The morning ride to work has to be about my least favorite thing about Japan. First of all I am going to work and it is the morning, but being packed into a train almost immediately after waking up will make just about anyone irritable. But at least I have a good view.
Maybe trains are the only place that Japanese people are allowed to be rude 
because when you get to a station it does not matter if a car is full. Everyone waiting is going to get on. And if it seems there is not room, never fear they will just push until there is enough space. This happens at every station typically beginning at Ontakesan, the station after ours, and ending 7 stations later at Osaki-Hirokoji, which is the 2nd to the last station where about 1/5 of the people get off before we finally arrive at Gotanda.
Did I mention that the trains are hot in the summer? And typically just as hot in the winter.
I feel sorry for the smallest women and children. They often get lost in the mass of humanity. I keep trying to get Aya to bring a snorkel onto the train, but so far she refuses. Eventually I will get that picture... 
