Ladies only train car

A study says commuters can experience greater stress than what fighter pilots going into battle or riot policemen feel, according to a report Tuesday by the BBC. Hmm London people have same stress as us maybe. In Japan' s metropolitan areas, most people go to work by train. If you'  ve visited Tokyo once, you know that morning trains are a sort of hell. If you pass a coming train because since it is crowded, you will not get a train until noon. In the morning time, what you should do is just throw yourself into the train without thinking about it.

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announces the level of the congestion rate.
100％：Fit Capacity; People can sit down a seat, hold a strap or poll.
150％：People can read an unfolding a newspaper.
180％：People can read an folding a newspaper.
200％：The body touches each other and feel pressure.
250％：Whenever the train shakes, not only the body has to incline and cannot move , but also the arms.

Then they say they will try to achieve that all trains can be filled to 150-180% at most. Hmm you' re thinking "what a low level goal"?  "Why is it not 100%"? Yes it is true, but still it means much better for us. Unfortunately this is a Japanese site, but please look! Tokyo people have to be patient for this torture everymorning. Chuo line is 218%, Saikyo line is 211%, and Tokaido line is 225%.

Then of course we have a molestation problem; so far this year I could find some news already like this and this.  In Kansai area, there are ladies only train cars and the number of them is more than in the Tokyo area. But in Tokyo area, JR and other private train companies are reluctant to increase the number of ladies only train cars. Because it may cause troubles on crowded mornings. Today this news says the metropolitan police have urged train companies to increase Ladies only cars. hmm I may agree, but in a sense it would be inconvenient for women too. It sounds a little bit  we are forced to choose Ladies only as our only possiblity. First of all, the metropolitan police should set a more serious punishment for molestation. How do you think?

Comments

[K]

Mari-you find the most amazing info!

[cecile]

i remember experiencing the ladies only train in kansai and i was actually a bit upset because the ladies train was so crowded whereas the other trains had so much space. i asked our japanese manager about it once before and he said he thinks its a good idea not because he wanted to resolve the molestation issue but he said females are "urusai" and he prefers peace and quiet when he boards the train. whaaa!!

________
Hi Cecile
yes, yes that is the problem. anyway we should kick his ass actually.

Mari

[Jonny Angel]

I think Ladies Only trains is a dumb idea. It will just make commuting worse for everybody. Gender specific trains is avoiding the real problem. Instead, shouldn't we be talking about why Japanese men don't respect Japanese women.

This reminds me of the problem of bullying in Japan. The media loves to talk about this problem, but the real issue is never discussed. The real cause of bullying is Japanese culture's emphasis on nailing in the portruding nail. Children learn this from their parents and mimic this behavior. And yet, when bullying happens, people seem so shocked.

Perhaps if the real cause is discussed, the real solutions will be more obvious.

[robert]

well, I agree that they need to add more cars to the line, or schedule more trains. It sounds like they are chronically overcharging the Japanese people..if they are booking each train above 100% capacity that means they are clearing that much in excess profit everyday. Since 100% capacity means that they make their expenses for that particular car then there is no shortage of funds for adding a new train to the line, or hell, even building an alternate line, since they are more than doubling their net profit on a daily basis. I wonder if the government will ever crack down on this kind of opportunism. The ladies only car is both a nice idea, and a bad idea. as you say Mari, it doesn't leave you with any choice..since if you dont go on the "lady's only" car you will be regarded as fair prey for any amateur or professional groper. Molestation punishment should be stiff, but even more than that, there should be a development, if you are a repeat offender you do not ride the train, and if you do, off to prison you go. okay perhaps I am a bit extreme, but I think there should be some sort of compulsory rehabilitation for this kind of behaviour because it is a psychological illness, and it should be treated before it turns into something more epsodic and tragic. Yeesh, I thought gridlock was bad enough, and riding the buses was torturously slow, but to be packed beyond safe capacity and groped..it's like "COME ON!!! ENOUGH ALREADY!" and that's just the start of the day..wow. I hope this is something that will be resolved in the not-too-distant future.