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Apology After Japanese Train Departs 20 Seconds Early (bbc.com)
Several readers share a BBC report: A rail company in Japan has apologised after one of its trains departed 20 seconds early. Management on the Tsukuba Express line between Tokyo and the city of Tsukuba say they "sincerely apologise for the inconvenience" caused. In a statement, the company said the train had been scheduled to leave at 9:44:40 local time but left at 9:44:20. Many social media users reacted to the company's apology with surprise. "Tokyo train company's apology for 20-second-early departure is one of the best things about Japan," a user wrote. The mistake happened because staff had not checked the timetable, the company statement said.
During normal operations, I did notice Japanese trains run to the second when I was there a while back. There's no similar sense of urgency here in the US.
I don't know if a society so focused on punctuality is a good thing though...not being allowed to be late (or early) means that there's no room for error in other parts of one's life either. I imagine it's very difficult to come back from a personal failure in Japanese culture. In the US, it's certainly not impossible...I know tons of people who just weren't ready to grow up when they turned 18, and they either drifted or joined the military and grew up, then got their lives on track. That must be way harder in Japan if you can't even leave 20 seconds early without triggering an apology.
Hello,
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We apologize for not being one of your suppliers.
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I'm surprised. I mean, how do you make out what the operator is saying over the static and the noise?
Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
This is indicative of the kind of mindset that led to the tragic train crash of 2005. A train was running 90 seconds behind, and under tremendous pressure from his superiors, the operator sped the train up and ended up derailing it. If it weren't for the new automatic brake systems installed, this would likely happen again (because I see no change in the culture)
Amagasaki rail crash
Look at it this way : the Japanese apologize for trivialities but they NEVER apologize for the real crimes. Such as war crimes and other such niceties. Trump compared to the Japanese is a baby.
The Japanese apologize for 'trivialitities' because they are often insults - leaving early is an insult to those who missed the train. Insults are not trivial things in Japan. The Japanese never apologize for the 'real crimes' because they don't believe they have insulted anyone. Commiting war crimes during WWII was not an insult to the American soldiers, those were honorary executions of the enemy.
Not right or wrong, just a different point of view.
As a Canadian I would like to apologize for the previous apology.
I'm Canadian, but I lived in Atlanta in the early 90s. This was when Atlanta was the violent crime capital of the USA. I found Canadian kids are more violent than their American counter parts. They tease, bully and particularly in sports resort to fighting far more often.
The Canadian apology is part de-escalation, half social signalling (and part programmed reflex). When I apologies for someone else bumping into me I'm avoiding a fight and I'm showing confidence that I'm big enough not to be offended. Call me an idiot, I'm not going to take the bait and get a penalty. I will let you go first through the door to show I'm organized, and not in a rush. (yes, I'm guilty, I've been in a few Canadian standoffs) .
In work, if something goes wrong, I'll take the blame and then work on the solution. This is doubly effective in some cultures as I'm remembered as the one who took charge and solved the problem and also saved someone else embarrassment.
One last note. I did find the people of the American south the most friendly, open and genuine people I've ever met. They will always start a conversation and will tell you anything you want to know.
Sorry to blow away your whole point, but this railway is owned by a "company" which is actually owned by a number of Japanese governments.
Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company ownership (all government bodies): Ibaraki Prefecture, Tokyo, Chiba Prefecture, Adachi Ward (Tokyo), City of Tsukuba, Saitama Prefecture
No competition involved either on this route.
Seems to be well-managed, in spite of this. But your whole premise is blown away, you don't know what you are talking about.
I see that a lot on the Internet, but I don't think that's actually true.
The two mean the same thing, seppuku is just based on the chinese reading.
Same as ninja and shinobi and all that jazz.
The Japanese never apologize for the 'real crimes' because they don't believe they have insulted anyone. Commiting war crimes during WWII was not an insult to the American soldiers, those were honorary executions of the enemy.
(1) To deunk with reality : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
(2)One of the well-travelled young (still in 30s) Japanese I used to work under had this assessment:
Not only had they apologized to so many people, everytime the Chinese and Koreans asked for one more apology it is ususally another ruse for Asking compensation yet again
(3) Disclaimer : I'm an ethnic Chinese and the following said will, in no way, lessen the Japanese atrocities during the war:
Quite a significant portion of the very organized, politically-backed South Korean Comfort woman (that is still living is strangely large number) protesting in 2017................are also actually not comfort woman from more than 72 years ago, but rather prostitutes (admitedly, "forced" by every tough situations and war and post shoartages. Post-war ones are total frauds) that was allowed to tag on to the grievance seeking team because
(a) The vastly missing or non-existant records after multiple changes of adminstration within 10 years
(b) compounded with Korean war around 1951 that turned SK into a rubble (figuratively)
(c) Anyone whose records are stored north of 38th parallel north being totally inaccessible,
As a result people just had to take everyone's word for it. when a woman claimed that she was a comfort woman and she's with the team. And despite of previous compensation to the SK administration decades ago ( when it was still military-ruled - seems like money went straight to the army and the victims didn't get them), South Korean comfort woman, who have a significant voice internationally as a humanitarian issue, did a great job in reinforce in people's minds the factually incorrect "Japan never apologizes, Japan never compensate" "common knowledge".