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What's going through the minds of those hordes of daily rail commuters who jam the trains in metropolitan Tokyo? Spa! (Dec 7) gives its readers a heads-up on where unexpected delights await and unseen dangers lurk.
"More trains these days are using firm seats with no springs, but the seats on model 203 trains used on the Chiyoda line are pretty spongy," says a resident "densha otaku" (train hobbyist), who makes it a point to check out such data. "So when females in skirts sit down, their backside sinks deeply, raising their knees and giving peepers a glance at the promised land."
The Spa! article also insists that certain lines and sectors are overrepresented by beauties. Try taking the Marunouchi subway line between Kasumigaseki and Ginza. "You're more likely to spot long-legged beauties, their nails glittering as the hold onto the straps," a 33-year-old banker tells the magazine.
A man working for a media-related business says the best-looking gals are to be found on the Ginza subway line around Ginza and Shimbashi stations, or the Hibiya subway line running between Ginza and Roppongi.
"You see a lot of beauties with foxy expressions on their way home from 'gokon' (matchmaking) parties, or bar workers who can't afford taxis. I'll stick to using this line," he smirks.
Two music academies are located along the Seibu Ikebukuro line, and many of the female students there, even if not of supermodel quality, have a wonderfully wholesome glow that "lights up the car."
Male passengers are also convinced that the JR Chuo line boasts a larger share of ladies sporting the no-bra look.
On the next page, the Spa! report shifts to a second section on train manners, and reports that the most unpleasant experiences are likely to be found aboard trains linking Kanagawa and Tokyo Prefectures, specifically the Keihin Kyuko line and JR Keihin Tohoku line.
"Even in the daytime, you can smell the booze reeking from the clothes of passengers who have come from the Oi race track or the drinking areas around Kannai station in Yokohama," says a 32-year-old man in the communications business.
"There are lots of drinking areas situated at stations along these lines," he adds. "You also spot lots Asian females on their way to work at hostess bars in the early evenings, and they can be really distracting."
"The Keihin line passes through industrial areas and rundown neighborhoods, and it's particularly bad between Keihin Kamata and Kami-Ooka in Yokohama," adds another man. "I avoid taking it, even though getting home via another line means a long detour."
The connections linking Saitama and Tokyo aren't much better.
"The Fukutoshin subway line has a lot of punk kids," complains a man who works in the food and beverage business. "The first train in the morning is the worst of all. Some of these disorderly 'Saitama Yankees' sprawl out and take up an entire row of seats, or else they'll be squatting on the floor and eating."
One passenger aboard the JR Joban line says he's turned off by the large number of fellow passengers reading cheap books about yakuza. "After they finish reading, they habitually discard the books on the overhead rack."
It seems Joban line passengers have some mysterious unspoken agreement to recycle their reading matter.
On the other hand, the various lines making up the Tokyu rail network in southwest Tokyo have a reputation for good-mannered passengers, but is it true?
"On the Meguro line that serves Sensoku and Ookayama, there are lots of affluent elderly people of large stature, and they can be quite annoying," says a regular user. "On three occasions I've seen them blow up at nearby passengers, saying 'I'm wearing a pacemaker, so don't use your cell phone around me!'"
"Passengers on the Tokyu Toyoko and Denentoshi lines are generally well mannered," says a 29-year-old man employed by a manufacturer. "But if you observe things carefully, on the Denentoshi line, you often see housewife types, who are carefully perusing advertisements for debt resolution. They may seem like nouveau riche, but I get the impression that a lot of them are living beyond their means, and maybe even hurting financially."
© Japan Today
59 Comments
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Disillusioned
So, this article is confirming that, in general, the male population of Tokyo are just sexually deprived perverts. Nothing new here!
shinhiyata
Don't know about Tokyo, but the girls on the Morioka-Ichinoseki JR Tohoku line make the trains hotter than the one from that scene in War Of The Worlds. The oji-sans and sararimon are usually too slack-jawed to do anything rude.
