Take our user survey and make your voice heard.
The punctuality of Japanese trains often makes headlines around the world, but while rail staff and the trains themselves have a lot to do with the efficiency of the system, passengers play a role in keeping the trains running on time too.
Posters and rail announcements at the station ask passengers to follow basic rules and show common courtesy to others when riding the rails, which helps to ensure trains run without incident and on time. And while most are happy to oblige with these simple requests, sometimes there are commuters who decide to play by their own rules, causing havoc for rail staff and everyone else on the train.
Case in point is this man, who was filmed on a train in Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture recently. The man can be seen continually putting his hand in between the closing doors, causing them to open again and again, which stops the train from leaving the station at its designated time.
Take a look at what happened in the clip below.
The incident, which was originally filmed by a Twitter user who took the video down after it went viral, occurred at Sakae Station on the Higashiyama subway line at 8:40 p.m. on April 6. The clip has since been uploaded by several other users, showing the man purposely putting his left hand in between the closing doors, causing them to open and close at least seven times.
Another passenger even attempts to hold the man away from the door for a moment, but then a more senior-looking member of staff approaches the carriage. The man then tries to use his foot to keep the doors open, but as the staff member watches on, the doors finally close, allowing the train to pull away from the platform after a delay of at least one minute.
The passenger’s actions quickly became a hot topic online and on television talk shows, where presenters discussed the man’s irresponsible behavior. It’s unclear as to whether or not the man was inebriated, or if he had some personal beef with station staff, or if he simply wanted to get some attention and bask in the glow of hearing the onboard apology from the driver for the delay he’d created.
Whatever the reason, nobody was impressed, and many took to Twitter to voice their opinions about the incident.
“They should arrest him for obstruction of business.”
“There should be a rule that if someone does this the other passengers can push the person out and leave them on the platform.”
“Staff should’ve pulled him off the train.”
“I was on that train and can confirm it made us arrive a minute late at all the stations on the line.”
“Another case of rogai”
Rogai is a Japanese word that refers to problems caused by the elderly, especially gerontocracy, when elders exert excessive control over the young. While the term has become a bit of a buzzword following cases of reported crimes committed by the elderly in recent years, there’s been some discussion as to whether or not the passenger’s actions should be described as rogai or simply classified as a nuisance act.
Either way, the city’s transportation bureau made a statement following the incident, asking passengers to refrain from this type of behavior in the interest of public safety. Thankfully, though, the elderly commuter in the clip isn’t representative of all passengers travelling on a senior’s ticket.
Source: Twitter/@rudo2104
Read more stories from SoraNews24.
-- Commuter chaos at Shibuya Station after glass window breaks on door of crowded Japanese train
-- Drunken salaryman’s solution to barely missing the last train: Ride on the outside of it
-- Osaka earthquake hits city during peak hour, passengers freed after trains suspended
- External Link
- https://soranews24.com/2019/04/12/man-stops-train-from-leaving-station-in-japan-video-goes-viral-online/
51 Comments
Login to comment
Disillusioned
Saw this the other day. The cranky old loon should have been arrested for obstruction of business.
TIJ
"Rogai". Awesome. Useful word. Should have been the new era name instead of "Reiwa".
goldeneagle
Because no one talks about their daily delays. I am writing this comment from a train that has been delayed every day of the week with yesterday and day before yesterday’s delays of over 40 minutes
Yubaru
He very well still could be taken into custody if company chooses to file a formal complaint!
Kudos to the folks who kept their cool! I think if he was in some other country, someone would have slapped him upside his head, or maybe something worse!
Numan
This makes me so excited about the Olympics next year!
Bugle Boy of Company B
I would have pushed him out after the third time.
Bintaro
Well, De Gaulle was right : "Old age is a shipwreck".
kwatt
Weird old people seem everywhere. Why not got him out after second time interruption?
JJ Jetplane
I ride the Hankyu train from the first stop to Umeda every day in Osaka. My 8:33 train left at 8:38. Yesterday my 8:26 train left at 8:33. Suffice it to say my train never leaves the first stop on time. I can say the same for the Midosuji. JR regularly have delays.
The only trains that are regularly on time are Shinkansen type trains. Those are the ones that make world headlines. Not the regular, everyday, commute trains.
papigiulio
Yeah, im not sure why they just didn't pull him out. What goes on in your brain when you do this? Drunk? Mentally ill? Dementia?
jiji Xx
if they're 'basic rules' and 'common courtesy', why do we need the constant reminders?
Joe Yan
This video made me want to punch him in the face lol
ClippetyClop
Makes a difference from your usual, "He looks Chinese to me"
WA4TKG
If I was on that train, he would have been picking himself up off the platform.
Vince Black
Why didn't anyone just shove him out? And the lame attempts by the station staff were great
yoshisan88
This reminds me the times when I go inside a lift or elevator on ground floor and find all the button are pressed by someone (usually a kid or teen who just exits the lift). It really piss you off.
spektral
Rogai...sounds a lot like that anti-balding medicine Rogaine xD
anyway, I've seen a lot of crazy things in the train, I am glad I don't have to ride it on a daily basis during rush hour. Plus our famous Higasiyama line does experience a LOT of delays in the morning and it is quite upsetting...now I understand part of the reason for the delays.
Goodlucktoyou
There are 3 train lines I sometimes use in Kansai during the day. For some reason, every time I use JR, there is a crazy person or the train is delayed because of suicide. Odd.
sf2k
Conductor should have just removed him from the train. No telling if that behaviour wouldn't just continue up the line
itsonlyrocknroll
Pity the fellow, declining years for some brings the accompanied psychological changes. Some mellow, others gain a unique ability to inflict an infuriating level of cantankerous crotchety stroppiness.
