The 8 most annoying things people do on Japanese trains, according to local commuters
For many people who commute by train, rush hour is an unavoidable source of significant stress. In Japan, where you'll find the busiest train stations in the world, stress levels can reach breaking point, making good manners and proper etiquette more than a common courtesy but a vital necessity. However, there are still some behaviours on trains that stick in the craw of local commuters.
Japanese media site Biz Hits Career Blog , which addresses common work-related challenges and anxieties, recently sought to find out exactly what types of behaviours get on the nerves of commuters in Japan. After surveying 500 people, ranging in age from 20 to over 60, they found that 91.6 percent of respondents experience irritation during their commute, and close to half of those surveyed, 48.6 percent, travel on trains between 8 and 9 a.m.
Emotions can easily fray during these morning rush hours, and commuters identified 8 things passengers do that make tensions rise.
8. Not observing proper cough etiquette (4.8 percent)
Commuters who display poor cough etiquette — coughing or sneezing without a mask or hand covering — are derided for showing disregard for those around them. Not only is it discourteous but it poses a health risk that causes discomfort to others.
6. Strong smells (8.2 percent)
Odours are hard to hide in crowded enclosed spaces, and it's not just bad body and breath odours that are offensive, as respondents also showed a dislike for strong perfumes and the scent of fabric softeners, saying they can cause nausea or headaches for sensitive individuals.
6. Forcibly boarding crowded trains (8.2 percent)
Tying for sixth place on this list is the act of cramming yourself into a train at any cost, which can prevent the doors from closing and lead to delays while the train is held up at the station. It also causes a problem for those already inside, as they're forced to squeeze even tighter together to accommodate the extra passenger, leaving them even more frustrated than they already were. 5. Bags getting in the way (11.8 percent)
While all bags have the potential to get in the way of others, many respondents singled out backpacks as the big offender, saying that those who wear them can bump into others unwittingly. Those who cited this as a concern said they would prefer it if people carried their bags in front of them or placed them on the floor to avoid disturbing others.
4. Sound leaking from earphones (12.4 percent)
This is commonly seen as a careless act as it forces those around you to listen to whatever music, video, or game that might be emanating from your device. A lot of people who use headphones assume nobody around them can hear what they're listening to, so it's always worth checking on your noise levels.
3. Not leaving room for others to sit (14.6 percent)
Nobody likes the so-called 'manspreading' that occurs on trains, but a similar act of gobbling up space can be seen when people cross their legs or put their bag on one side of a two-seater seat while pretending to be asleep next to it. While this type of nonchalant behaviour is annoying at the best of times, it's even worse when it happens inside a carriage filled with people who are desperate to sit down.
2. Loud voices (15.6 percent)
Talking loudly is generally considered bad manners in Japan as it doesn't respect the time and circumstances of others who are sharing the public space. One respondent said there are times on a commute when they need to think about work reports and things they need to get done when they get home, but when there's a person talking loudly near them they become distracted and can't get anything done. Other respondents said they don't want to hear others' conversations, particularly when it involves bad-mouthing gossip or everyday complaints.
1. Not moving (18.0 percent)
At the very top of the list of annoying behaviours is passengers who refuse to move inside the train, particularly those who take up a spot in front of or beside the doors, even when it's very crowded. As people board and alight the train, it's expected that passengers in the vicinity of the doors will either move further inside and down the aisle, or step off to make room for the flow of people before stepping back on again. Those who don't do this are seen as inconsiderate and self-serving, which causes frustration for other passengers.
After identifying the top 8 annoying passenger behaviours amongst respondents, the survey went on to ask how people deal with them. The most popular answer, at 58.2 percent, was to simply 'put up with it', with many venting afterwards with friends, colleagues and family members. The second most popular answer was to 'leave the situation' (24.4 percent) by changing carriages, followed by 'shoot a glare' (9 percent) at the offending person. Another coping mechanism was to 'push back' (7 percent) when being pushed by someone, and lastly, 'wear headphones' (3.8 percent) to escape the situation.
▼ When you're dealing with this many people on your commute, you have to have a coping mechanism.
Only a very small minority of people said they would take any kind of action towards the person who is irritating them. Even when people were to act, they would prefer to use non-verbal actions such as glaring and pushing back rather than entering into a face-to-face confrontation.
So next time you're on a train and someone is staring at you, they might not be admiring your good looks — they might be trying to convey their annoyance. But then, if you find yourself becoming annoyed by their glare, you could always adopt one of the popular coping mechanisms and move to another carriage, or simply pop your headphones on and imagine yourself far away in a deserted island paradise… as long as you remember to keep the volume down.
