Good manners

cute

I don't ride the trains much, but the only people I ever saw eating or drinking who were a problem were either to stupid or drunk to read anyway. This sign would not have helped.

"please consider the people around you...."?? i'm a lone passenger on late night train :)

I.e., "Please stop acting like babies."

Nothing will change ..

Cripes, just ban that stinky dried squid on trains. And buses.

Hmm usually love these posters but this one sucks and is gratuitous use of cute. The one with a parrot rubbing its head on another parrot at least resembled the situation they were making a point of (dozing off and falling all over everybody).

The one with the dog covering its ears (keep your music down) was nothing more than cute either. I hereby declare this campaign boring, but probably effective.

I consider other people on the train all the time. I'll try not to get any on you.

This is where I stand. If a human being is hungry or thirsty and has no time, EAT or DRINK. I really don't care or mind. As long as you don't blaze up a BBQ pit it's all good. I also don't appreciate the hypocrisy by placing Kiosks on platforms and then saying you shouldn't eat.

I love cats though. They are so cute. Great info-ad.

I have a Quarter Pounder on the train yesterday, fries and a shake. Didn't bother anyone.

If you want to change something in regards to train manner then tell Japanese girls to stop trying to sleep on my shoulder. Also tie your hair back so it doesn't get in my food Hahahahaha. J/K I don't want you hair all over my coat, that happens.

I'm not your boyfriend. J-girls want to complain about train gropers but turn around and sleep on my shoulder. It's not fair I tell you. If you can sleep all over me then it's only fair that I should be able to fondle my new girl, HA!!

I don't mind...as long as:

You eat food politely - no making eating noises, lip smacking, no sucking your teeth clean... You pick up your mess when you are done. Don't leave it in the seat. You DON'T stink up the whole train with your food!!! I hate people who walk on with fast food...it makes the whole train reek of it!

I have a Quarter Pounder on the train yesterday, fries and a shake. Didn't bother anyone.

I'm going to hazard a guess and say there were no other people on that train. Or you didn't notice any other people. Or they were very good at not making their discomfort visible.

Cripes, I get a thumbs down for saying ban that stinky dried squid on trains?　Heh.

Why do these train civility posters ALWAYS seem to address the wrong issues?

I hate people with crinkly plastic bags on the early morning commute. That really annoys me more than two people sitting side by side and screaming at each other on the early morning commute.

Those things bother me so much, that when I am going home in the evening, I pull out my Coleman Koozie cup and pop a cold beer in it and enjoy the ride home.

Can someone please help me on this one. Why does japanese even if they are not hungry, buy a vento to eat it as soon they get in the Shinkansen, and they dont care who is seating next to then to make those ugly sucking soba noise, like is a restaurant.?

why? please why? so please dont tell me is one of those unique japanese cultural thingy, because japan didn't have train let say 100 years ago.

I have a Quarter Pounder on the train yesterday, fries and a shake. Didn't bother anyone.

NetNinja - Did u ask if you were being disgusting? You were. Then again, people with no sense of manners don't care, do they? I wouldn't pull such a disgusting act on a train in my home country let alone in Japan where I knew after 5 minutes it was frowned upon. Thanks for re-inforcing the image of the uncultured gaijin.

If you want to change something in regards to train manner then tell Japanese girls to stop trying to sleep on my shoulder.

And yes, NetNinja. Everyone is now aware of how (depite stuffing your face with fast-food) strikingly sexy you must be.

I'm not too pleased with the translation - a bit repetitive, using the verb "consider" twice. In Japanese the word play is pleasing, but not so much in English,

I think it's fine to eat on the train, but it depends on the time of day and also what you are eating.

A Big Mac and fries during the rush hour would be a bit much... mainly because I would be thinking "Damn, why haven't I got one too?"

But a sandwich and drink when the train is a bit emptier... why would anyone complain about that?

Tax money well spent. A kitten, a cookie and a glass of milk and a panel of drones brainstorming it up. Hey if we make it cute people will point and see it and things will change (go for the kids). Tell you what. Have a sign that says ¥10,000 yen fine for eating and rewards given to tips. Done. However I think you get a proper beating and a fine on the Singapore MTR...that is another story.

PS... the milk should be a beer can.

Posters are ok. Just let's keep it visual and not have yet another unnecessary noisy announcement.

