[Last modified: November, 17 2024 07:46 AM]
In the classes about the body, I became interested in unwanted physical contact with others. As a Japanese, I am hesitant to hug or shake hands, but in Europe, I understand that refusing them is a denial of intimacy, so I do it. However, there are situations that are even more stressful. That is, commuting on crowded trains. Tokyo, the capital of Japan, where I grew up, is famous for its severe commuter rushes. You may have seen pictures of ‘pushers’, the train company employees who cram people onto the trains. Although I have not seen any ‘pushers’ since the beginning of the 21st century, it is not uncommon for new passengers to board through the doors when it is obvious that they will not be able to get on. So, what does unwanted contact with others on a crowded train mean?
Talking with Japanese friends in Tokyo, I feel that commuting is one of the biggest reasons for the stress of working. However, why do we find unwanted contact with others so burdensome? The most likely reason is the violation of personal space. In other words, we are alarmed as animals when strangers enter areas that should not be threatened by anyone. An unknown person, who may be hostile towards us, is within arm’s reach. Some say that we feel stressed because we have to be prepared for a sudden attack.
On the other hand, there is a kinder opinion: the stress is not that we worry about being attacked but that we are making others uncomfortable. In particular, it is often said that many men in Japan are concerned about whether they are making women uncomfortable by unintentionally touching them on crowded trains. There are well-known episodes of men keeping their hands above their shoulders or hugging their bags while on the train to avoid such situations.
One of the best things I have heard about commuter trains is a line from a protagonist of a Japanese manga. He described the train, in which he could not move by too many people, as comfortable. He described the vinegary train as being surrounded by swarms of people and feeling happy. If we can trust others this much, our personal space with others may take on a different meaning. For your information, the name of this character is Buddha.