Sources: Biz Hits Career blog, PR Times
Featured image: Pakutaso
Insert images: Pakutaso ( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asahi Shimbun
an hour ago
- Asahi Shimbun
Death wish among children comes to fore in computer study
Students use on-loan computers at a junior high school in Tokyo in April 2022. (Pool) The Japanese word shinitai, meaning 'want to die,' was the most common keystroke related to psychological stress among schoolchildren in a special study. The finding was made by a nonprofit organization that pioneered a specialized filter to home in on online search words that indicate the user is a troubled child plagued by suicidal thoughts. It was based on data from 70,000 or so computers that were on loan from eight boards of education and other entities under the central government's 'one device for one student' program. The result suggests that children are doing similar searches even more often on their own smartphones, said an official with Ova, which works through online counseling to prevent young people from committing suicides. 'So many children are suffering from serious distress that could lead to suicide,' the official added. Ova provides services that use a browser extension to offer information on counseling hotlines and other tips to children who have conducted an online search on any of the 5,000 or so keywords related to psychological stress. Analysis of data from the first three months of the year showed that about one in 58 elementary, junior high and senior high school students conducted searches related to deep-seated anguish. The most common search word was 'want to die,' entered by 206 children, followed by 'bullying' (200), 'suicide' (178) and 'overdose' (158). 'LIKELY MORE SEARCHES ON OWN SMARTPHONES' The distress-related search words were analyzed by category. The most common search word category was mental disease, at 40.1 percent, followed by suicide (22.0 percent), personal relationships at school (19.0 percent), sexual victimhood (7.2 percent), self-harm (6.3 percent) and personal relationships at home (5.3 percent). Ova also studied what forms of assistance were used by the children through the information it offered. The most commonly used form of assistance was a cyberspace for those who are feeling distressed, at 20.3 percent, followed by a chat counseling hotline (14.7 percent) and a bulletin board for spilling out feelings (11.7 percent). 'Children who feel that they don't belong anywhere at home or at school and have no means for letting out their sense of pain anywhere are entering this search word of 'want to die,'' said Jiro Ito, Ova's head. 'That they are doing so already this often on their on-loan computers suggests they are doing similar searches even more often on their own smartphones.' Provisional suicide statistics from the National Police Agency and the health ministry show that a record 527 elementary, junior high and senior high school students took their own lives in 2024. 'Child suicides are no longer rare,' Ito said. 'They have become a day-to-day issue. Grown-ups should be engaging with children with a sense of alarm over the rising number of suicides.' (This article was written by Kohei Kano and Mariko Sugiyama.)
SoraNews24
7 hours ago
- SoraNews24
What's the best way to spend 1,000 yen at Don Quijote in Japan?
Donki is a must-visit for tourists buying souvenirs, but locals have a different eye for what to find in store. If you've ever been to Japan, chances are you've stopped by a branch of Don Quijote. This retail chain is so massive that its operators, Pan Pacific International Holdings (PPIH), exceeded two trillion yen (US$13.26 billion) in sales for 2025, making it the third largest Japanese retailer, behind AEON Group at number two and Seven & i Holdings at number one. ▼ Don Quijote ('ドン・キホーテ') As the largest operating brand within PPIH, Don Quijote is a big money-maker, and it owes a lot of its success to inbound tourists, who use the store as a one-stop shop to purchase everything from viral beauty products to sake and sweets and even edible 10-yen coins. With so many varied products spread out throughout the store, though, trying to find what you want can be an overwhelming experience, so our team of local reporters have come together today to share their top recommendations for what to buy at the chain with just 1,000 yen. These recommendations reveal another side to Don Quijote that a lot of tourists don't see, as locals have a different eye for goods, so let's take a look at what they found for us, starting with… ▼ Yoshio's 'Cheap groceries using the app coupons! Set' Peyangu sauce yakisoba: 99 yen Mount Rainier café latte: 99 yen Maruchan yakisoba for 3 servings: 138 yen Farm Morning Yogurt Fresh Milk: 88 yen Kettle barley tea 650 millilitres: 59 yen Chocoball Caramel: 69 yen Chocoball Strawberry: 69 yen Monster Energy Ultra Violet: 128 yen CalorieMate chocolate flavor: 129 yen Plastic bag: 3 yen Total: 951 yen 'Don Quijote has the 'Majica app', and by registering for free, you can use coupons, which are generally valid for