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Subways and Sakura - Page 1 |
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I Hate Japanese Politics
These bastards are usually on the other side of the tracks from the
school, but this time they were right outside! The front doors of the
school are automatic, and you could hear them clearly from the classrooms
whenever they opened. Very annoying. My co-worker Ash was rudely
awakened in his apartment at 8:00 am by a van going around his
neighborhood. He was then awakened at 9:00, 10:00 abd 11:00. According
to law, they can't do it before 8:00. In Western countries, they'd be
arrested for disturbing the peace. I can't wait for the Prefectural
elections to be over!
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Me in Pain 1
While I'm on the topic of noise pollution (again), let's talk about the
subways. After work on Sunday we went to Maruyama Park to see the cherry
trees and party. This is me in the Yamashina Subway for the Tozai Line
into downtown Kyoto. Before a train arrives, you have an announcement
over the speakers, which is just fine by me. There is also accompanying
music before the announcement, which is excessive but not that annoying.
Then...
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Arriving Train
As the doors open, there is a loud and obnoxious buzzing sound, followed
by some midi music. |
Me in Pain 2
And before the doors close, there is another little piece of
silly-sounding music, then the buzzing again as the doors close. As the
train begins to move there is an announcement in Japanese and English
telling you where the train is bound and what the next stop is, which I do
appreciate. Then when you get to the next stop, there is an announcement
in Japanese telling you where you are and what side of the train to get
off of. Only the buzzing and the stupid music bother, because I get those
sounds stuck in my head. I'd much rather have REAL music in my head, not
that crap. I'm told you eventually learn to ignore it entirely, and
hopefully I'll get there soon. But for now it's still pretty annoying.
Also I want to complain about how you pay to ride. Depending on where
you're going, you have to pay a different amount by buying a ticket at a
machine outside the entrance. However, the difference in price is
minimal, so I always feel like I'm being ripped off on the short trips.
(It's \200 for one stop, whereas I can cross the city for \260.) And if
you change lines, you may have to pay an additional fare, because
different lines are owned by different companies, some of which are
private and others which are public. I prefer New York, where you can go
anywhere in the city for $1.10 Also, if you buy a monthly pass, it's only
good for traveling between two specific locations and anywhere between,
and of course the price varies depending on where you're going. In New
York, you can go anywhere on subway, bus, or train for a week for only
$17. Here it's much more expensive. I need a bike. Fortunately I don't
have to take a train to work, but even if I did, Nova would pay my
commuting expenses.
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Beware the Escalator
One last thing to whine about: escalator announcements. These speakers
tell you (in Japanese) to be careful riding the escalator. Please hold
the handrail and the hands of any accompanying children, and don't take a
stroller (use the elevator instead, which of course sometimes has it's own
buzzing noise when the doors open and close). This is completely
unnecessary as 9 out of 10 people completely ignore the handrail and
holding hands suggestions, and the rest is common sense. I'm not the only
one who complains about all this. Many Japanese people are irritated by
the noise pollution in their country. However, most of them are used to
it. Oh well.
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Timetable
Now I have some good things to say about Japanese subways. These
timetables tell you exactly when the train will come at any time
throughout the week, and I have yet to see a late train. If a train is
late, you are given a special ticket when you get off. This ticket will
excuse you for being late to work, school, appointments, or whatever.
Usually trains are late from people jumping in front of them and
committing suicide. You can't do that on the Tozai Line because the
tracks are protected by the walls and doors, though most lines are not
like that.
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Travel Time
These signs over the doors tell you how many minutes it takes to get to
each stop on the line. |
Heater
These leg heaters are nice in the winter, and together with the comfy
seats they'll put you to sleep. Also, many Japanese sleep on the trains
because of these and the fact that they eat a lot of rice, which takes
more energy to digest because of carbohydrates or something (I forget what
exactly). Also, many Japanese commute for an hour or more each way. |
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