The Rambler

Este e um e-mail preparado semanalmente por um advogado indo-canadense que trabalha comigo, onde ele conta curiosidades sobre o cotidiano em Toquio. Achei interessante dividir com os poucos leitores deste blog a visao dos gringos (como se eu nao fosse) sobre a vida no Japao.

"Volume I - Issue I
Elevator Etiquette

This week we will be discussing 'elevator etiquette' in response to a question received from Claury Clervenie of Boston:

[Please note that we at Rambler Publications take confidentiality very seriously and therefore the real names of those who submit questions or comments are never used in our publications. Any and all resemblance to actual people, past or present, is strictly coincidental.]

She writes: "Dear Rambler, A co-worker of mine recently returned from a business trip to Tokyo and told me that he was impressed by the elevators there, and that the ride was quite an experiece. Just as he was about to explain, his blackberry went off and he rushed to a meeting. Not being that fond of this particular co-worker, I never asked him to elaborate (and have generally been ignoring him since). However, I have always remained curious about the topic. Can you help?"

Dear Claurie,

Every morning, when I get to the lobby of my office building, I am forced to enter an elevator with at least 39 other people.

The unwritten rule (or maybe written, I cannot read Japanese so am not so sure what's written on the wall) is that you must step in backwards, and keeps walking backwards until your back is either pressed against the back wall, or against the person behind you (who is either pressed against the back wall, or against another who is pressed against the back wall, I'm sure you follow). There must always be contact, directly or indirectly, with the back wall. Seeing as most Japanese people are rather thin, this rule of thumb results in five parallel rows of 8 or so people, all facing the door, in every elevator (with each elevator only slightly larger than the elevator you use at work i'm sure). As I can't read the warning signs regarding weight limits, I don't know if I have anything to worry about.

Still, I admit that I get nervous when the elevator bounces a little as the last few people enter before the doors close (especially when "Sumo Joe" from accounting is the last one in). It gets hot, and about 30 people have to get out and back in at each floor because, for some odd reason, the people who work on the lower floors all seem to have an affinity for being directly in contact with the back wall.

Further, please note that there is no talking on elevators (a picture of a duck with its beak tied shut by a ribbon is found in the elevator), so informing others that it's your floor and you want to get out is sometimes a tricky process. I have on occasion missed my floor, and have had to ride back down. This is common, and nothing to be ashamed of. Speaking strictly with Japanese body language is difficult, and takes much practice to master.

Though I am uncertain as to what exactly impressed your 'not-so-nice' co-worker, at least now you know all there is to know about elevator etiquette in Tokyo.

The Rambler has spoken."