I applaud anyone who can eat a Big Mac, fries and top it off with a Cola riding a train rush hour. Dexterity, agile motor skills and a brain born to multitask!

It always makes me smirk a little to hear Japanese complaining about ladies applying make up on the train as if it was one of the seven deadly sins! There's a lot worse going on than that in my opinion....probably being perputrated on a daily basis by the very same moaning ladies! I don't mind folk having a munching session on the train as long as they aren't burping in my face while making loud culinary appreciation noises. And they don't leave the packaging behind.

Great! Now we need posters for Nose-picking Putting on make-up Talking too loud Wearing shitty earphones that let too much noise out Bringing on stinky luggage Being drunk Being rude Being obnoxious Staring at people in an intimidatory manner Leering Leching Perving reading pornographic material

Did I miss any?

I don't like the guys who crack open a big can of brew and open up a big pouch of dried squid. Is this necessary?

Haha... XDDD

I can't stop giggling about that first sentence. "Have you seen someone like this?" - Hum, don't think I have... Wait WHAT?!

And then I'm thinking "What in the world is this poster about??" looks below Oh~~ " Food consideration" - Wait... HUH?!

Couldn't they at least put a PERSON eating...maybe ON A TRAIN? hummm.....

Though, I haven't seen that many people eating on trains here (kansai) So, I agree with others, maybe there are OTHER ISSUES to be addressed, yeah? ^^;

i can kinda understand food being impolite, especially the smell, but what's wrong with drinking? having a few sips of my oolong cha isn't going cause anyone offense.

what they really need is a poster for that guy who stands in front of the door when it opens and doesn't move to let people off. hello, you are blocking the entrance/exit you moron!!

I still love the cartoon poster series from 2010? Swimming through doors etc. There was an even funnier set of spinoffs made by some clever artists; my favourite being the drunk haloween costumed foreigners with a slogan under it saying "please do it in your own country"

Milk and a cookie on a train can quite a screaming child.

hey cactus if you want a piece of squid just ask me ok! As for the brew, well thats BYOB haha

Well this is ANOTHER infantile ad for a country if infants, will Japan ever graduate from never never land............likley never sadly

Please consider people around you before you consider eating or drinking on the train.

That's right people, please share your food and drink with people around you.

This would be another one of the items in the trains most people would ignore.

So far, there are:

Set cellphones to manner (silent) mode Turn off cellphones when near the priority seats Avoid phone conversations Letting the elderly, pregnant, disabled and injured have a seat in the priority seats Putting baggage on the seats during rush hour Using earphones or headsets listening to music with full volume Commuters with large backpacks still on their backs

Ad nauseaum.

rickyvee....have you ever heard of the shoulder butt? I did that this morning and knocked the guy back 2 meters. I hate those idiots too.

I do like watching women put on makeup, especially when they poke the eye liner pen into their eye.

Or draw lipstick across their cheek.

Personally, just the smell of someone's fast food on the train annoys me. I don't see people eating often on the trains here. Nor drinking. Don't have a problem with drinking to be honest.

The shoulder sleepers get a good elbow to the ribs. It is bad enough I have to sit in such close proximity to people I don't know but when they try and use me as a pillow? They get woken up with a jab.Only a few times have I had to actually tell them to stop it. The look of shock is classic. How dare I interrupt their nap?! ALWAYS young folks. Never had anyone over the age of 30 try and sleep on me.

As for the poster, as usual, cute and ineffective.

If they don't want people eating and drinking on trains, they need to do something about those ladies who stand on the platform selling tea and ekiben.

So if you shouldn't eat on the train, why do they sell food and drinks at the kiosks on the platforms? And some trains are ok to eat on as the shinkansen and Odakyu's Romance trains where they bring the food to you.

Overalll manners on Japan's trains are incredibly good. I just moved here from Singapore and the thing that really bothered me there was that people trying to get on a train often did not move to the side of the doors to let people off. They just stood there in the middle.

Who says eating and drinking is not allowed in the train? Read the notice please and share your food with people around you. :-)

If you can sleep all over me then it's only fair that I should be able to fondle my new girl, HA!!

Why, have you done that?

You are right deepstar6

Being rude is not sharing. So pass the fries around, and let other back flow chunks into you bottle of tea.