one purchase per coupon and per store. These coupons give you fantastic discounts so they're worth getting, especially if you're looking to buy food and drink as they can end up being cheaper than what you'd get at a supermarket.' Yoshio was the only one of our reporters who used the Majica app, and everyone was surprised by the cheap prices and number of items he was able to buy as a result. ▼ Takashi Harada's 'Resist the Heat Set' Gatsby Ice Deodorant Spray Cold Ocean: 603 yen Donki limited EX strongest cool Gatsby paper facial cleanser: 383 yen Total: 986 yen 'This summer, a nationwide heatwave is predicted, so I want to prepare well against the heat. I bought deodorant spray and facial cleansing sheets, the latter of which are a special Don Quijote exclusive with an intense cooling effect. Please try them out if you're curious!' Harada revealed two top finds from Don Quijote's drugstore section, showing his seasonal sensibilities and fondness for practicality. ▼ Takemichi Furusawa's 'Don Quijote Snacks 5-Item Set' Dodonto Pudding: 298 yen Canister Potato Chips (sour cream): 159 yen Strong Carbonated Water 500ml (lime): 89 yen Fruit Juice Konjac Jelly (apple): 118 yen Puni Character Gummies (Donpen): 259 yen Total: 996 yen 'I put together a snack set using Don Quijote's private brand 'Jonetsu Kaku' ('Passion Price'). I chose gummies and jelly drinks for a quick sugar boost during work and I also picked up carbonated water and potato chips for a light snack. Getting a hefty 5-item snack package for 996 yen is a pretty good deal in my book so I highly recommend trying it ifyou can!' Furusawa was one of the few team members to bet big on snacks, and by opting for the 'Jonetsu Kaku' line he was able to get a lot for his money's worth. ▼ Yuichiro Wasai's 'The Ultimate 2-Top Rice Companions' Jonetsu Kaku Garlic Sesame: 431 yen Jonetsu Kaku Korean seasoned seaweed 12 packs: 474 yen Total: 905 yen 'Have you heard of Don Quijote's 'Garlic Sesame'? It became so popular it was sold out for a while, and many people got hooked on it. I'm no exception; in my house, it's a starter player among furikake (rice toppings). Additionally, Korean seasoned seaweed. You might think it's an ordinary product, but this is 'Made in Japan' Korean seaweed. With 12 packs included, it's cost-effective and obviously goes great with rice. The two items come to just over 900 yen. It doesn't reach 1,000 yen, but I couldn't think of a better combination at Don Quijote.' Wasai bought rice companions based on a 'daily use' concept. These seem to be carefully chosen favorite products. ▼ Masanuki Sunakoma's 'Extra Thick MAX Set!' Japan-made fireworks – Extra Thick MAX: 769 yen Long-lasting lighter: 219 yen Total: 988 yen 'I was surprised that my 1,000 yen budget could get me both fireworks and a lighter at Don Quijote! The Extra Thick MAX is a Niagara-style extra thick spark firework, burning for about 30 seconds for maximum satisfaction. What more would you need for some summertime fun? ' Masanuki surprised everyone with his find as a 30-second burn time for commercial fireworks is impressively long. Nobody, however, was surprised that he opted to play with fireworks, because that's how he likes to roll. ▼ Go Hatori's 'The Ultimate Nine Liters of Carbonated Water!' Jonetsu Kaku Don Quijote's Strongest Carbonated Water 1,000 millilitres (99 yen each) × 9 bottles Total: 962 yen 'Recently, I've been hooked on carbonated water. It's refreshing and tasty with zero calories and no fat, so you can drink as much as you want while dieting or trying to lose weight! Normally, I buy it at a local supermarket for about 68 yen per 500 millilitres, but at Don Quijote, a litre costs 99 yen, which is a great deal. On top of that, it's labeled as the 'strongest carbonation' so I decided to go all-in on it — I probably won't need to buy carbonated water for a while…' Go Hatori's purchase is a great reminder to go all in when you have a love for something, even if it's carbonated water. ▼ Mr Sato's 'Unbelievable Price! Jonetsu Kaku Pasta Set' Jonetsu Kaku just-mix pasta sauce (Peperoncino): 194 yen Jonetsu Kaku just-mix pasta sauce (Tomato and basil): 194 yen Jonetsu Kaku quick boil bundled spaghetti: 323 yen Jonetsu Kaku oil sardines (×2): 128 yen × 2 Total: 967 yen 'Don Quijote is famous for the so-called 'unbelievable prices' of its own-brand, Jonetsu Kaku. Recently, they've been focusing on food with many creative gems like this quick boil spaghetti that cooks in just three minutes. While the taste is so-so, it's good enough for a quick lunch, and when you add the pasta sauce and sardines, you have a proper treat. Please try it out!' Mr Sato bought everything necessary to whip up a big and tasty pasta meal, and he says he'll be able to get four servings out of it, making it a great-value purchase. ▼ Ahiruneko's 'Passionate Cost-Cut Senbero Set' Jonetsu Kaku authentic lager beer: 164 yen (×6) Total: 957 yen (including the discount for the 6-item bulk purchase) 'When it come to the Jonetsu Kaku range, I'm a big fan of the Korean seaweed, but I decided to try something different