The next sandwich
More than fifteen years ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Japan for work. I stayed there for two weeks in Tokyo city center and every work day, I had to travel by train about 45 minutes to an hour to Makuhari where the office was. Makuhari was located in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo.
It was my first experience traveling by train back then and was an interesting one. I love people watching and in the train, there were many people to watch. Most times, most passengers would have their eyes glued to their phones, some would be reading books, some napping. Usually, I would already be in the train from the previous station which was less crowded but still had to stand.
However, at certain stops, the train would be jam packed. I was shocked to see officers on duty at the platforms who would push and squeeze passengers into the train with such might, packing the people in like sardines. And each time, I would be sandwiched in between different interesting individuals.
There would be teenagers or young adults dressed as their favourite anime characters who would take the train. The cosplay at work was totally amazing with the hair, makeup and costumes, some so into their characters that they really look like a cartoon character. Some dark and gothic and some cute as a pie.
Then, there would be ladies who balanced themselves remarkably well, standing in the train, and applying makeup, all set with mascara pens and eyelash brushes without smudging a wee bit. I was totally impressed. It was an eye opener to see such skill.
And along the way, the train would reach the station to Disneyland Tokyo. Passengers, mainly parents and kids who came onboard would have all sorts of Disneyland merchandise which was interesting to see, especially when they would all be chatting away in excitement, giggling and laughing, possibly thinking about the rides and experiences they had.
By the time I was done subtly staring at all these interesting characters, I would have reached my station. Each day as I left the train, I was already thinking of the next sandwich journey.
Photo by Kanchan Raj Pandey on Unsplash
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I'm so envious that you got to work in Tokyo! Working there and going for a holiday are such different experiences. I’ve seen some videos online of exactly what you mentioned—they just keep pushing and shoving passengers in like a pile of clothing or something! Lol.
For me, I took the train after the morning rush, so it was quite comfortable. I really like how well-mannered everyone is, keeping everything to themselves, especially the noise and all. Meanwhile, my two idiot travel companions talked to each other across the aisle/seats. It was so embarrassing as most of the passengers there did gave them the side eyes and yet they still don't get the message. I felt like I want to push them off the train.
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Do you like Tokyo @emmabritt? Yes yes, working there and going for holiday are very different experiences. And I was very lucky then. Even though it was just 2 weeks, it was interesting to see the life of the people there. Example, in the office I was in, there was no dustbins at all and all employees bring their trash home. If I am not mistaken, even the streets do not have any trash bins but there were hardly any trash! So disciplined. But I heard it was due to a few incidents of people using the trash cans as their act of terrorism. And the men would not go home after work. They rather hang out in the office and go for drinks, dinner until late because there was a stigma whereby men should go home late to show they work hard. But that was long ago, not sure if it is still the case now.
Ah after the morning rush would have been much more relaxing. Hehe.. I have seen such passengers before. Even when 1 passenger was talking loudly on the phone, or have their phone volume up, most passengers (including myself) would give a side eye too hahah. But I don't blame your travel companions because they most probably were so immersed in their conversation that they did not notice hehe.
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I'm curious about your routine there for those two weeks. Did you eat out often? Because there are so many ready-to-eat meals everywhere, and you can practically have a feast right from their convenience stores!
Yes, I love Tokyo so much, too, and I wish I could visit again in the future, though next time, I'd want to explore completely different parts of Japan.
You're right about the dustbins; we had to keep our trash with us until we got home, which sadly started because of security concerns.
But when you think about it, it's amazing how clean they are without those public bins, whereas back home we have so many of them and people still litter everywhere.
Did you get to join your colleagues for those drinking sessions? I know some of them can make it really difficult to decline.
The Japanese work ethic is crazy—either they go out for drinks to avoid going home early, or everyone feels pressured to stay at the office.
As for my own travel companions, nah...they were the inconsiderate, hillbilly type. They didn't care about manners at all and were totally the sort to abuse their rights.
Ah.. Breakfast were mostly the onigiris or sandwiches or fruits, bought from the convenience stores or I just skip haha. Hehe yes yes, really love their 100 yen shops and family marts and 7-elevens and their little shops. Everything was so kawaii and their shopkeepers so very polite.
Lunches during workday were at the office's cafeteria. And I think it was the first time I saw the super realistic looking plastic display dishes, I was so impressed! Haha. They served all sorts, Japanese curry was one of them, though I don't quite like it, just because it didn't really taste like curry for me. Oh but during the weekend, we walked around Tokyo and found some places to eat, one of which was a bbq place and my colleague ordered cow's tongue! I was shocked! Haha.
Oh yes, they are so clean, wherever. In the office, restaurants, shops, streets. All were so clean! Yup yup, they have amazing discipline and attitude, just like how the Japanese fans were after the World Cup games where they stayed back to help clean the stadium.
