a train incident

Holy crikey, it was a cold night last night. Would have reached a high of about 5 degrees and it looks like the weekend will bring snow in Tokyo again.. Oh well, at least after this Spring will just be around the corner. Had a report from the taxi driver that Hanami will be a bit earlier than usual and the cherry blossoms will be out around the 22nd March! How is that for precise huh? Will keep you posted on that one and perhaps even a photo to go with it?...

I happened to go out last night with good friend Z. We were travelling on the yamanote as usual. Just chit chatting about stuff and suddenly the guy behind Z fell onto the guy sitting down on the seat. There wasn't any "sumimasen" (sorry/excuse me) from the guy that fell on top of the guy and the guy sitting down didn't say anything either. I had to control myself from laughing out loud since it would be thought of un-imaginable to have this kind of incident happen without anything being said. Only in Japan. If this sort of incident happens without much of a wink of an eyelid, then no wonder girls (or guys) don't want to say anything out loud when they get sexually assaulted on the train. Even I had to contain my laughter in case not to hurt the feelings of the guy that fell down, or to appear rude and ignorant. Z having completely missed it all, as the incident happened behind Z's back, didn't appear too surprised about this happening. It really must be the norm. Perhaps it is the "Japanese way". The guy falling on to the other guy was done with grace and accepted in a way that looked as if it was normal. All of this of course without a word being communicated. Mind you, rather that than a punch up. That would only hold up the yamanote line and cause frustration for all those commuters. All's well that's ends well is what I say.

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy;
they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.
Marcel Proust