[Image1][English/Japanese]There are many foreign tourists who come to Japan and take the train from the airp
[Image2][English/Japanese]There are many foreign tourists who come to Japan and take the train from the airp

[English/Japanese]
There are many foreign tourists who come to Japan and take the train from the airport. However, Japanese trains have unique rules and systems that can be very complicated for those who are not used to them. In this article, I would like to introduce you to the Japanese train system.

Complicated and difficult to understand! Subway route map
Have you ever seen a train route map in Tokyo? (See the picture.) It looks like a maze and has a very complicated shape. I've heard that foreign tourists panic when they see this map. Especially the subway is more complicated. However, if you learn the colors of the subway symbols, it may seem a little easier. The Tokyo subway system is color-coded. If you get lost in a station, you can easily reach your destination by walking towards the colored markings. Please be aware of this and take a look.

Being late is strictly prohibited
One of the most common surprises I hear from international students when they get on the train is that the train arrives on time. If you are even one minute late, you may see a "delay" notice on the electronic bulletin board. Also, when you board a delayed train, you will hear the conductor announce,
"We apologize for the delay in the train. "
When student heard this announcement, she once asked me why I was apologizing when the train was only delayed for one minute. If there is a delay, you will be notified immediately on the Internet. It might be a good idea to check before you get on the train.

Don't make the mistake of riding in the women-only car
During the morning commute, the rear car of the train is sometimes reserved for women. The term "women-only car" does not mean that only women can ride in it. Boys of elementary school age or younger, disabled people and their caregivers are also allowed to ride. I have heard of a man who made a last-minute rush to get on a train just as it was about to depart, and was embarrassed when he mistakenly got on the women-only car. When you get on a train, make sure you have enough time to spare.

Different melodies at each station
When you get on or off the train, you will hear music. Did you know that the music is different for each station? For example, Ueno Station, which is famous for its cherry blossoms, plays the melody of the song "Sakura," while Takadanobaba Station plays the theme song from the anime "Astro Boy" by the famous cartoonist Osamu Tezuka. Incidentally, Hachioji Station, where our school is located, plays a children's song called "Yuuyake Koyake". Please listen to it when you get on the train.

There are many other things that international students are surprised to hear on the train. I will continue to introduce them in the next article.

Many people come to Japan and take the train from the airport. However, Japan trains have unique rules and systems, which can be very complicated for those who are not used to them. This time, I will introduce such a Japan train.

Complex and difficult! Subway Map
Have you ever seen a train map in Tokyo? It looks like a maze and has a very complex shape. I have heard that foreign tourists who see this route map are the first to panic. Especially the subway is more complicated. However, it may seem a little easier if you remember the color of the subway mark. Each subway in Tokyo is color-coded. If you get lost in the station, you can walk towards the landmarks of that color to make it easier to reach your destination. Please be aware of it.

Late arrivals are strictly prohibited
The most common story that international students hear about being surprised on the train is that the train comes on time. If you are even 1 minute late, you may see a "delay" notification on the electronic bulletin board. Also, when you get on a delayed train, the conductor announces, "I'm sorry that the train is late." When I heard this announcement, a student asked me, "Why apologize when you're only one minute late?" Information about delays is constantly circulating on the Internet. You may want to check it out before you get on the train.

Don't make a mistake and ride Women-only car
During the morning commute, the rear car of the train may be a women-only car. Even though it is a "women-only car", it does not mean that only women can ride it, but it is also available to boys of elementary school age and younger, people with physical disabilities, and their caregivers. I have heard stories of men who rushed in at the last minute when the train was leaving and accidentally got into the women-only car, which made him feel embarrassed. When you get on the train, be sure to allow plenty of time.

Different melodies for each station
Music plays when you get off the train and get on it. Did you know that the music is different for each station? For example, Ueno Station, famous for its cherry blossoms, plays the melody of a song called "Sakura", and Takadanobaba Station plays the theme song of the anime "Astro Boy" by famous manga artist Osamu Tezuka. By the way, in Hachioji, where our school is located, a nursery rhyme called "Yuyake Koyake" is played. Please ask when you get on the train.

There are many other things that surprise international students on the train. We will continue to introduce it next time.

