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Mar 13 2013 12 Comments

The anger of a Tokyo train traveller?

Considering the horribly cramped and stressful conditions of many trains in Tokyo, episodes of violence are surprisingly not the norm. That’s not to say they don’t happen of course, because they do, and feelings of irrational hatred towards other passengers are often clearly visible on scores of harassed, unhappy faces. What’s more, the trains don’t need to be busy either, as such sentiments can also be seen on quiet, weekend evening journeys.

angry Japanese train traveller

Categorized: Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Simon says

    3/13/2013 at 8:58 am

    My guess, it was a bad day at the track or OTB. The look of a dejected punter, perhaps.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      3/13/2013 at 9:56 am

      Yeah, quite possibly. He wasn’t a happy camper that’s for sure. When his expression initially caught my eye I assumed it was a brief moment of irritation, but it wasn’t. He was staring with the same look the whole time I was on he train.

      Reply
    • Ed says

      3/13/2013 at 1:35 pm

      Former boxer, maybe. Irritated by a, well, a gaijin 😉

      Reply
      • Lee says

        3/13/2013 at 3:26 pm

        Could be. Certainly a fella not to be messed with.

        Happy to say that for once I had nothing to do with his irritation. I pre-focused and shot from the hip too, so as not to risk upsetting him further.

        Reply
  2. winnie says

    3/13/2013 at 11:38 pm

    Maybe he thought of something that irritates him? Or this is his usual expression?
    It seems that he scared away the lady opposite him. She must be feeling uncomfortable.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      3/14/2013 at 12:08 pm

      He certainly wasn’t happy, although I’m not sure he scared the girl away. Could have just been a coincidence.

      Reply
  3. Jeffrey says

    3/14/2013 at 1:19 am

    Hate to see this guy during the morning rush.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      3/14/2013 at 12:10 pm

      Yeah, that doesn’t bear thinking about. Stood next to one fella a few years ago who spent the whole journey with his fists tightly clenched. All the time looking round angrily at other passengers.

      Needless to say that was a train I was very pleased to get off…

      Reply
  4. Steebu says

    3/14/2013 at 9:36 am

    Or perhaps constipated and really needs to get home.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      3/14/2013 at 12:10 pm

      Haha, maybe!

      Reply
  5. Hans ter Horst says

    3/14/2013 at 10:54 pm

    Hahaha, great shot! I love the way his glare seems to be linked to the woman (but from your description I understood he was just unhappy, period)

    Reply
    • Lee says

      3/15/2013 at 8:50 am

      Cheers!

      It could have been, but I really couldn’t say for sure. The only thing I know for certain is that he wasn’t happy about something. He looked like that when I got on the train, and his expression hadn’t changed when I got off. The woman was the only passenger in his line of view though…

      Reply

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