Eating is better than depositing noodles on a late night train.

Oh my God, the kitten already ate half of the biscuit, so it seems that she is not so considerate of other passengers!!!

Personally, I'd prefer the train smelling of fast food rather than your average stinky alcoholic salaryman. JR trains in general reek of that smell homeless people emit. I'd gladly welcome someone bringing in fast food or a cup of coffee to neutralize the stench. So yes, if you aren't eating something overwhelmingly stinky, like dried squid etc., you should be able to eat and drink on the run. Just remember to take your trash with you when you disembark.

Just like it is good manners to offer your seat when you see a needy in train, it is good manners to offer your food to the hungry. Thats what the manner poster says isn't it?

(Flashing back to my elementary school days) Teacher: "You brought candy to school? Well I certainly hope you brought enough for EVERYBODY!"

Here, eating and drinking is not allowed at all on the metro, but it's not because of a "being considerate" reason (like THAT would ever work in the D.C. area!) It's because they don't want to have the cars gummed-up with spilled food and drink one month after the cars are put into service.

Letting such a tiny kitty eat such a big bikky is animal abuse.

He could drown in that huge glass of milk.

fist, relax! What exactly is wrong with someone eating something on the train and cleaning up after themselves? I will continue to eat on the train because I am clean and considerate when I am doing so. I will not ebcome so uptight like many of you posters have become...u may think this is rude...nah it is just living my life the way i want to live....oh yeah I am NOT hurting anybody else either.

happymanintokyo - My beerfarts don't hurt anyone on a train either. Many will say I'm rude...nahhh, its just living my life the way I want to live!

Look out, tonight, Yamanote Line!

I don't know if it has anything to do with the way I was brought up or if it's just my natural shyness but it seems to me food should remain in the "places" that are designed for eating : ie. Restaurants, dining cars, picnic areas, etc. and personally, I would never dream of eating "in public" - be it on a train or walking my dog through the park (I'm too busy taking care of cleaning up the "remains" of his meals anyway...!)

@Fadamor

because they don't want to have the cars gummed-up with spilled food and drink one month after the cars are put into service.

Atleast railway officials get a chance to clean the inside of coaches once in a while.

Hoserfella. I understand your point. However you'll never convince me that putting food in my mouth is disgusting. If anything Japan and it's plans to triple consumption tax wants to take food off my table.

Forgive me people. I beg for your holy forgiveness. I have eaten when you did not give me permission to. I should have starved the death on that train. I should've cancelled some of the things that my BOSS asked me to do during my lunch break that I didn't get. Oh for some reason it's like I can't conform. I can't be NIHONJIN.

Okay, now lets get down to some rock solid facts. I don't wake up in the morning thinking about how exciting it would be to eat on the train. What a great place. I AVOID the train at all costs and.....and EVEN if I were not eating they'd still look down on me as they have in the past. Even if I didn't have a brown McDonalds bag on my lap they still wouldn't sit next to me. You think I'm reinforcing a negative Gaijin image? Ha. I'd say to you "Good luck trying to be seen as equal here" Don't act like you don't know what i'm talking about when I say "They don't sit next to Gaijin on the train".

You see where I'm going with this? Nobody WANTS to eat on the train. It's not COOL or Kakoi but when you are treated like you are the lowest form of life, when you are stared at, eavesdropped on, slept on, and avoided like you have the hibbee jibbees and then they want to lecture you about eating on the train? I'll eat if I'm hungry.

Truth be told I ride the train maybe once in a blue moon. I drive everywhere Hoser. One more thing, that none of you thought to ask was where were you? I was in the Green Car. I paid more for my seat. Where's my proof...hmmm...oh wait...JR lost my data and didn't refund my money. Shall I upload it to YouTube for you? I see Japanese eating in there all the time. I see Japanese eat on the train in ANY car. If they can do it, we can do it too.

You see people. No follow-up-questions?!? We are so eager to judge. We are ready to pounce and deem ourselves Gods of society and tell people they are WRONG. We must stop judging people. We must let some people do for themselves. A guy made an illegal right turn in front of me today. I let him do it actually. However the guy to me left became upset and got out of his car to scold him. I got out of my car cause I was the one who let him turn right. Turns out the guy was almost out of gas and his car was sputtering. He made it to the gas station just in time.