This text has been automatically translated.
Show original text Hide original text
Next social media post
Sep. 1, 2021
[English/Japanese] Continuing from the previous article, I would like to introduce the public transportation system in Japan. Are trains and buses quiet in Japan? I often hear from international students that they are surprised at how quiet buses are in Japan. In Japan, it is against etiquette to talk loudly or make phone calls on the train or bus. Therefore, when you see people on the train, most of them are operating their phones or reading books. Also, you may see women dozing off because it is not only quiet but also safe. However, there is one sight that surprises foreigners, even among Japanese people who are said to have good manners. That is, there are women who wear makeup on the train. I've heard many people say that they stared at the dexterity of these women as they applied their makeup on the train. It would be interesting to look around and see what they are doing when you get on the train or bus. The hellish commuter rush Compared to people in other countries, the Japanese are a nation of people who keep their distance from each other. However, on the train during commuting, you will see scenes that make this hard to believe. In Tokyo, from about 7:30 to 9:00 in the morning, the train occupancy rate is about 180%. The boarding rate is the ratio of the number of people actually on board to the capacity. When the ratio is 100%, all the seats are occupied; when it is 180%, the train is so crowded that people standing in the train have a hard time just keeping both feet on the ground. In this crowded train, fights often break out. Everyone is irritated and it is a dangerous train. I have heard that some foreign tourists ride the train on purpose to experience this commuter rush. This is not something that I would ever recommend doing, so please do not do this. Do you ride the bus from the front? Do you ride from the back? Did you know that the way to get on a train is the same for all trains, but the way to get on a bus is different depending on the bus? Basically, buses have a front door and a back door. Some ride from the front, while others ride from the back. Also, some buses have a flat rate and you pay at the beginning, while others have different rates based on the number of bus stops you pass. The system differs from bus to bus, so when you get on a bus, ask the bus driver how to get on, or watch other people before you get on the bus. By the way, when you want to get off, listen to the announcement saying the name of the bus stop and press the button. This is the same for all buses, so don't worry. Forgotten items will be returned. What should you do if you have forgotten your luggage on the train? If you notice that you forget something right away, tell the station staff right away the train you were on and where you were sitting. If you are lucky, you may be able to get it from a station staff member at another station. If you notice it after a while, go to the Lost and Found Center. Lost-and-found centers are located at major stations, as well as the last and first stations. Tell the station staff what you lost and when you lost it there. Lost and found items taken to the Lost and Found Center may be given to the police station after a certain period of time. If you have forgotten something on the train, you can almost always find it if you take care of it as soon as possible. I hope you were able to learn about trains and buses in Japan. Our school has a dormitory on the upper floor of the building. Since you don't have to take the commuter train and you don't have to pay for the train, you can concentrate on your studies from morning. Please come and visit the dormitory. This time, as in the previous article, we will introduce public transportation in Japan. Are Japan trains and buses quiet? I often hear from international students that the Japan bus was very quiet and surprising. In Japan, it is bad manners to talk loudly or make phone calls on trains and buses. Therefore, when you see people on the train, most of them are operating their smartphones or reading books. In addition, not only is it quiet, but it is also safe, so I sometimes see women dozing off. However, even Japan people who are said to have good manners have a scene that surprises foreigners. That is, there are women wearing makeup on the train. I often hear stories of women who put on makeup well even in a shaking car, and their dexterity was stared at. It might be interesting to look around when you get on a train or bus and observe what you're doing. Hellish commute rush Japan people are a country that keeps a distance from people compared to people from other countries. But on the train when commuting to work, you can see this incredible sight. In Tokyo, trains from about 7:30 to 9:00 in the morning have a ridership rate of about 180%. Occupancy rate is the ratio of the number of people actually riding to capacity. If the occupancy rate is 100%, it means that all seats are occupied. In 180% of cases, people standing on the train are very crowded, even with their feet on the ground. On this crowded train, fights often occur. Everyone is irritated and it is a dangerous train. I have heard that some foreign tourists ride on purpose to experience this commuting rush. This is not something that can be recommended, so please do it. Do you take the bus from the front? Riding from behind? The way to ride the train is the same for all trains, but did you know that the way to ride the bus differs depending on the bus? Buses basically have a front door and a back door. Some types ride from the front, while others ride from the back. There is also a flat fare, with some buses paying for it first, while others have different fares depending on the number of bus stops you pass by. Different buses have different systems, so when you get on the bus, ask the bus driver how to get on the bus, or watch other people and get on the bus. By the way, when you want to get off, listen to the announcement saying the name of the bus stop and press the button. Rest assured that this is the same for all buses. Lost items come back What should I do if I forget my luggage on the train? If you notice something you forgot right away, tell the station staff immediately what train you were on and where you were sitting. If you're lucky, you can get it from a station staff at another station. If you notice it after a while, go to the lost and found center on the train. Lost and found centers are located at large stations, terminus stations, and first stations. So, tell the station staff when and what you dropped. Lost items brought to the Lost Property Center may be handed over to the police station after a certain period of time. If you forget something on the train, you can find it in most cases if you deal with it early. Were you able to learn about Japan trains and buses? Our school has a dormitory on the upper floor of the school building. You don't have to take the commuter train and you don't have to pay for the train, so you can concentrate on your studies from the morning. Please come and visit the dormitory.
