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dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

http://masamania.com/archives/2004/09/japanese_busine.html

crazyteacher · Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Posts: 34 Location: Tokyo

yeah, but i think a lot of those people must be drunk.

chi-chi- · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 194 Location: In la-la land

I rather liked factory's response...that was funny.
Oh and many of them are drunk but just as many aren't. There are days where I feel that way, too. But in Japan, it really is a way of life. Kind of sad, really.
Chi

Nismo · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 520

Short answer: Yes.

Not-as-short answer: I saw it almost every day for a year when I lived in Tokyo, but it would be one or two people out of an entire city of an overworked population. Mostly you would see it on the last train - drunken salary men on their way home from social drinking (almost required, sadly) with their co-workers. So, no, it is not normal, but yes, it is common.

chi-chi- · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 194 Location: In la-la land

I don't like how a lot of posters were making fun of them, though (although factory was kinda spot on-there are so many people who never marry or have kids.) They are just doing what they think is right and honest and loyal. It is sad-there is actually a term for it, death by overwork. And also one of the highest suicide rates in the world. There is a lot of social pressure.
And also, in a country as crowded as Japan, there is not as much pressure to care what people think in a crowded area. In that way they are better at dealing with people...the photos weren't odd to me-sometimes, people just need to sleep. I have gotten in trouble for this before, too.
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guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

I often fall asleep on the train. Once I woke up with my head resting on the shoulder of a jr. high school boy. I think he was in shock.

Sleeping on the train is the norm for both drunk and suber people. Many people actually pretend to sleep so as to deal with the social discomfort of being packed in with so many other strangers. It's also a way to not have to give up a priority seat to an old person or an expecting mother.

The people on the sidewalks and in family restaurants are just very drunk. It's a very trusting society, though there have been cases recently of people being robbed in their stupor.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

I live in a small town, so I don't see too many (drunk?) salarymen passed out on trains, but I do see students who, in a 10-minute break between classes, will just pass out. How?!?!? In 10 minutes?!?!? And in one of my classes, I was talking to the students, and I turned to write something on the board. When I turned back around about 8 seconds later, one of them was sleeping!

d

Nismo · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 520

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Yeah, I've heard similar stories of crazy schedules and commutes. I am just amazed that people can train their bodies to grab sleep whenever possible. It takes me a good 30 minutes or more to fall asleep at night, and my students can fall asleep in a fraction of a second.

d

David W · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 457 Location: Japan

The Japanese would sleep on a picket fence.

yeka · Joined: 24 Oct 2004 Posts: 24 Location: Japan

I haven't been here too long, but I've seen it as well. I see school children doing this all the time. It's kind of sad how tired some of my elementary-aged students are when they come to my class...

Eleckid · Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Posts: 102 Location: Aichi, Japan

I used to always fall asleep on subways & buses while I commute in Toronto, Canada while I was in university. But I always have closed zipper bags or backpacks & I'd always hold on to them tightly (like hugging it) & use them as my chin rest for sleeping, that probably avoided any robbery taking place. Either that or I was just lucky. But sleeping on the trains or buses in Toronto is common for all people, students, workers, etc.

When my younger sister was in highschool in Hong Kong, she sometimes fall asleep while standing in the subway (on her way to school, it took about 2 hrs for her to commute). She told me that one time she fell asleep standing & suddenly she fell on the floor. People thought she fainted or something & asked if she was ok.

One time while I was in university, I didn't sleep at all cuz of an assignment, while walking to school (like a zombie), I suddenly fell asleep (while walking). I think I fell asleep for a few sec cuz when I woke up I have walked about 4-5 m from where I was before. I think my body was just moving & my brain just passed out.

Sleeping on public transports doesn't get you away from giving up your seat to the needy sometimes. One time, in Toronto, I got on the street car & fell asleep, someone tapped on my shoulder to wake me up, then this man said really loud to me to give my seat for this old man...man that was embarrassing...he didn't have to say it in a scolding way, it's not like I was pretending I was sleeping & didn't see the old man coming into the street car.

For the record time of students falling asleep in class, one time I got this 12 yr old boy who came in really sleepy. He kept falling asleep & I had to keep waking him up. I asked him to read out a sentence in the book. He read like 3 words & then just passed out!!! It was like "They said to.....zzzz". I was really surprised & the rest of the students laughed so much. I think he fell asleep in less than 3 sec. Talk about a tired kid!