Since moving into my new apartment, I came to realize why proximity to the train station drives the rent. I think Eri and I were pretty lucky to find a nice place so close to one. The train wasn't even that crowded in the morning (famous last words, as I found out)
The Japanese adherence to punctuality is legendary. For any appointment, typically people arrive 10 minutes early so that the other party won't have to wait. If one is a minute late, one apologizes. For someone like me who grew up on "Asian time" i.e. meeting at 3pm really means 3:15pm or even 3:30pm. Some friends like the Sheepherder take it to the extreme though, if he says 3pm, set your alarm for 4:05pm.
So anyway, since 9am is the time by which most people need to report to work, the Tokyo public transit system faces its greatest strain around that time. For example, I found to my dismay that all trains departing at 8:30am onwards at my station have a 95% chance of being so crowded that there is no way anyone can squeeze in. (Normally it's not a problem up 'til 8:15am)
One day I overslept, and when the 8:30am train came in, I couldn't believe it--people were already pressed up against the doors. "You've GOT to be kidding," I muttered to myself as everyone around me braced for the siege. As usual, no one revealed any hint of emotion. Everybody was stone-faced, probably mentally picturing themselves as some sort of benign battering ram. As soon as the doors opened, people outside inched forward like an ocean wave that has reached its crest and is about to crash down on the shore. If no one from within the train makes to exit, the all-clear is given and it's time to move in!
With a resolve that any invading army would be proud of, we headed single-mindedly in, sometimes pausing to bow and mumble a 'Sumimasen" ("I am coming in no matter what" would be more appropriate). I'm sure this has been mentioned in countless Japan-related blogs, but one quickly learns which parts of the train door/frame to use for leverage. Usually the top of the frame works well, but one has to make one's luggage makes it inside the train as well. My messenger bag was caught once by the closing doors which resisted my pitiful efforts to prise them open for a few embarrassing moments until the official train pushers came to my rescue.
Once inside the train, since it's just three minutes to the next stop, it's all smooth-sailing but for the occasional morning-breath person exhaling straight into my face, or the formidable old lady with jutting titanium elbows. If you ever stand between an old lady or horror of horrors, a group of old ladies and the train door, GET THE HECK OUT OF THE WAY. They're usually shorter hence their lower centers of gravity ensure that they are seldom thrown off balance. That combined with deadly elbow/umbrella thrusts and a never-say-die spirit... 'nuff said.
For my commute, the train stays crowded until Shinjuku (新宿). Haven't figured out the system yet, but on certain days I get packed like a canned sardine and don't have to hang on to anything to keep my balance because there's simply no need to. Really feel sorry for the ladies in those situations. But everyone is so stoic-faced that sometimes I wonder if people are really bothered anymore. I have one pet peeve though: inconsiderate people who just lean on others on purpose (yes, I can tell easily) or who just jostle their way through when it doesn't cost too many joules to say, "Excuse me." In those circumstances I will make it as hard as possible for them to get by me.
Despite all these, I still have fun taking the train everyday because it's rather refreshing--different scenery so to speak. At night the trains get emptier, except for the last few trains where everyone, drunk and sober, scramble to get home.
Lastly, having a housemate who knows exactly which door of the train to board at so we end up nearest to the station exit is also a good thing. Reminds of my teenage days when I did the same thing on the MRT ;)