You see that? Don't be quick to judge. We don't know why he's eating on that train.

@Hoserfella P.S: Sorry if I hurt your credit with the Japanese. Didn't know you wanted to impress them so much. LMFAO for you: I'm sexy and I know it.

i don't think putting cute characters/animals will not help coz cute animals gives positive nuance to the poster thus making the act positive/acceptable or even worse, cute. if they put monsters/disgusting creatures instead, it will create a thinking that the only person doing that act is just like that on the poster

Saw a woman eating a BENTO (a Japanese lunchbox) on the train the other day, but it was cold so there was no smell. But when people get on with McDonaldos it makes me the crazy!

JacquelineMiyagaya - I can't believe some poor sole actually gave you a thumbs down for humbly saying you were brought up the right way, with a sense of decency and shame.

NetNinja - as always, Oy vey....

I've seen people taking cats in the train, but they didn't eat them... well not in front of us.

Well now it's getting racial. If I eat a bento and the money went to a Japanese shop it's okay. If I make sure the money is in someway getting back to the U.S or supporting the American image then it's wrong and foul.

Well, please enjoy your cold bento on the train. You are eating it. I like my food hot cause I'm not Japanese. I'm eating it.

You see if we stay on topic then we have to read the poster again. It just says eating. It doesn't say what you eat. It just says eating.

We are all eating on the train. Case closed.

people trying to get on a train often did not move to the side of the doors to let people off. They just stood there in the middle.

Wow! People move where you live? Where I live and have lived, everyone crowds around the doors, no one moves when people try to get on and off unless pushed out of the way. The people waiting also don't wait until passangers get off. I don't get it - common sense to me. Let them out so I can get but...

when I look at this poster,first thing that pops into my mind was, eh, another of those cute pix of kittens.. then I realised it's a community service poster. they should put another kitten eyeing the food to give it good impact. this one look like the train is so cosy, you could have meal properly like sitting on your kitchen table

but again, you know, as a person who have to skip lunch or rush lunch so I can get to my assignment on time or in between assignment, I do eat in the train if I have no time to sit and properly have my meal. I feel you netninja

Well now it's getting racial. If I eat a bento and the money went to a Japanese shop it's okay. If I make sure the money is in someway getting back to the U.S or supporting the American image then it's wrong and foul.

Nobody said that explicitly. McDonaldos Japan is a separate entity to the US counterparty. None of its money goes to the US. So that is not the issue at all. It was about the smell of the food, and fast food, on the train being a powerfully smell that makes people feel hungry.

fast food, on the train being a powerfully smell that makes people feel hungry.

...or nauseous.

It was about the smell of the food, and fast food, on the train being a powerfully smell that makes people feel hungry. Some bentos stink as well. They just don't have the staying power that fast food does.

Some bentos stink as well.

Which ones, specifically?

This seems like a great big waste. Everyone knows cats can't read.

NetNinja ＞Even if I didn't have a brown McDonalds bag on my lap they still wouldn't sit next to me. Therefore you shouldnt have a problem with all those girls who fall asleep on trains as.....they wouldnt be sitting next to you....... And if you are in the green car.... seats are bigger, not likely to get someone falling asleep on your shoulder in one of those. Im not against eating on trains. I is just sayin

when you are stared at, eavesdropped on, slept on, and avoided like you have the hibbee jibbees Not many people sleep on people they are trying to avoid. Or is it safest place is the heart of danger?. Cant really complain about eavesdropped on..... anything said on a train is pretty fair game no?

Oh and if i was choosing somewhere to sit on the train, I probably wouldnt choose the seat beside someone who is eating, esp a MackyDs.......... makes sense no? And i would understand why people dont line up to sit beside me on the train if I am eating something.

NetNinja-I was wondering about that last diatribe, too. Your first post pictured you noisily scarfing down fast food in one hand and beating off love-starved Japanese hotties with the other. In your next post, however, no one will even sit next to you while u quietly nosh in the green car. What gives?

scarfing down fast food in one hand and beating off love-starved Japanese hotties with the other.

Yeh Hosefella, makes me tres jealous ; )

All that multitasking

NetNinja, its not paranoia if they ARE out to get you eh.

