Latest news with #TokyoMetro
The Mainichi
05-07-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
As social media's influence on Japan elections grows, pitfalls remain
TOKYO -- Social media strategies have come to play an indispensable role in elections in Japan, with some pointing out that disregard for social media can cost candidates votes. At the same time, there remain pitfalls with potential legal violations and unscrupulous consultants. One morning in late June, Takaki Harada, a 34-year-old member of Tokyo's Toshima Ward Assembly, was seen taking selfies with his smartphone in front of Tokyo Metro's Kanamecho Station while checking the direction of the sunlight. He took many photos, adjusting the composition and angle of his face as he prepared to post information on social media about his street activities. Though the selfies appear casual at first glance, Harada pays attention to many key points. He takes photos in the morning's soft sunlight to make his face look better and includes the station's sign in the background to convey the atmosphere of the area and create a sense of familiarity. These are techniques taught by an election consultant. Not using social media will cost votes Harada was elected with an endorsement from the Democratic Party for the People during unified local elections in April 2023. Despite being an almost unknown newcomer, he secured 3,550 votes, ranking second out of 56 candidates in his district. He attributed his success to standing in front of stations early every morning and engaging in conversations with voters while distributing flyers. When it comes to local elections, he feels that the internet does not carry that much weight. Nevertheless, he frequently updates multiple social media platforms by himself. "Today's voters first check online to see what kind of person the candidate is. If their social media posts aren't updated, it can cost votes," he said. Social media is no merely longer a tool to boosts votes; it seems to have become an essential element that can result in lost votes if not utilized. Social media's influence continues to grow 12 years since ban lifted Initially, Harada had little knowledge about managing social media. Then he turned to Daisaku Togawa, a 44-year-old administrative scrivener and election consultant. Togawa has supported candidates in various elections, leveraging his legal knowledge. Harada received advice on a wide range of topics, from photo techniques for posts to complex legal systems. "When you're new to elections, having someone to consult with is reassuring. Just avoiding legal violations was a relief," he recalled. A revision to the Public Offices Election Act allowed election campaigning using the internet starting in the 2013 House of Councillors race. It became possible to advocate policies through social media and blogs during the campaigning period. It has been 12 years since then, and the influence of social media on elections continues to grow. When watching politicians on video-sharing sites, related videos appear one after another. According to Kunikazu Suzuki, 36, editor-in-chief of the election information site "Senkyo Dot Com" ( as many as 30% of voters rely on online information the most when casting ballots. "In major elections, it is strategically unthinkable to disregard this 30%. Understanding the algorithms of social media is essential for modern elections," Suzuki explained. Traditionally, it has been said in Japan that three elements are necessary for election campaigns: local support, funds and name recognition. However, Suzuki believes that local support is shifting to "an online stronghold." He added, "By communicating on social media, candidates build a strong online support base, who then act as third parties to disseminate information about the candidates. Creating such a structure is indispensable in today's election campaigns." Election trouble and unscrupulous operators While online election activities are becoming more active, trouble is also occurring. In the 2024 Hyogo gubernatorial election, a PR company president was referred to prosecutors on suspicion of receiving compensation for campaigning for candidate Motohiko Saito, who won the contest. The president allegedly supported Saito and was involved in setting up an official support account on social media. While the number of election planners and consultants is increasing, Togawa pointed out, "There are many operators who provide incorrect information." In some cases, they demand exorbitant fees of several million yen (tens of thousands of dollars) per month. In Togawa's case, the consulting fee is no more than about 400,000 yen (around $2,800) per month. "If you're receiving compensation, you need to be well-versed in the complex Public Offices Election Act. Candidates are very concerned about whether an activity is illegal or not, so requests for legal checks by experts are increasing," he said. If the election campaign on social media is mainly planned and proposed by businesses, there is a risk that paying compensation could be considered bribery. However, the boundaries are unclear. Suzuki noted, "At present, the risk of violating the Public Offices Election Act is too high. The complex and mysterious election law needs to be organized to reflect the current situation."
Tokyo Reported
26-06-2025
- Tokyo Reported
Man brandishes sword on Tokyo Metro
TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Wednesday arrested a man for brandishing a wooden sword on a Tokyo Metro subway train and pointing it at a station employee, reports TBS News (June 25). At around 3:20 p.m., a station employee at Korakuen Station on Namboku Line called police to report that a man was causing a disturbance on a with a wooden sword measuring about one meter in length. According to police, the man, aged in his 40s, was causing a disturbance on the train while it was moving, brandishing the sword. After the train arrived at the station, the station employee apprehended the man on the platform. Police later arrested him for violating the Act on the Punishment of Violence. There were passengers on the train at the time, but no one was injured. Many of them fled for the platform after the train arrived. Police are now investigating the circumstances that led to the incident.