I didn't join the drinking sessions but I saw people in the next tables drinking haha. But Japanese are so soft spoken. Whether they were angry or drunk, they were still polite.
Ah, I would love to go back there tooo.
This BOOMING vote is yours and well deserved!
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Traveling for work is exciting! I imagine Japan is something like traveling to the future, except for the part about traveling like sardines, haha.
It's incredible that they can go to work in their cosplay outfits, something that in my country would at least land you in a psychologist's office!
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Yesss! I missed those days when we got to travel for work for free haha.. Most exciting was the free part. The sardines part, not so fun but still fun in some ways if we look at the glass half full situation haha.
Yaaa, I was curious too but I think those in cosplay were students mainly cos they looked young or maybe they work at a cosplay shop 😂
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If I had known that there were jobs that allowed you to travel for work, I would have gone for them, haha!
Interestingly, the Japanese tend to maintain a youthful appearance for many years; in general, Asians have excellent genetics.
There are, especially if the job is a regional job. I was taking care of Asia Pacific back then, so the chances to travel to the countries in Asia Pacific was pretty high before Covid but after Covid, almost everything changed to online 😅But now, I no longer take care of a region, so, no more travel for work 🥲All I can do now is go through my memories and reminisce my past 😂
I think maybe it is the weather that helped with the skin, not as harsh. But Japanese and Koreans do have nice, soft skins 😊(from adverts and all the j-pop and k-pop groups 😂)
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I think that with the internet, remote work or working from home became fashionable.
I don't know if it's the climate, genetics, or anti-wrinkle creams, but they certainly look young!
Food also makes a difference, same for staying inside, covering the skin and cosmetic surgery but the average person is still... average
This BOOMING vote is yours and well deserved!
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With us you cannot go to work in Cosplay outfit either
That reminded me of the viral story of an English woman, if I remember correctly, who was banned from having her hair dyed in an extravagant color.
The issue is that it was prohibited in the internal work regulations, but she found a loophole. Wigs were not banned, and as a form of protest, she wore wigs every day, some of them simply absurd. I liked her peaceful and ironic resistance. She beat the company.
https://www.newsweek.com/tiktok-employer-banned-pink-hair-terrible-wigs-1821912
But her pink hair is pretty!!! That is quite a silly regulation. It doesn't affect her work. Glad she found humor in it haha.
Just this year or was it last year, during the festive season, around my area, pink and purple were the trend and many people had pink and purple highlights. They looked pretty cool, I thought.
Undoubtedly a silly rule that was masterfully defied. I also like vibrant colors, although now I'm letting my gray hair show.
Me tooooo! I've had white hair since I was nine and it stayed nicely hidden until when I started high school or uni I think. Then I was dyeing my hair till about 4 years back that I decided, nah. Too much time wasted on hair dyeing. Every 2 weeks, they start to show and then you start getting white hair anxiety. It is pretty cool looking like Storm from X-Men but sometimes people mistaken me as a senior citizen who needs a seat in the train... haha.
Wow! I inherited them from my mother; I found out when I was 20, when a classmate sitting in a row above me saw them, haha.
This year I stopped dyeing my hair, and I'd love it if people would give up their seats on the bus, although those customs are dying out!
I wonder how often it used to happen that you’d have your trousers rolled down. Or others. These days they’re often in the news for taking photos up people’s skirts – so we Japanese aren’t exactly well-behaved, or perhaps it’s just that what’s forbidden is actually what people do. Last Monday I was also travelling regularly by train, and I don’t mind waiting around, except when it’s always on those draughty platforms. And, of course, the waiting rooms are always closed. Over here, incidentally, all the platforms are draughty, and lifts and escalators are often out of order – whether by design or not.
Do you miss Japan? It was certainly interesting to read, and I think you had a nice route – packed in like a sardine – to be able to admire all the cosplayers and Disney characters. Did you have a cup of coffee in a takeaway cup with you back then as well?
I think perverts are everywhere. There will be individuals of that sorts, maybe traumatized or deprived of something. And especially so in asian countries where the cultures are closed.
Ooo.. are you Japanese Kitty? Ah draughty platforms means they are cold? Cold wind? Mine here is hotttt but there are ceiling fans, though the humid weather doesn't help. And there are no waiting rooms here, just benches or chairs for some to sit. Most times, we just stand waiting for the train, but at most between 3 to 10 minutes, whether it is peak or non-peak hour. Ohh but in Japan then, it was October, so the weather was nice and cool.
I do miss Japan - but as a tourist because everything is pretty and cute. I don't think I can stay there though. I had the opportunity to visit Japan 3 times in my life so far and I enjoyed each trip. Once for work, once to visit a friend who was studying there and the last time was with my parents, following a tour. All 3 were very different experiences.
Hehe.. no, I didn't like coffee then. It is only just the past 2 years that I started drinking latte that I kinda like.
This BOOMING vote is yours and well deserved!
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