"Milk and a cookie on a train can quiet a screaming child"

Airline flight attendants should provide milk & cookies!

Okay. I considered the other passengers on the train and now I am going to eat my onigiri and drink my ocha! The message isn't really clear. Is it okay or not okay to eat on the train?

Come on people, you've obviously never been on a train in London or elsewhere - Japanese are very good in comparison, except for the odd exception or gaijin misbehaving!

Which ones, specifically?

Any ones with fish and nori for examples. Specifically? You think I know the names of the stinky ones? I stay as far away as possible!

I won't even begin to discuss the noises people make here while eating...

Specifically? You think I know the names of the stinky ones? I stay as far away as possible!

So why don't we compromise, meet in the middle and agree that no BENTO (Japanese lunch box) is stinky.

It's OK to eat on the train as long as you're not eating that stinky dried squid.

On a regular train, I do think it is bad manners to be eating, but if you are on a shinkasen (bullet train) hey kiss my ass, let me enjoy a few beers, beef jerky etc..its miller time! or should I say Kirin, Asahi, Ebisu time if you like beer! On a regular train, no way, too crowded.

BURPING in public here in Japan is my pet peeve, although my wife says I am no one to talk about this, I guess my low level belching is on her radar??

hoserfella

Thank you for your kind comment ! I would just feel extremely self-conscious if I ever tried to eat "in public"... (but I guess I never will !)

There is nothing like the cats' " MEOW " to attract attention!. In the U.S. eating is prohibited on most mass transit systems .They have enough clean-up work from the so-called sill-proof containers that are allowed ?

first month living in Japan, can't forget people's stares in the streets while eating a bag of Lotteria hamburgers and riding my mama-chari to the office. ._.

Leave Net Ninja alone. he is not hurting anybody. If you are hungry you should eat.

If you are hungry you should eat.

But not when on the bus or train or when walking. Being considerate to others is the most important. You can wait to eat.

So why don't we compromise, meet in the middle and agree that no BENTO (Japanese lunch box) is stinky.

How on earth is that meeting in the middle? If anything, you should be admitting that some of them DO stink. That would be meeting in the middle.

Oh and fast food includes MOS, Freshness Burger... all Japanese companies, right?

For me it depends on the type of train.

Yamanote-line or similar I wold accept an onigiri or a sandwich but not McD or similar.. A commuter train like the Red Arrow, Azusa, or similar a Bento, etc is fine.

NO, J4p4nFTW. I eat when I NEED to eat. You are not my daddy and most certainly not the boss of me.

If I choose to be considerate and not eat that's my priority. I won't have you thinking you can tell people what they can and cannot do. It's just a guideline you know.

People who want to have a snack on the train usually try to sit away from people anyway.

Being considerate of others in NOT the most important thing. If you are hungry then eat. You're backwards. You got it all wrong.

Hey it's not polite to give people cancer from second hand smoke but in Japan they do it anyway. My Quarter Pounder WITH cheese isn't going to give you a heart attack, just me. It is evident that you have issues with foreigners in Japan anyway so let them eat up. The train might hit a bump and the french frie might get caught in my throat and I'lll choke to death. One less Gaijin, right?

Over 15 years in Japan, you haven't failed to ignore me....Shiranpuri. So keep ignoring me and other non-Japanese as we CHOMP CHOMP chow down on Kentucky if we are absolutely starving.

It's an illusion to think anybody cares about you in this country. As this is the case you better eat while you have the chance. Especially if you boss won't let you go home for dinner.

Madonna: Poor is the man whose pleasures depend on the permission of others.

I won't let my fries get cold. Even if they are in the bag it'll still stink up the train. It's probably better if I eat them quickly.

So keep ignoring me and other non-Japanese as we CHOMP CHOMP chow down on Kentucky if we are absolutely starving.

Netninja- let me say I'll not only ignore you as well, but slither off to another car rather than watch a fellow foreigner cement the reputation we have amongst Japanese as only able to consume greasy fast food, AND not have the good sense to eat it in private.

@hoserfella

It's no use arguing with "ishi atama" people - they'll always be right and we'll always be better "brought up"...

@jacqueline- u forgot to mention they are usually the loudest, as well!

@hoserfella

Well I thought everyone was aware of that... there seem to be more posts by "Netninja" than by anyone else... usually bringing everyone else down...