this time, as these monochrome cans caught my eye. I decided to forego the snacks I'd usually buy for a night of drinking, which allowed me to splurge on six cans of beer to quench my summertime thirst.' Ahiruneko, or ' Mr Alcohol ' as he's known around the office, showed his love for a tipple is as strong as ever. ▼ Mariko Onabatake's 'Housewives Can't Resist Mitts Tock's Magic Set' Jonetsu Kaku daily clean kitchen sponges Floor wet sheets Floor dry sheets Disposable nonwoven fabric cleaner to remove water stains and soap scum Aluminum foil for frying pans Total: 990 yen 'I looked all over Don Quijote and my housewife instincts kicked in immediately when I spied the '3itz toc!' corner, where three items usually costing 220 yen each can be bought for a bargain price of 550 yen. 3itz toc includes consumables such as sponges, garbage bags, wipers, zip-lock bags, hooks, and clothespins, but this time, I focused on large quantities of cleaning goods so I can give my place a good summer clean!' ▼ '3itz toc!' Donki's '3itz toc!' is a little-known corner area that people tend to bypass, but given Mariko's bargain finds, we'll definitely be keeping a better eye out for the range in future. ▼ Seiji Nakazawa's 'Shibuya Cleaning Set' Jonetsu Kaku pipe cleaner 1,000 millilitres (two-pack, 278 yen) × 4 Kinoko no Yama (chocolate-covered cookies): 218 yen Total: 825 yen 'Don Quijote's Jonetsu Kaku brand is super popular, and I regularly buy the pipe cleaner at Don Quijote in Shibuya as it's super cheap. The famous 'Pipe Unish' brand usually costs around 317 yen per litre, but Jonetsu Kaku's is only 219 yen per litre. Plus, if you buy a set of two it's even cheaper, at 278, so you can save 160 yen, which is a fantastic deal.' As a man who believes you can never have too many pipe cleaners, Seiji was very pleased with his Don Quijote haul and was able to reward himself for his efforts with a box of chocolate to boot. ▼ P.K. Sanjun's 'Honestly What I Usually Buy Set' Jonetsu Kaku dental floss picks (white): 219 yen Jonetsu Kaku dental floss picks (black) × 2: 219 yen each Jonetsu Kaku canned sardines in water: 323 yen Total: 978 yen 'This time, I put together a set of things I usually buy at Don Quijote. Though unintentional, it all turned out to be Jonetsu Kaku products, which gives you an idea of just how reliable the brand is. Incidentally, Don Quijote's floss has the most fantastic flexibility so it's a must-buy, even for those visiting from overseas.' An interesting point to note here is the white floss actually contains 20 more pieces than the black, but the black seems to clean better. So there you have it — 11 bundles of items that you can purchase at Don Quijote for less than 1,000 yen. Locals really know how to make a little go a long way, so if you're on a tight budget, Donki is a great place to stretch your yen. It really does stock just about everything under the sun, so you never know what you might come across next time you're browsing the aisles! Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
8 hours ago
Shōga Sensation: Japanese Dishes Using Ginger
This dish is a standard item at school cafeterias and restaurants serving teishoku set meals. It is thickly sliced pork, simply marinated in a soy-sauce based sauce mixed with plenty of grated ginger, and then grilled. (© Pixta) Shōga no Tsukudani Serve this dish of thinly sliced shōga simmered in a sweet soy sauce-based sauce on hot rice and it becomes a meal in itself. (© Pixta) Shin-shōga no Amazuzuke Shin-shōga , or young ginger, available in early summer, is juicy and only mildly spicy. Thinly sliced and blanched, and then pickled in sweet vinegar, it makes a great snack with alcohol or as a preserve. The anthocyanins in the shin-shōga react with the vinegar, turning it a light shade of pink, so it looks and tastes refreshing. (© Pixta) Gari When served in sushi restaurants, shin-shōga no amazuzuke (pickled young ginger) is called gari . The naming comes from the Japanese onomatopoeia garigari , the crunchy noise made when biting into the ginger. It is said to be a palate cleanser and thought to help kill bacteria that may be found in raw fish. (© Pixta) Oroshi-shōga This is simply grated ginger and can be used in many ways, such as a condiment for hiyayakko chilled tōfu, udon noodles, and sushi made with blue-backed fish. It can also be a seasoning or topping for simmered and fried food. (© Pixta) Hari-shōga Shōga , sliced as finely as hari (needles), is used as a topping for various simmered dishes, including fish, and creates a more elegant appearance than oroshi-shōga . (© Pixta) Hajikami Alternatively known as ha-shōga (leaf ginger) or fude-shōga ('brush' ginger), this slim type of shōga is pickled in sweet vinegar. It is often served with grilled fish as a colorful garnish and palate cleanser. The deep pink part is the stem, while the firm, white part is edible. Hajikami is an old Japanese name for shōga . (© Pixta) Related Content Find out more about shōga in 'Shōga: Spicy, Aromatic Ginger in Japanese Cuisine.' (Originally published in Japanese. © Pixta.)