IvanCoughalot
The Chiyoda line from Kashiwa-Kasumigaseki is populated chiefly by nose-picking, sinus-snorting, mouthbreathing, halitosic subhumans.
LostinNagoya
This is a "A Guide to Stalking, Groping & Having Fun in Tokyo Trains. vol. 1".
kawachi
The ones coming from "Dasaitama" are known to have the most annoying people, especially the Tobu Tojo line and JR Saikyo lines.
ritalynn
Putting out articles like this isn't really Japan shake that whole 'pervy guys on the train' rep.
gogogo
Spa articles never cease to amaze me on turning something illegal and tasteless into a gossipy article.
kyoken
Tell me about it. I see the behavior every day.
kyoken
Nicely summarized.
goddog
Worst train rides are when you have a seat and someone is severely jealous you do and they are a male. The do dickstrapping and as best as possible put their crotch in your face. I hate them.
Madeofplastic
goddog at 04:24 PM JST - 4th December
Worst train rides are when you have a seat and someone is severely jealous you do and they are a male. The do dickstrapping and as best as possible put their crotch in your face. I hate them.Nothing a well placed fist, knee, bag, etc. won't fix.
Moderator: Please do not draw a line in your comments.
Richard_III
Have to agree about the Ginza-Akasaka Mitsuke section of the Marunouchi line. That is always a pleasure.
As for the Chuo Line, there are simply too many awful, colourless, and lifeless salarymen to make a comment; it is simply awful.
Also, I frankly cannot believe that there are any train lines in the greater Tokyo area where the passengers have manners. This bit of the article was pure fiction.
goddog
Best babes are in the last car of all trains. Fake alimp and carry a cane and ride with them.
Laguna
It may be just me, but there seem to be "Asian females" pretty much everywhere you look in Japan.
bigmouth
Marounochi subway is the worst.Every friday I see salary men spitting on the floor.
Disgusting
Mocheake
Laguna, it seems many Japanese don't really consider themselves 'Asian.' On another note, the Ginza area lines have hands down the best-looking and best-smelling women. Always a pleasure. The KK Line should be renamed the Oyaji-smells-of-cheap-sake-didn't-brush-my-teeth-or-take-a-shower Line. Reeks everyday but Friday night is probably tops. Any guy gets too close, my elbow, bag, etc., will make an impression on him.
Elbuda Mexicano
I hate the trains! Too many dirty people, for gods sake, take a bloody shower in the morning, brush your teach, get that sleep out of your dirty eyes before you leave your home, if you do have a home, this is on the Chuo line and Yamanote lines.
oberst
what's the point if these females do not welcome advances from admiring males............or do they ?
MrDog
@IvanCoughalot
I know what you mean, I ride that every day and hate it. I don't nose-pick, sinus-snort, mouthbreath, have bad breath and I'm not subhuman though ;)
imacat
I've come to think that in Tokyo there will be at least one hot babe in the car, whatever line and whatever time. Usually more than one. Often much more.
Compared to the London Underground, it's an absolutely fantastic train system.
Monkeyz
This paragraph bugs me. So is it, "Ew, Asians," or is it "Ew, girls," or what? It's not in the "Oh yeahhhh mmmm girls" section. He says they're distracting. Distracting him from ... reading his porno mag? Looking up a schoolgirl's skirt? And how are they more or less distracting than any other ladies? Because they're foreign?
This whole article is just ridiculous, but this part in particular is simply stupid.
METinTokyo
A childish article reaching new lows even for Shukan.
ShizukaMorley
This article is so sad.. so sad..
smartacus
There are plenty of gorgeous women to be seen on the Hibiya subway line, getting on at Roppongi Station once trains start running from 5 a.m.
WilliB
The evening hostess trains (Hibiya and Ginza lines mainly) carrying hostesses to work have by far the highest hot chick ratio anywhere.
