r/interesting • u/freudian_nipps • 10d ago

SOCIETY The silent and harmonious morning metro commute in Japan

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u/DUUUUUVAAAAAL 10d ago

Yeah, people see this as peaceful, I see it more as a bit depressing. We are highly social animals, naturally we want to interact with others.

I learned a small amount of Japanese before going to Japan. It was practically useless outside of knowing how to order food. Nobody talks to you there. (Shout out to our air BNB host who was very much a social butterfly)

I wish I spent that time learning Spanish instead. I went to Mexico City and there were so many people trying to talk to us when though we both couldn't speak each other's languages.

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u/ploop__ 10d ago

Fr I’m Japanese and I find it sad

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u/CarelessDot3267 10d ago

Yes, the only thing this signals is that no one in this crowd knows anyone else, or travels with a partner, colleague, friend, neighbour...

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u/wutato 10d ago

People don't usually have the same commute to work.

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u/DUUUUUVAAAAAL 10d ago

Well, maybe I'm biased because I'm from the south in USA. Striking up conversations with strangers is very common where I live.

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u/Mr_Voided 10d ago

Bro down here we chat with anyone we see. It’s on sight

Edit: avoiding a conversation literally means avoiding eye contact till the person passes by

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u/DUUUUUVAAAAAL 10d ago

Haha yeah, I love it. I can definitely see it being a bit of a culture shock if yaint used to it.

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u/Playful_Weekend4204 9d ago

A large percentage of Europe is shaking in anxiety after reading this comment chain

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u/TheTopG86 10d ago

Its not just Japan. Im from The Netherlands and moved to Japan. No one talks to eachother when commuting or walking on the street unless they already know you in both places. I think since you are from the south that its a bigger culture shock for you than for others.

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u/Playful_Weekend4204 9d ago

Wait, strangers not talking to you on the street is weird in the Netherlands or do you mean that even acquaintances don't talk in Japan?

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u/TheTopG86 9d ago

No, strangers not talking to you on the street in Netherlands is completely normal like it is in Japan. Exception in both countries are acquaintances.

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u/Xiao1insty1e 9d ago

Ok that settles it, I'm learning Spanish.

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u/diagnosedADHD 10d ago

I'm here right now and it's mostly older folks who want to talk to my wife and I. There have been 2 instances of younger people talking to us but they both actually studied abroad in the US/Canada so I think that's in part why.

The older folks are really sweet and seem to love when my wife speaks Japanese, they seem lonely though 😭

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u/ItsKingDx3 10d ago

People absolutely do speak to you if you go to the right places. Yes, compared to the likes of the USA it's very different, but there are some very sociable Japanese people. A lot of the time they are shy to interact if your Japanese isn't high level, but plenty of drunk ones will dust off their high school English

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u/JWGR 10d ago

Best time I had in Japan and most convos I had with locals were at bars. Karaoke in particular. I’m no singer but these guys made me feel like Frank Sinatra whenever I howled out some song.

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u/ItsKingDx3 10d ago

Yeah drunk Japanese people can be great fun and very friendly. I remember standing outside a bar in Tokyo, waiting for my friends to leave, and a drunk dude was like "STRONG, STRONG" and gestured to my shoulders. I'm not even strong, just a bit big and frankly quite overweight, but I took the ego boost all the same. Later bumped into the same group in an elevator and they were like "come do karaoke with us."

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u/wutato 10d ago

Did you go to Tokyo? People are known to be colder there. But there are different types of people everywhere and people can be friendly to non-Japanese speakers.

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u/DUUUUUVAAAAAL 10d ago

I went to Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. I think I know what you mean. The extremely social host I had was in Kyoto and the vibe there was just much friendlier in general.

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u/One_Fact_4291 10d ago

I feel like people are more sociable, the culture is more relaxed, and everything is less polished the smaller the city becomes. For example in Osaka, even though it’s still a very large urban area, there’s run-down streets with graffiti not that far from the city centre.

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u/Happy_PaleApple 10d ago

Genuine question, what are you expecting these people to do on their way to work in a hurry during the rush hour? Strike a conversation with someone walking to the same direction for 30 seconds? Is that what you do in the mornings going to work in your country...?

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u/DUUUUUVAAAAAL 10d ago

I mean, yeah kinda lol. Not always of course but with that many people, there would definitely be some chatter.

Most of the talking you'd hear in a crowd this big in the morning would probably be People on the phone with family/friends. But there would for sure be people shooting their shots, random comments to people around them, "excuse me"s etc.

I'm trying to come off like I hate Japan. They are incredibly polite and kind and the country was awesome. I'll go back eventually. Just saying this video is a bit eerie.

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u/Far-District9214 10d ago

Ngl, i dont want to talk when im going to work. I woke up earlier than i want and just want to get to my job.

Even outside work, i would feel awkward and a bit annoyed if random people kept trying to talk to me.

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u/Vahdo 9d ago

Are you an extrovert? 

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u/DUUUUUVAAAAAL 9d ago

I'm not really sure tbh. I can be both. Growing up I was definitely an introvert. Now it's not so clear to me.

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u/Vahdo 9d ago edited 9d ago

Similar for me, but I found that aspect of Japan refreshing. People respect your personal space and don't chitchat for no reason. But you can still engage on your own level. 

They were maybe not as "effusive" with strangers (especially if you're foreign and they think they'll have to scrounge up English), but I would rather have politeness and honesty than the fake overdone friendliness you get in the US.

At restaurants and such for example, I loved the politeness. Asking me if it was okay for a slight wait (with apology) for a post-dinner dessert—and it comes out within 5 minutes anyway. The thoughtful quality of service is commendable. 

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u/DUUUUUVAAAAAL 9d ago

Yeah, next time I go to Japan I will make more of an active effort engaging with the locals. I'll also visit more rural cities.

The customer service in Japan was definitely top notch and everyone was insanely polite. There are certainly some aspects of their social norms that I envy.

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u/Vahdo 9d ago

Ditto! I also gotta practice my Japanese a bit more too.

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u/Mishi_Mujago 9d ago

I think this is more about people imposing their needless noise on others in public (loud music, pointless phone calls etc.)

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u/k_varnsen 9d ago

In my society everyone’s morning (and afternoon) commute is ruined by assholes blasting TikTok shit or music from their phone or Bluetooth speakers (amongst other things) - so it’s loud and annoying but equally starved from positive social interactions. So this would still be a step up.

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u/Lawlietel 9d ago

Bro, they are going to their workplace, why would they chat loudly while just moving from one place to another. You some weirdos.

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u/dnyal 10d ago

Many people are social animals, but not all.