Previous social media post
Aug. 18, 2021
[English/Japanese] The Tokyo Olympics is over and the Paralympics will soon begin. At the closing ceremony of the Olympics, it was impressive to see the athletes from different countries communicating with each other. In this article, I would like to introduce the unique way Japanese people communicate. Japanese people who don't ”hug ” but suddenly touch their bodies: a tap on the shoulder I often hear from international students that they were surprised by a sudden tap on the shoulder by a Japanese person. Japanese people don't hug, and they tend to be more distant from others than other countries. However, we often tap people on the shoulder when we talk to them. When talking to people, however, we often tap them on the shoulder, or pat small children on the head to express our feelings of "cute" or "good". This act can also be done to a lover. In some countries, it is absolutely forbidden to pat a child's head. Nodding your head is an expression of affection for Japanese people. If you feel uncomfortable about it, make sure to let the person know about it. Aizuchi At Japanese language schools, we often give guidance to students who don't make a lot of aizuchi during class. Do you know what an aizuchi is? Aizuchi is a method of communication in which you shake your head to indicate that you are listening to what someone is saying, and that you are listening carefully. This is why Japanese people tend to use a lot of aizuchi in their conversations. In some countries, people bend their heads to the side to say "yes" when making an aizuchi. However, this action means "I don't understand" to Japanese people. Learning Japanese grammar and kanji is very important, but if you don't learn communication like aizuchi together, it can lead to misunderstandings, so be careful. What is the meaning of a tongue lashing? Tongue-lashing are a problem that occurs as often in the classroom as aizuchi. In Japan, tongue lashing is used to express sarcasm or frustration with others. Tongue-lashing that can be heard by others are considered bad manners and can cause problems even among Japanese people. Depending on the country of the foreign student, tongue lashing may have no particular meaning, or it may be directed only at oneself. eachers at Japanese language schools are used to this kind of situation, so they give light warnings to their students, but if you use your tongue at your part-time job, you may be fired. When you come to Japan, be careful not to use tongue lashing. While studying abroad, your small gestures can often lead to misunderstandings. If you are misunderstood, polish your Japanese skills so that you can explain yourself properly. At our school, we teach not only Japanese language but also manners in our classes. We will support you so that you can live your life as an international student with peace of mind, so please consider enrolling in our school. The Tokyo Olympics are over and the Paralympic Games are about to begin. At the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games, it was impressive to see athletes from each country communicating across countries. In this article Japan we will introduce the unique way of communicating with people. A Japan person who does not hug but suddenly touches his body The act of tapping on the shoulder I often hear from international students that they were surprised when they were suddenly tapped on the shoulder by a Japan. Japan people don't hug, and compared to other countries, there is a national character that keeps a distance from others. However, we often tap on the shoulder when talking to people. They may also pat their heads to convey to small children how cute they are or if they are a good girl. This act can also be done to a lover. Depending on the country of the student, stroking the child's head is something that you should never do. Patting the head is an expression of affection for Japan person. If you feel uncomfortable, tell the other person about it. Aizuchi Japanese schools, we often instruct students who do not strike during class. Does Aizuchi know anything? Aizuchi is a method of communication in which you shake your head when you are listening to someone to express that you are listening to what you are saying. That'Japan the more people are in conversation. In some countries, when hitting aizuchi, the head is bent to the side in the sense of "yes". However, this act ends up meaning "I don't know" for Japan people. It is very important to learn Japanese grammar and kanji, but be aware that if you do not learn communication like Aizuchi together, it may cause misunderstandings. What is the meaning of tongue lashing? One of the most common problems in the classroom as Aizuchi is tongue lashing. In Japan, tongue lashing is used to express disgust or dissatisfaction with the other person. Tongue lashing that people hear is considered a violation of manners and can cause trouble even between Japan people. Depending on the country of the international student, tongue lashing may not be particularly meaningful, or may only be directed at you. Teachers at Japanese schools are used to this situation, so they pay light attention to students, but if they do tongue lashing at their part-time jobs, they can be fired. When you come to Japan, be careful not to stick your tongue out. While studying abroad, your small gestures often lead to misunderstandings. If you are misunderstood, improve your Japanese skills so that you can explain it properly. At our school, we not only study Japanese, but also teach manners during class. We support you so that you can live your study abroad life with peace of mind, so please consider enrolling.