A polite but firm return to the platform to contemplate his action whilst waiting for the next train could have the desired affect. With respect, his actions are akin to child-like attention seeking.
DaDude
He wouldn't have lasted in Osaka. People lose their temper easily if you mess with their pace.
Chico3
If that were me behind him, I would have pulled his arms in. That behavior is just irritating.
Chico3
I hear you. I know where you are talking about.
Chico3
Rogai...sounds a lot like that anti-balding medicine Rogaine xD
I wonder if there's a term for old people - "bengai?"
Maria
Laying hands on him could lead to assault charges, so it's just as well nobody got physical with him.
Personally, I am pleased to see that the sensors are working so effectively, after so many incidents of people getting trapped in doors.
theFu
It was 1 minute. Relax. Hardly life changing.
Rake your sand and pebble garden a little extra tonight. It will be ok.
Insane Wayne
HE IS DRUNK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OPEN your eyes. He is an old Japanese drunk. The bag has a one-cup sake in it and some dried SQUID !!!
Derek Grebe
Stupid old sod. I'd have hoofed him off the train with a toe to the nads.
Kenji Fujimori
hahaha funny guy, this should be a sporting event at the Olympics
finally rich
↑↑ these comments reflect the dangerous situation the average foreigners face while in Japan. Believe me, every few months I have to talk with foreigners in handcuffs because they tried to apply western common sense in Japan. Never touch anyone here, leave it to the station staff.
rainyday
This is an extremely mature and rational response.
But nobody is mature and rational like that when confronted with someone doing something as obnoxious as this. I would be going absolutely bonkers if I was on that train watching that old man do that and so would you!!
Also I used to live within walking distance of where this happened. That was on the busiest subway line in Nagoya at one of its busiest stations. He couldn't have chosen a more disruptive place to do that.
Derek Grebe
Wayne - no I wouldn't. It would be a public service. Daft old soak wouldn't have figured out what happened until the train was halfway to the next station. They'd give me a rousing cheer and wave me on my way.
finally rich
I respect your courage, but please, don't do it. Not worth losing your visa, work and life in Japan.
Cheers? You would look around and they would flinch, look terrified at you, a criminal investigation would be launched on spot and you would appear on tv in one of those non-story piece of news. Why do you think barely no one in that car full of people moved a finger? Some parts of the japanese education from birth are one of the main causes of the "invisible rules" that puzzle so many foreigners in this place.
Stewie
Wow..people getting worked up and agro about someone inconveniencing one minute of a day, but then take way longer than that reading and then commenting on the non event. And life goes on.
shogun36
The REAL question is, what was in the bag?
TIJ
I would have just yelled "bakayarooooh!" (rolling the 'r').
Deadforgood
Old people that karate chop their way through crowds annoy me. This is just a drunk prankster.
WA4TKG
TIU;
EXACTLY! In fact, I believe a "Ho' DA'; En'Dai' O' " or two are in order.
That would make 'em p in his pantsu', if it happened in Osaka.
savethegaijin
Ahhh this is going to get downvoted but
I laughed
ClippetyClop
@finally rich Seems you have some knowledge of this sort of situation. Would that also apply to the train guard who showed amazing restraint in not touching the old fella? I would have thought that he would have been justified in forcibly removing him from the train or restraining him.
Alex Einz
isnt this obstruction of business? if he on vid, sent cops to pick him up and charge him proper and reap rewards a plenty from his family ( unlikely from himself... well off people dont engage in such idiotism unless they are really mentally sick )
the added bonus is the next infantile that want to play the game ,will think twice before engaging...
englisc aspyrgend
He kept looking to his right, I wondered if he was waiting for someone and tried to hold the door for them? Alternatively he might have been looking at the member of staff and having a giraffe!
jjknk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOgnRIEuw4U&fbclid=IwAR3n_wJhg5TD09OcNBxKwaMwjDX7rdW8PGMILXzL9F62--Gft20Fokw3VBM This is Paris way, a good kick in the back.
redelmotalking
Agree, best to do what the natives do. Ignore the passive aggressive behaviour, which is all too frequent on the trains, and let the station staff deal with it. They've seen it all and generally know what to do.
Bugle Boy of Company B
I am not an average foreigner.
kurisupisu
‘finally rich’ is correct.
Getting involved physically won’t do any good and will inconvenience you more than the perp.
Thinking that you are somehow above average or below average or whatever, won’t matter one iota to the cops here as they WILL charge you with assault,especially if you initiate the first contact.
I base my advice on being here for decades......
Strangerland
I have to agree that touching this guy would have been a bad idea. Leave that to the station staff. Call him an idiot though - you're allowed to do that.
BackpackingNepal
So many people showed anger that they would push. But you won't able to do. You will be in trouble too by both society and law.
All Bark But No Bite.
Bugle Boy of Company B
Not sure how anyone is supposed to refute that.
Darryl Sebbens
This incident reappeared in one of my news feeds today. I'm still not convinced that he actually knew what was going on. Most of the time it was the plastic bag swinging that caught in the door. As for the very last part where he stuck his foot in the way, he was probably a bit pissed off by then due to the station attendant shoving him and the passenger grabbing his arm. All in all, a minor incident completely overblown by the media and a bunch of self-righteous young people who don't have any aged parents/grandparents to help them understand what life is all about.