Comments on: Tokyo Commuter Hell

By: cookie

cookie — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:42:07 +0000

What line is this? I have…the same problem every day TT_____TT

By: One Night at an Internet Cafe in Tokyo (a recommended experience) | Taylor Davidson

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:42:32 +0000

[...] network of stations crammed into the area. Of course, the system has to work: how else would the masses driving Japan’s economy plunge into Tokyo every [...]

By: And You thought your commute was bad! | Learn Japanese Pal

And You thought your commute was bad! | Learn Japanese Pal — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 08:21:33 +0000

[...] http://tonymcnicol.com/2008/12/18/tokyo-commuter-hell/ [...]

By: Damon Coulter

Damon Coulter — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:52:13 +0000

Hiya Tony was hoping to run into you last night at the FCCJ, saw your pic on the wall though and hope to meet up one day. Anyway how do you feel about the trickle down effect of of Artist portrait rights to the public? like in the UK there is a lot of misinformation spread about photographers` rights with many people believing that it is illegal to take pictures of people without their permission. It is not illegal to do so in the UK and as far as I know here is the same, certainly the Nichiobi Cameramen with their Photojournalistic fantasies seem to think not, but there is a growing awareness, and a poster campaign to reinforce this, that your face is your property if you`re celebrity and the worrying insinuation that ordinary people (not just schoolgirls in bikinis on the beach snapped for perv mags that are ironically freely sold) have rights to privacy too.
Would it be difficult to take these pics now because people are more agressively protective of their rights or officials are stricter in stations etc.
Damon

By: tony

tony — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 11:57:39 +0000

Hi Damon (and all)

Not sure I’d have the nerve to do it again – at least not the same way. Would be interesting to take shots using a telephone in a rush hour station though. Head and shoulder or full face shots of stressed commuters.

I often wonder why Japanese people put themselves through this every day. Do they really have no choice?

Tony

By: Damon Coulter

Damon Coulter — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:38:00 +0000

Thanks for linking me by the way and you have some nice shots on there. really like these from the rush hour, often wanted to do it myself but it takes some nerve to pressa shutter in there and then ride with the angry people for at least another 20 mins or so, Well done. The angles are great, there is a real feeling of tghe breathless lack of space. Off to look further through your blog now. Talk soon I hope.
Damon

By: Michael Ignatov

Michael Ignatov — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:56:03 +0000

That is pretty intense.

By: Tornadoes28

Tornadoes28 — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 21:21:24 +0000

That looks like fun. Did this a couple times. Not fun. How can they do that every day.

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 00:46:36 +0000

Dude I would totally buy a shot if I didn’t have to live through it… I am moving back to Tokyo next month. I’ll be the guy in the middle of that pack, gasping for breath!

ThePenguin is right though… it really depends on when you take a train. Company’s are starting to stagger the work hours so that the commute isn’t so bad. I heard a new term though recently: mini-rush

By: ThePenguin

ThePenguin — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 23:22:38 +0000

Contrary to the general impression you get from the media, it’s not that it’s like that all of the time on every train line in Tokyo. If you can time your commute to miss the peak of peons heading for some arbitrary 9am deadline it’s usually pretty uncrowded, at least in the sense that there might still be standing room only but not as crowded as to force you into direct body contact with other passengers.