● Introduction: The Rising Tide of In-Train Trouble
In recent years, the rapid increase of foreign tourists visiting Japan has led to a serious rise in troubles concerning passenger manners on public transportation, especially on the Shinkansen (bullet trains).
Based on reports from railway companies and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism since 2024,
the following cases have been frequently reported:
Deliberate squatting in reserved seats (not simple seat mistakes but intentional)
Bringing oversized luggage beyond regulations and occupying space
Leaving trash behind and consuming foods with strong odors in the train
Loud group conversations and phone calls
While these are often regarded as “violations of manners” or “lack of understanding of rules,”
the fundamental problem lies in the fact that Japan’s public transport system is built on the “good faith” assumption—
that passengers will behave properly.
The Shinkansen was originally operated under the premise that “passengers will follow the rules,”
and it could function even without strict separation between free and reserved seating.
However, globalization and the influx of people from various cultures and languages have exposed the limitations of this “good faith model.”
In particular, when conflicts arise between passengers, the structural weaknesses of language barriers and delayed staff response
result in situations where “honest passengers end up at a disadvantage.”
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● Framing the Issue: Should Passengers Keep Bearing the Burden?
What can you do if you try to warn someone who doesn’t understand your language?
What if the conductor doesn’t arrive quickly, leaving you to stand while your seat is occupied?
What if the conductor arrives but the offender refuses to move?
Many people may have experienced such frustrations.
In the following sections, we will explore these problems in detail,
identify what is lacking in the current system, what needs to be improved, and suggest practical solutions.
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● 1. When You Can’t Speak Their Language
You find someone already sitting in your reserved seat on the Shinkansen.
If that person is a foreign tourist and there’s no common language, you may want to warn them but be unable to communicate effectively.
In many countries, railway culture is often “free seating” or “sit wherever you find an empty seat,”
and the concept of reserved seating may not be well understood.
This language barrier makes it difficult for regular passengers to appropriately warn or take action when witnessing bad manners.
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● 2. If the Train Attendant Isn’t Nearby, You’re Forced to Stand
Even when you try to ask the train attendant for help, they may not arrive quickly.
Shinkansen trains often have more than 10 cars, with only a handful of attendants covering the whole train,
making immediate response difficult.
Meanwhile, strangers remain sitting in your reserved seat,
and the legitimate passenger is forced to stand in the aisle, creating an unfair situation.
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● 3. What If the Person Refuses to Move?
A more serious issue occurs if the conductor warns the person but they refuse to move.
Japanese railway staff generally do not have the authority to forcibly remove passengers from seats.
While this policy helps prevent escalation,
it paradoxically results in leaving rule violations unaddressed.
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● So What Can Be Done?
✅ 1. Improve Multilingual Support
Standardized cards saying “This seat is reserved. Please move,” in English, Chinese, Korean, etc.,
should be stocked and made available inside trains.
✅ 2. Establish Immediate Alert Systems
Installing emergency contact buttons inside trains so passengers can quickly summon staff is essential.
✅ 3. Introduce Penalties for Unauthorized Seat Use
Similar to airplanes, fines for unauthorized occupancy should be implemented as deterrents.
✅ 4. Implement Automated Check Gates
In the future, smart gates at ticket gates or inside trains could ensure only rightful passengers access reserved seats.
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● In Conclusion
It is often said that “Japanese people are too patient.”
This patience places unfair burdens on those who uphold rules.
The problem is not that foreign tourists are inherently problematic,
but that the system was not designed for such diverse usage.
It is time to face this challenge and reform public transportation accordingly.
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【References】
Merkmal: “Is the Shinkansen Becoming a ‘Lawless Zone’? The Reality of Seat Squatting, Oversized Luggage, and the Fragile ‘Good Faith’ System”
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/2f8dccca2b151c5470342c492bb3364f3e86f997
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【Tags】
#ShinkansenManners #SeatSquatting #TrainEtiquette #TouristChallenges #CulturalDifferences #PublicTransitIssues
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【COLUMN】Is the Shinkansen Becoming a “Lawless Zone”? The Reality of Seat Squatting, Cultural Gaps, and the Need for System Reform【コラム】新幹線は「無法地帯」？ 指定席の不正占拠と文化の壁 〜制度見直しは必要か〜
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