Sayaka and I went for some sandwiches at subway a few days ago. While enjoying our meal, I watched as someone ordered a side of french fries with their food. An employee filled a little bag with french fries and placed it on a scale. She then removed one french fry before giving it to the customer. The experience reminded me of buying vegetables in the market.
On the train home yesterday we heard the usual announcement overhead which includes the standard warning, “Cell phones are an inconvenience to other passengers, please turn off your phones while on the train.” I’m used to this now. The inclusion of this phrase comes from the ubiquitous use of the phones on the train have become annoying for others but also, apparently, due to trouble they cause for passengers with pacemakers etc.
However, before the final, “Thank you for your cooperation,” there was a new addition to the announcement, “By the way, chikan (sexual molestation in the form of touching, groping etc.) is a crime. Please report it to our staff.” What can we conclude from the new inclusion of this phrase? (Also, this same train line has just introduced, or I have just noticed, the “Women-only” cars during commuting hours.) Read a recent article on this issue.