This past week, I traveled down to New York City to visit a friend. A good majority of this trip was spent riding on trains—from the Amtrak Empire Line that I rode into the city to the L train I took to grab noodles for lunch. Ask any United States American and they’ll tell you that New York has some of the best public transit in the country. The MTA ferries millions of New Yorkers around the city 24/7, arguably serving as the blood that keeps the heart of NYC pumping. It was during my time riding the subway that I reflected on transit culture in Japan, and how it reflects a lot of larger cultural themes that I experienced during my time abroad at Kansai Gaidai University.
Navigating the Japanese train system requires more than just Google Maps and a working knowledge of kanji. There are several rules—written and unwritten—that people are expected to follow at the station. My first time navigating the trains, I watched as everyone lined up at designated spots to board the trains before they arrived. On the train, people were quiet and refrained from eating or drinking. When we left the train and headed towards the escalators, people formed a long line on the right side of the escalator, allowing those who wished to walk up the escalator to pass by on the left.
When I first saw these practices, I was concerned that I would never be able to learn all the rules without a guide. I realized two important things over the coming weeks. First, Japanese people are very outwardly forgiving of social faux pas (they will trash-talk you seconds later, but only once you’re out of earshot). Secondly, most of the social rules of the train are just common sense for being considerate of those around you. Millions of people use the Japanese train system daily, and the trains get extremely crowded. Without lines, it would be impossible for anyone to ever board the train. Moreover, refraining from eating and talking on the train keeps it clean and quiet so that everyone can enjoy their trip.
My takeaway from this is that customary practices often develop for a specific reason. In my case, the reason for Japanese transit culture to function the way it did was efficiency and respect. As I navigate in a multicultural world moving forward, I am eager to explore new cultures and discover the reasons why people across the world fulfill similar needs (eating, transportation, entertainment, etc.) in different ways that are better adapted to the infrastructure and culture of their homes.