When in Rome, they say, do as the Romans do. (Actually, in Japan, they say 郷に入っては郷に従え: when in the village, follow the village – but, hey, same concept.) But what happens when the locals don’t even agree on what the local customs are? Case in point: the ongoing debate in Japan over what exactly to do with a large backpack on a crowded train.
Navigating the convenient – but crowded – subway system
The train systems in Japan are properly praised by both locals and visitors alike. Tokyo’s subway system alone serves millions daily. Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Ikebukuro Stations alone see over seven million passengers a day.
The convenience has its downsides. Most stations serve trains from multiple railway companies and have evolved organically over time. That means some of them can be a nightmare to navigate. Even local residents complain that stations like Shinjuku and Shibuya are hard to traverse.
If locals are confused, you can only imagine how tourists feel. Even with plentiful signage in Korean, Mandarin Chinese, and English, it can be difficult for first-time visitors to figure out where to go. I experienced this myself when I first came to Tokyo in 2016. We spend a fair amount of time with our clients at Unseen Japan Tours teaching them how to get around by train when they first get here.
The other downside is that everyone uses the trains – which means that, during peak commuter times, they’re packed to the gills. In particular, people cram into key lines like the Yamanote until there’s no space left.
Front-facing backpack = NG?
Everyone agrees that a packed train sucks. That’s why there are rules and customs around how to conduct yourself on a crowded subway. One of those rules is to take your large backpack off your back so you don’t bump into other passengers with it.
The question is: where do you put it?
The unspoken rule has been to swing the backpack to your front, wearing it on your chest (前抱え; mae-kakae). However, in the past few years, some have questioned whether this isn’t just as bad as wearing it on your back. Some social media users say this does nothing to reduce the actual surface area you take it – it just shifts the problem around.
Others argue that mae-kakae comes with other numerous downsides. First, it’s not comfortable for pregnant women. Second, it causes you to flail your elbows out when you’re using your smartphone – meaning you take up even more space than if you’d just kept your backpack where it was.
Some women also say they want to keep their backpacks on their backs because it’s a good way to prevent groping (痴漢; chikan) attacks – a serious (and underreported) problem in Japan’s subways. One woman told reporter Ootani Yurie:
“I can see in front of me and deflect attacks with my hands. But without a backpack on, my back is defenseless. I hope people can understand that we keep our backpacks on to defend ourselves on trains, where groping happens a lot.”
What do rail companies recommend?
What’s interesting about the “wear it on the front” custom is that it’s not a recommendation that railway companies themselves make.
Last year, a consortium of 19 rail companies in the Kansai region (encompassing Kyoto and Osaka) released a set of comprehensive recommendations for good manners on the train. For backpacks, the companies recommended one of three strategies:
- Hold your backpack in your hands
- Set it on the rack above the train seats
- If seated, hold it on your lap
In the Kanto region encompassing Tokyo, official announcements urge passengers to use one of the first two strategies.
However, as Ootani writes, not everyone’s down with this advice. Many say their packs are too heavy to hold or that they’re worried other passengers will kick them. Some men even say they worry they’ll be accused of groping or of illicit photography if they have their hands out in front of them.
So…what’s the right answer?
In her article, Ootani argues that all four of these strategies can be either mannered or ill-mannered. The important thing, she argues, is to be aware of your surroundings and how you’re impacting other passengers, no matter which way you hold your belongings.
Other train manner rules
Beyond minding your backpack, there are a few other rules most sites recommend to help keep the peace during rush hour. Follow these tips to be a good train-riding citizen:
- Stand in the designated areas of the platform when waiting for the train. This usually means forming diagonal lines to the left and the right of the doors, which enables other passengers to leave the train easily.
- Wait until everyone who’s getting off at the current station leaves the train before boarding.
- If you’re on the train near the doors and it stops at an intermediate station, step out of the train and onto the platform to let other passengers disembark. Then, get back on the train after everyone’s left.
- When your station’s coming up, signal that you want to disembark there – e.g., by picking up your backpack, putting up your smartphone, and looking at the door. Most passengers will pick up on these signals and make room for you to leave when the time comes.
- Some people will shout すみません！降ります (sumimasen! Orimasu; Pardon me, this is my stop) when trying to get out of a crowded train. There’s usually no reason to do this unless someone’s being oblivious to the flow of people.
Most of these tips are common sense. However, common sense can fly out the window when you have somewhere you need to be. Keeping these rules in mind during a rush will make your subway ride smoother for you and everyone around you.
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Sources
電車内で「前リュック」はマナー違反なのか 鉄道会社も配慮する“リュックは前に抱えるな派”の言い分. Asahi AERA Dot
混雑時にリュックを前に抱えるのは｢マナー違反｣…鉄道各社が｢荷物は手に持って｣と呼びかける理由. President Online
「前抱え」はもう古い？ 通勤電車のリュック問題「迷惑度ナンバー1」は背中や肩のリュック!? 知っておきたい最新マナーとは. Vague
知らないと苦労する東京の電車の乗車マナーと心得とは？Asouken
