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Yomiuri Shimbun
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Transport Staff Allowed to Wear Sneakers, Sunglasses; Companies Change Rules to Attract Staff
Courtesy of Tokyo Metro Co. Tokyo Metro employees hold pairs of sneakers, which they can now wear while working. More and more railway and airline companies are relaxing their dress codes for station staff and crew members. One positive aspect of the workers' uniforms is that they signal to customers that the people wearing them are trustworthy. However, companies in the transportation industry, which is said to be particularly strict about employee appearance, are now trying to secure personnel by creating a worker-friendly environment. 'Summer uniform' period extended Tokyo Metro Co. had required its station staff and train crew members to wear neckties and leather shoes in principle. However, as of May 1, the company has made neckties optional, and sneakers are allowed as long as they are dark. The company has also extended its designated summer uniform period from May-October to April-November, given that the weather has been extremely hot in recent years. 'We now allow employees to choose more comfortable work clothing on the condition that safety is ensured,' an official of the company said. Skymark Airlines Inc. has allowed its flight attendants and airport customer service personnel to wear sneakers since April. Airdo Co., another airline company, also plans to allow its airport staff to wear sneakers on a trial basis starting in July. On-site transportation workers are often required to work while standing and walking. By relaxing the dress code for workers, the companies are trying to help reduce fatigue. Meanwhile, some companies are changing their rules to improve safety. In March, Hokkaido Railway Co. conducted a test in which Shinkansen and local train drivers wore sunglasses while driving the trains. The test revealed that sunglasses help reduce snow glare, improve visibility and reduce driver fatigue. The company plans to conduct another test around June to see the effects of wearing sunglasses during summer and will consider fully introducing sunglasses for train drivers. To secure talent One of the reasons that the companies are relaxing their rules is to secure workers. According to a survey by the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry in February, nearly half of all railway companies said they faced a shortage of drivers. In the airline industry, where many personnel left their jobs due to flight reductions during the COVID-19 pandemic and other reasons, a recovery in demand has led to a shortage of workers. Retail stores and restaurants are also relaxing their rules for employees, allowing them to dye their hair freely and apply nail polish of any color, among other things. In the transportation industry, workers are responsible for protecting the lives of passengers, and their uniforms have been considered an important factor in gaining trust, according to an analyst. However, companies are becoming increasingly aware of a necessity to relax their rules. 'We need to relax our rules to create a comfortable working environment that will motivate our employees in their work,' an official from a major railway company said. A public relations official at Skymark said: 'We [changed the rules] to allow our employees to wear sneakers at work based on the opinions of our on-site workers, and they have appreciated the change, saying that they feel less tired than before. We will further improve the working environment so that employees can continue to work for a long time.' On the other hand, some companies are cautious about relaxing their rules. Among them, such major airlines Japan Airlines Co. and All Nippon Airways Co. have not made any changes to their dress code. 'Appearance is an important element of our brand,' an official from a major airline said. 'We have no plans to relax our dress code for the time being.'
13-05-2025
- Business
Tokyo Metro to Promote Exec Kosaka to Pres. in June
News from Japan Economy May 13, 2025 16:31 (JST) Tokyo, May 13 (Jiji Press)--Tokyo Metro Co. will promote Senior Managing Executive Officer Akihiro Kosaka to president after the cabinet gave its approval on Tuesday. Kosaka, 62, will assume the post June 25. The government is a major shareholder of the subway operator. Kosaka, born in Miyazaki Prefecture, joined the Teito Rapid Transit Authority, now Tokyo Metro, in 1986. He joined the board and served as managing executive officer before taking up his current post in June 2023. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
07-05-2025
Man with knife slashes 2 people at Tokyo subway station, reports say
TOKYO -- A man with a knife slashed two passengers waiting for a train at a Tokyo subway station during the evening rush on Wednesday, and their injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, Japanese media reported. Japan 's NHK television said the attacker was seen brandishing a kitchen knife on the platform of a station on the subway's Namboku line. Tokyo police arrested the suspect at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder and were investigating, NHK said. Police refused to confirm media reports, saying there had been no official announcement on the still-developing case. Trains on the line were temporarily suspended for 'inspection' of subway cars, operator Tokyo Metro Co. said.
Associated Press
07-05-2025
- Associated Press
A man with a knife slashes 2 people at a Tokyo subway station, reports say
TOKYO (AP) — A man with a knife slashed two passengers waiting for a train at a Tokyo subway station during the evening rush on Wednesday, and their injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, Japanese media reported. Japan 's NHK television said the attacker was seen brandishing a kitchen knife on the platform of a station on the subway's Namboku line. Tokyo police arrested the suspect at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder and were investigating, NHK said. Police refused to confirm media reports, saying there had been no official announcement on the still-developing case. Trains on the line were temporarily suspended for 'inspection' of subway cars, operator Tokyo Metro Co. said. Though Japan is known for its safety, there has been a growing number of random attacks in public places using knives or homemade explosives in recent years.
07-05-2025
Man Brandishes Knife at Tokyo Metro Station; Several Injured
News from Japan May 7, 2025 20:51 (JST) Tokyo, May 7 (Jiji Press)--Police detained a man who reportedly brandished a knife at Todaimae Station on Tokyo Metro Co.'s Namboku Line in the capital's Bunkyo Ward on Wednesday evening. At around 7 p.m., police received an emergency call that a man was brandishing a knife and that a woman was cut and injured. According to investigative sources, the incident occurred on a stationary train at the station, and one person was injured in the forehead and neck but was conscious. Tokyo Fire Department sources said several people were injured in the incident. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