FruitsBasketFan
Well, it is right about the Ginza line....lots of fine women.
The Tokyu Toyoko line was not so bad.
DuraAce
Love it when I sit in front of a bird in a short skirt on the train, and I can see all up her thighs. Best thing ever!
Any of the train lines in Tokyo are good for girls. The best train related place to check out women is Omiya station in Saitama. Christ almighty. That place is incredible.
DuraAce
“You also spot lots Asian females on their way to work at hostess bars in the early evenings, and they can be really distracting.”
Erm, what? Japanese are Asian. This smacks of that 'thing' we have all experienced, where Japanese people think they are not Asian, and some kind of shining satellite on the edge of Asia. Pathetic.
saborichan
What's creepy is how most of the posters have no problem with the content of this article... Shouldn't it say something about where to see the best looking men as well? I know plenty of westerners are ready to criticise Japan's slow gender progress, but they turn around and admit to their perving here, even if they aren't dumb enough to shoot photos.
Potsu
"What's creepy is how most of the posters have no problem with the content of this article... Shouldn't it say something about where to see the best looking men as well? I know plenty of westerners are ready to criticise Japan's slow gender progress, but they turn around and admit to their perving here, even if they aren't dumb enough to shoot photos "
Good call.
whiskeysour
Keiyo Line & Sobu Lines have Oyaji MAINLY CHIBA PEOPLE START drinking beers on the train at 6AM - 7AM in the morning. What is wrong with these people drinking beers on a train ? Alcholic anyone ?
The sweet ladies are not on the sobu lines or keiyo lines. They wear summer shorts in the winter with no pantyhose. Strange fashion sense !!! I guess they don't mind having their legs freeze.
Patrick Smith
The sobu honsen out in rural chiba area usually has at least one to two creepy men who just walk up and down the train. I would say that compared to any other line I've used, the sobu line has the highest amount of passengers that can't seem to just stick to one seat.
WA4TKG
Is there a "Clam Diggers" car ? I'll start riding THOSE if they post signs on the outside Of the cars. And I want to know wha lines they're making the porno on. I'll patronize THAT train line !
papigiulio
only tokyoites ere? Osaka lines are mostly troublefree and full with babes. But the best is the Osaka-Kobe hankyuu line. Shame I dont work in Kobe heh
huddersboy
investigative journalism at its breast, sorry best
BoratLikeBarry
I once saw a woman punch a guy in the face on the Midosuji line in Osaka. The guy complained that she was pushing him and KICKED her as she got off the train. Totally uncalled for. She turned around and gave him a straight right to the face. It was brilliant.
It was quite hilarious because he had a mask on - when she punched him the mask jumped up over his eyes, thus covering his face with snot.
Fadamor
The article is about par for the course for what gets reprinted here from Kuchikomi/Shukan. So people who REALLY have a problem with the content never read it, because they KNOW what kind of stuff shows up in this section. Feel free to post where you find the "best" men. If any of them get on a train and are dressed so that their underwear can be seen by another rider, they deserve to be looked at.
Beelzebub
LOL@Fadamor -- but you just couldn't resist taking a peep, could you? I for one find it refreshing to see how readers of weekly magazines take pleasure in commiserating over human beings' many frailties.
HermioneGranger
I live on the Denentoshi line, and have found it just as rude as the rest. Especially full of old ladies who talk crap about the other passengers and hover over full regular seats hoping to guilt someone out of theirs when there are completely empty disabled/elderly seats nearby.
It is also one of the most crowded trains in all of Tokyo. Even during the middle of the day it is full to bursting with rude people that reek of cigarette smoke and shove you to get inside and stare at your chest. Ugh. Down with trains in general.
Foggia
“On the Meguro line that serves Sensoku and Ookayama, there are lots of affluent elderly people of large stature, and they can be quite annoying,” says a regular user. “On three occasions I’ve seen them blow up at nearby passengers, saying ‘I’m wearing a pacemaker, so don’t use your cell phone around me!’”
