeys and the possibility of meeting unknown people. No one takes the initiative, and even if you start a conversation, it usually doesn’t flow easily.
In reality, the Japanese are afraid of socializing, especially if you are a foreigner; they are afraid of being near you and not knowing how to communicate and help due to the language barrier. Although no one says anything, the Japanese often stare at each other, and it’s not just foreigners; they stare, especially at the opposite sex.
These were some types of people you find on the trains. There are other types and interesting characteristics that we can encounter during our lives traveling on Japan’s trains; if you remember any, comment! Thank you for sharing, we also recommend reading:
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