Japan Forward
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Forward
'Do It Somewhere Else': Tokyo Metro Turns Etiquette into Fun Art
Japanese railway companies have long used etiquette posters to catch passengers' attention and encourage good manners. But Tokyo Metro truly stands out. Its manners awareness campaign began back in September 1974 and has been going strong for over 50 years. Every year, a new theme is chosen, and a fresh poster is released each month to match it. So why highlight Tokyo Metro among all the railway companies in the Kanto region? For one, it's a system that many Tokyoites rely on every day. More importantly, its poster designs are especially creative and engaging. Before being privatized in 2004, Tokyo Metro was known as the Teito Rapid Transit Authority (or Eidan Subway). Since then, it has continued to produce eye-catching, thought-provoking poster campaigns. Two standout examples are the "Let's Do It Somewhere Else" series from 2008 and the "Kanji" series from 2016. They were both designed to grab the attention of even the busiest commuters. Launched in April 2008, this lighthearted campaign highlights everyday behaviors that may seem harmless but can be inconsiderate in public spaces, such as talking loudly on the phone or putting on makeup in a crowded train. The posters gently encourage passengers to reflect on whether they might be bothering others without realizing it. Visitors from overseas might find some of the posters unusual, especially if the behavior depicted isn't considered a problem in their own countries. Still, the creativity and humor behind the campaign are hard not to appreciate. A fan favorite is "Do It at the Beach," which shows a man getting caught in the closing train doors as he tries to rush onboard. The way he's stuck makes it look like he's swimming. "Please refrain from putting on make-up in the train." (Courtesy of Metro Cultural Foundation) The series became hugely popular. According to Tokyo Metro PR representative Masaki Ishii: "We received a ton of requests from publishers and schools asking to use the posters for educational purposes." The campaign continued for several years. Other examples include "Let's Do It at Home" (November 2009), which shows a woman applying makeup on the train. Positive behavior was also encouraged through the "Let's Do It Again" series. A 2010 poster, for instance, shows someone offering their seat, promoting kindness and empathy. "Please offer your seat to those in need." (Courtesy of Metro Cultural Foundation) Launched in 2016, this series features a single kanji character each month to promote a specific manners message. The tagline reads, "Are your manners in good shape?" The literal translation of the Japanese tagline is "Your manners — do they feel right?" The word "kanji" also means "feeling," creating a clever double meaning. "Please take care your wet umbrella is not bothersome to others." (Courtesy of Metro Cultural Foundation) The bold, simple characters are easy to spot from a distance. They often spark curiosity, even from international visitors. Some featured kanji include: April: 扉 (door) May: 音 (sound) June: 滴 (drip) July: 列 (line) August: 荷 (baggage) September: 見 (look) October: 声 (voice) November: 滞 (block) December: 走 (run) January (2017): 優 (kindness) February: 座 (sit) March: 運 (transport) The messages are simple, impactful, and often bring a smile during stressful commutes. "Please be considerate of others when traveling with bulky baggage." (Courtesy of Metro Cultural Foundation) These posters are produced by the Metro Cultural Foundation, a public-interest group affiliated with Tokyo Metro. Here are some of the talented artists behind the campaigns: Bunpei Yorifuji – Created the "Please Do It Somewhere Else" series. He's an award-winning designer recognized with the Tokyo Art Director's Club Prize (2005) and the Kodansha Book Design Award (2008). Yu Nagaba (aka Kaeru-sensei) — Designed the "Kanji" series. Yu Oosawa — Illustrated the 2023 "Thank You for Your Good Manners" campaign. Peko Asano — Worked on the 2024 series, "Let's All Be Kind to Everyone." He also did illustrations for the 2021 film We Made a Beautiful Bouquet. Ayaki Obata — Created the 2025 series, "Good Manners Are Appreciated Anytime by Everyone." Obata is also known for work in manga and promotional comics. Tokyo Metro isn't the only railway company using creativity to promote better behavior. The Tsukuba Express, which runs between Tsukuba (Ibaraki) and Akihabara (Tokyo), launched a fun series of campaigns starting in 2018. These include: "Friendly Vegetables" and "Annoying Fruits" "Insect Encyclopedia of Bad Behavior" (2020) "Good Bug Guide" Forward-Going White Butterflies wearing masks in a poster created during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Courtesy of Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company) One poster from the "Good Bug Guide," featuring Susumon Shirocho (the Forward-Going White Butterfly), even comes with a thoughtful note: "This character is shown wearing a mask because the poster was made during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are no longer asking passengers to wear masks." It's a small detail, but it shows how much care and thought go into each campaign. ( Read the article in Japanese . ) Author: Ryuichi Tadokoro, The Sankei Shimbun
The Star
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Japan Railway, logistics firms launch more luggage service options for tourists