This guy is basically saying people with pacemaker are a nuisance to his little commuting habits. Wow.
Fadamor
Hey, I never said I had a problem with it. I just treat it like the tabloids back home... with LOTS of grains of salt.
Nessie
Pretty safe bet there are Asian females on most of these train lines, Einstein.
Psyops
wow, didnt know ppl actually paid that much attention while on the train. Yep, I see girls, yep I admire, nope i dont think about how rude or how many hotties or what they wear or what not are on the train. Main thing i think about is arriving at destination
YuriOtani
Do men have only one thing on their tiny little minds? It is the one thing that bonds them tougher no matter where they come from in this world.
Fadamor
Yuri, if the women are going to show it, the men will look. If you don't want someone looking at your underwear when you sit down, here's a newsflash... Don't wear your skirts so short that they can DO so. I, for one, don't think women are so clueless that they don't know what's happeneing, so they must be purposefully choosing their public attire to be seen. Of course I could be wrong and women really ARE that oblivious.
For situations like school uniforms where your choices are severely curtailed, I have the perfect solution: Have the schools mandate pantsuits for the girl's uniforms instead of skirts.
papigiulio
Ah yeah Midosuji line has some weirdos, but then again that line goes all the way to the south of Osaka, stinky part.
WilliB
YuriOtani:
Yes. And we like it :_)
Nessie
You should see us multitask.
888naff
"Pretty safe bet there are Asian females on most of these train lines, Einstein."
...well depends if thats the American or British English definition of an Asian. Its not only some Japanese that don't see them self as Asian..the British make it official from the BBC to ethnic classifications
DuraAce
@YuriOtani, "Do men have only one thing on their tiny little minds?"
Tiny little minds? What are you talking about? Who invented 99.99999% of EVERYTHING in the WHOLE WORLD? MEN DID.
It might seem like we only have one thing on our minds when from your perspective, as you are a woman, and the main interactions you have with men are largely sex driven, as that is all we need to think about when it comes to women. When we deal with greater, more complex subjects, you can rest assured our minds are on FIRE.
Fadamor
@DuraAce, speak for yourself. After 50 years I still find almost nothing is as complex as women. They're fricking BAFFLING! Give me nuclear biophysics ANY DAY over trying to figure out women. :D
METinTokyo
@Fadamor, LOL
JapanGeorgia
I live in Kanagawa, so I can tell you that the Sotetsu Line between Ebina and Yokohama always has hot girls, office ladies in their 20's and 30's who wear suits with short skirts, and sometimes (maybe purposely) offer a nice view for those sitting across for them.
The Odakyu Line, not so much. It seems like that one is packed with old people.
As for Tokyo subway lines, I always see hot girls on the Oedo Line going to Roppongi late on Fri or Sat night. After reading this article, I might have to start taking the Ginza Line more.
combinibento
I have seen the exact same thing on the exact same line (Meguro). I personally think folks who make the "I have a pacemaker" statement are liars. If there were a true, imminent and serious danger to pace-makers then we'd see those signs in restaurants, offices, stores, etc. It is more likely those people really like to call others out when they break the rules and use the pacemaker line as a pretext.
Disillusioned
Women like it just as much as men, but men aren't afraid to admit it.
somuchtalent
God bless japanese trains!! gotta move to Tokyo
Mittsu
Pacemaker weirdos all over - they should get a cab. also cute women an all lines. article is stupid, typical for Spa.
Loki520
Seriously.... what kind of question is that? "Best babes" vs. "worst habits"?
THESE are the topics that are foremost on people's minds?
To that I answer... Yokohama. Cut-n-Dry.
KevininHawaii
Fadamor - you listed only one of two options. the other is (if women don't want men looking at their underwear...) - don't wear any!
Hope this helps the dialog!