Do Not Rush

In Tokyo’s subway stations, you’ll often see signs reminding passengers “Do not rush onto the train. Tokyo’s trains use automated doors that shut with timing set to the second. Trying to dash in risks triggering delays or causing minor accidents, and during rush hours, a misstep could result in injury due to the sheer density of the crowd. The signs act as part of a broader system of discipline that makes the Tokyo rail network one of the most punctual in the world. They’re also a reflection of social responsibility: your safety and that of those around you depends on everyone following the rules, not just personal urgency. One may wonder why rush though, since trains come every few minutes with such clockwork regularity that missing one barely causes a delay…