TOKYO: More railway and logistics companies are offering luggage storage services in Japan. As this allows foreign visitors to go sightseeing and shopping without having to carry heavy bags around with them, this is expected to boost demand and alleviate congestion caused by bulky luggage taking up space on trains and at tourist spots. In May, transit system Tokyo Metro introduced the Tokyo Metlocker Plus service at Oshiage station, which is directly connected to the Tokyo Skytree, in the city's Sumida ward. The service stores luggage in lockers and delivers it to hotels by 7pm the same day if it is received by 2pm. The subway company plans to set up Metlockers at 20 stations by the end of 2025. 'The service not only improves convenience for tourists, but also helps reduce congestion on trains,' a Tokyo Metro spokesperson said. East Japan Railway and Seibu Railway have been offering similar services with their coin lockers since September 2024. Also in May 2025, delivery company Yamato Transport started a service that allows foreign visitors to drop off their souvenirs and luggage at about 40,000 locations in Japan, including convenience stores, and receive them at their homes overseas. The service makes use of smartphones to simplify tasks such as writing addresses and handles the Customs procedures on the visitors' behalf. It is currently available for addresses in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, with plans to expand to Taiwan and elsewhere in the future. Preventing trouble With less luggage, tourists may want to shop more, while luggage-free travel would help alleviate congestion in tourist areas and on trains. Central Japan Railway, real estate company Mitsui Fudosan and transport company Sagawa Express have jointly launched a same-day delivery service of bags for guests staying at Mitsui hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, making use of vacant space on Tokaido Shinkansen bullet trains. The service is expected to prevent issues such as overhead racks filled up by large pieces of luggage, or reserved storage space being used by people who have not reserved the space. At the ongoing 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, large luggage items are prohibited. Luggage storage services alleviate congestion, with storage fees varying according to location, from ¥10,000 (S$89) per item near the expo entrance to ¥1,000 at the nearby terminal station. Expanding range of activities The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry's Kinki District Transport Bureau and others conducted an experiment in Kyoto in autumn 2023 and found that more than 90 per cent of the travellers who used temporary baggage storage at Japan Rail's Kyoto station said their range of activities expanded. A record 36,869,900 foreigners visited Japan in 2024, up 47.1 per cent year on year, according to the Japan National Tourism Organisation's estimated figures. The government has set a target of 60 million visitors by 2030. 'Luggage-free tourism not only reduces the burden on travellers but also offers significant benefits to local residents, such as alleviating congestion,' said Tomomi Nagai, chief analyst for Toray Corporate Business Research and specialist in the tourism industry. 'There is still considerable room for developing new services, and more companies may seek to stand out themselves from their competitors in the future.' - The Japan News/ANN
Straits Times
17-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Japan Railway, logistics firms launch more luggage service options for tourists
Such services are expected to boost demand and alleviate congestion caused by bulky luggage taking up space on trains and at tourist spots. PHOTO: AFP TOKYO - More railway and logistics companies are offering luggage storage services in Japan. As this allows foreign visitors to go sightseeing and shopping without having to carry heavy luggage, this is expected to boost demand and alleviate congestion caused by bulky luggage taking up space on trains and at tourist spots. In May, Tokyo Metro introduced the Tokyo Metlocker PLUS at Oshiage Station, which is directly connected to the Tokyo Skytree, in Tokyo's Sumida Ward. The locker stores and delivers luggage to hotels by 7pm the same day if received by 2pm. The subway company plans to set up Metlockers at 20 stations by the end of 2025 . 'The service not only improves convenience for tourists, but also helps reduce congestion on trains,' a Tokyo Metro spokesperson said. East Japan Railway (JR East) and Seibu Railway have been offering similar services with their coin lockers since September. Also in May, Yamato Transport started a service that allows foreign visitors to drop off their souvenirs and luggage at about 40,000 locations in Japan, including convenience stores, and receive them at their homes overseas. The service makes use of smartphones to simplify tasks such as writing addresses and handles the customs procedures on their behalf. It is currently available for Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, with plans to expand to Taiwan and elsewhere in the future. Preventing trouble With less luggage, tourists may want to shop more, while luggage-free travel would help alleviate congestions in tourists areas and o trains. Central Japan Railway (JR Tokai), Mitsui Fudosan and Sagawa Express have jointly launched same-day delivery service of bags for guests staying at Mitsui hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, making use of vacant space on Tokaido Shinkansen bullet trains. The service is expected to prevent issues such as the overhead racks getting full from large luggage, or reserved storage space being used by people who haven't reserved the space. At the ongoing 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, large luggage is prohibited. To alleviate congestion, luggage storage fees vary based on location, from ¥10,000 (S$488) per item near the Expo entrance to ¥1,000 at the nearby terminal station. Expanding activities' range The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry's Kinki District Transport Bureau and others conducted a experiment in Kyoto in autumn 2023 and found that over 90 per cent of the travelers who used temporary baggage storage at JR Kyoto Station said their range of activities expanded. A record 36,869,900 foreigners visited Japan in 2024, up 47.1 per cent year-on-year, according to the Japan National Tourism Organisation's estimated figures. The government has set a target of 60 million visitors by 2030. 'Luggage-free tourism not only reduces the burden on travelers but also offers significant benefits to local residents, such as alleviating congestion,' said Ms Tomomi Nagai, chief analyst for Toray Corporate Business Research and specialist in the tourism industry. 'There is still considerable room for developing new services, and more companies may seek to stand out themselves from their competitors in the future.' THE JAPAN NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
