Photographs from a small group of islands
Women-only carriages seem to be here to stay, and after their initial introduction during rush hour in Tokyo, more train operators have jumped on the single-sex bandwagon.
The women-only promotional poster below shows just how stress-free and quiet early morning commutes can be. As there’s plenty of room to move around, read a book, or simply smile serenely at the wonders of the world.
Poor old salary man Suzuki however is still having a torrid old time.
Last Sunday saw around 300 Japanese women in identical blonde wigs take part in an event to counter the supposedly stereotypical western concept of beauty. This was also coupled with those present being urged to develop their own idea of beauty, and the gathering ended with a symbolic removal of the wigs.
A very commendable idea it has to be said, and one that also seems to have struck a chord with the male population. As on closer inspection, the wig wearing woman in the bottom right hand corner appears to be a man.
The Japanese do love their mascots, and anybody arriving at Narita Airport may come across this cheeky little chap.
Apart from being a potential security risk, the plump yellow fellow is designed to commemorate the 1st anniversary of the airport authority’s privatization.
Yes, not for the arrival of a new aircraft, or, I don’t know, the opening of another duty free brand shop. But to celebrate the anniversary of the airport authority’s privatization!
Perhaps that’s why the unfortunate little soul doesn’t have a name yet.
Monday saw the first early morning “women-only†carriages operating in Tokyo. Previously the infamous Saikyo Line only had such coaches in use late at night, but with reported groping incidents roughly tripling from 778 cases in 1996, to 2,201 in 2004, the East Japan Railway Company decided such drastic action was necessary.
Reaction to the new service (irrespective of the picture above) was generally positive. Tomoyo Okamto, a 27-year-old office worker, spoke for many women by saying, “I had been worried only because men are in the same carriages in the morning. I’m relieved now.”
And despite the extra crush in the regular (and presumably women-free) carriages, there was a similar sense of contentment. Middle-aged company employee Hitoshi Ishida was happy as, “it’s a good change because I no longer have to carry a bag and hang onto a strap to avoid being mistaken for a molester.”
Yet as well as praising the new system, Ishida-san brought up an interesting point. “If other carriages are more crowded as a result, the railway operator should set some other coaches aside for elderly people.”
This proposition, despite making a lot of sense, could however open a huge can of worms, with all manner of people and social groups pushing for their own carriages. And in an attempt to get in first, I’ve already sent a request to Japan Railways for a “British blokes in their 30s carriage”.
Some April Fools’ Day jokes are better than others. So we can all imagine the collective groan that greeted Ueno Zoo’s great discovery last Friday, a Tonosama (Lord) Penguin that was 165 centimetres tall. A beast that looked like nothing other than someone dressed up in a not especially convincing penguin suit.
But it turns out that real penguins are far more gullible than humans. As when their counterfeit cousin appeared, the birds present could do nothing but look up in awe and wonder at the towering Tonosama.
However when zoo director Teruyuki Komiya revealed himself as the penguin prankster by taking off his mask, the penguins wandered off in disappointment and disinterest.
As, presumably, did the on-looking customers.