From what I've read food is sold in the stations even on the platform. It does not take a rocket scientist to deduce this action will encourage consumption to foodstuff on the trains. It's funny how the two loudest posters are the ones trying to sound condescending It's Too funny. Thanks hoserfella and jacqueline miyagaya, I've had a laugh.

Utrack - after you stop laughing, u might want to know that kiosks on platforms sell small snacks such as nuts, pocky sticks, and drinks. Mostly to be enjoyed on the platform but not a problem on the train, either. Unlike a huge, sloppy, smelly fast food meal enjoyed by posters I shall not name.

I love these ads. Don't eat anything, or drink anything, or fall asleep indecorously.

By all means pick your nose and pretend not to see pregnant women or men on crutches, however.

Truth is you'll never see me eating in the regular passenger areas. I don't use the train for one and if I do, it'll probably be the green car if I want to eat.

I've eaten on the train before...usually an onigiri or piece of bread to hold me over through the next task/lesson/etc. Tokyo lifestyle doesn't really allow for leisurely sit-down meals...

It's true that if they don't sit next to foreigners on the train then there is no danger of food being spilled on them. Netninja, I like your quiet way of protesting too, if they are going to look down on you, then it's fine to break their rules too, isn't it?

It's true that if they don't sit next to foreigners on the train

It isn't true that 'they' don't sit next to foreigners on the train.

AmericanForeigner, my protest doesn't end there. I make sure it's American food as well. This was an interested thread. It was a mountain out of a mole hill. 97 posts and counting.

Everybody has a different perspective. For me, it's a different experience in Japan. It's never everyday life as the government would like to portray it to be. Coming from America I grew up with rights and liberties. I cherish them more than others given my background, the trials and tribulations that my ancestors had to endure. I wouldn't let ANYONE tell me where and when I can eat.

I see it all differently (Lonely too). I see these signs telling you not to eat in order to be considerate and respectful of others and at the same time I see these same people with their political beliefs raising consumption tax and not properly inspecting food in Japan, LITERALLY taking food off my table and out of the mouth's of my family members.

Unfortunately some individuals want to blow this thread out of proportion. Some have this idea that if I snap into a Slim Jim the world is going to end. That their day is going to be ruined. There are a 100 things WRONG on the trains today. I've seen it all. Someone feeding their face is the least of my worries.

Right on! We get treated so badly here by the populace and now they want to tell us where and when to eat! These rules seem squarely aimed at US style fast food too. Well, there's a line and this is it!

Eating competitions, eating cooking shows, eating on TV lacking table manners, gross food tasting are attacking us from the TV screen non stop. First stop all the idiotic eating shows and food eating advertising on TV and then maybe no need to promote public manners through slogans on the trains.

the trials and tribulations that my ancestors had to endure. I wouldn't let ANYONE tell me where and when I can eat.

Yes, NetNinja. Thats exactly what those brave men were thinking about while storming the beaches of Normandy and Tarawa;

"This is for that unborn child who someday will have the freedom to cram a Big Mac down his cakehole on the Yamanote line!"

the trials and tribulations that my ancestors had to endure. I wouldn't let ANYONE tell me where and when I can eat.

That's the problem right there... You (your ancestors) take over a country that doesn't belong to you, kill the natives and/or force them to live on "reservations" while you live your "American freedom"... and feel free to do - eat - where and when you like...Give me a break !

@Jacqueline Miyagaya its called survival of the fittest, Japan was lucky America decided to the the country back to them after the war, but doesnt matter since Japans slowly getting killed off economically by it asian neighbors anyways.

It is true that it's pretty galling that they tell us not to eat on the trains when they have all those food shows on TV and talk about food constantly. They even have McDonalds posters everywhere but apparently it's not good enough to be eaten on the train.

Tmarie - the tsukemono in some bento can smell just as bad as a cabbage fart... I hope you know how that smells...

It is true that it's pretty galling that they tell us not to eat on the trains when they have all those food shows on TV and talk about food constantly. They even have McDonalds posters everywhere but apparently it's not good enough to be eaten on the train.

AmericanForeigner - have u ever seen a food show or fast food commercial with people eating on the trains? No? Me neither. I guess they just assume people would have the common sense to eat somewhere like a restaurant, at home, a park....