Commuting on the Tozai Line
I used to commute from a Tozai line train station in the Edogawa Ward. By eight o’clock, the platform and incoming trains become completely filled with people. Because of long lines on the platform, passengers often waited for 2 or 3 trains to pass by before entering a train. My goal every morning was to get on the first train that stops or at worst, the second train. Through a megaphone, the station attendant encouraged passengers to wait farther away from the escalators to prevent people from clogging up the exit area. However, my strategy was to stand in line near the escalator. Many commuters get off the train near the escalators because it was close to the exit. So when more people get off, more space would be available for people to get on the train. Therefore, even people waiting at the end of the line have a chance of entering the train. After I started using this strategy, I always got on the train very quickly!
My next objective was to find a good position to stand in the train. People may have their preferences, but the corner spots between the door and the seats were my favorite places. However, these coveted spots were usually occupied, so my alternative plan was to make sure that I stood near a strap and away from the seats. By being near a strap, I would have something to hold onto when the train suddenly hit the brakes. I’ve seen some people fall to the ground because they could not hold onto to anything and that was definitely something I do not want happening to me. I also avoided standing in front of the seats because people on a train filled to maximum capacity tend to start pushing a lot. When I stood in a spot surrounded by people, I did not worry about losing my balance because all I had to do was to lean on the salaryman next to me. But when I stood in front of the seats, I had to hold on to the strap and struggled to stay standing with no one to lean on. And one final thing I am careful of when I ride the train was to make sure I stood near men. I do this to avoid being framed as a chikan. I am definitely more relaxed when there were no women next to me on the train.
When I finally got off the train, I would always breathe a sigh of relief. Although this experience was unpleasant 100% of the time, I enjoyed thinking of ways to make my commute less uncomfortable. I, currently, live on the other side of the Tozai line and the train ride during rush hour is much more pleasant! I commute comfortably without being pushed around. It’s like heaven compared to my previous experience!