BUZZ
ASK MRS. EDO-SAN
Educated Answers to Tokyo's Most Oft-Asked Questions
Q: The outward bound Chuo express train doesn't stop at Kichijochi, making it
necessary to go on until the next station and then ride back. But I've noticed
that the train does slow down as it passes. Is this so that people who are
really in a hurry can jump off?
--L.W.
- A: No, it isn't. Some part time JR employees who work as "pushers" during
rush hour, complain of having to double as "catchers" for the reason that you
have just described. Express trains often decelerate as they move through
stations for safety reasons--not so that passengers can jump out or
throw things into the platform trashcans. You can get into big trouble doing
this. I know.
Q: My older sister's inability to find an acceptable mate was a source
of family dispute and sadness for many years. The problem finally seemed
solved last week when she brought home a well-dressed and charming company man
that my parents immediately approved of. But just after he left and the
upcoming marriage was being eagerly discussed in the next room, I happened to
catch a glance of him from the kitchen window, urinating on the side of our
house. Should I tell my sister or will it just create more problems?
--J.A.
- A: While I'm sad to say that such behavior is not a tremendous breech of
Tokyo etiquette, it was, nonetheless, highly inappropriate given the situation.
Since it could turn out that the man has some medical problem and will be doing
this every place they go, your sister should know. Use tact, though. You
might soften the blow by saying a man that looked like her
fiancée seemed to be in your garden leaving behind what
appeared to be an unfriendly substance. She should get the idea.
Q: Do you think the members of the pop music group Kome Kome Club will ever
get their pictures on a postage stamp to commemorate their greatness?
--F.F.
- A: I doubt it.
Send your questions to Mrs. Edo-san, c/o Tokyo Journal, Iga Dai-ni Bldg.,
2-5-3 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150, or fax them to +81 - 3 - 3486-7341.
You can also email questions straight to Mrs. Edo-san's desk - but make sure you state clearly in the subject line that your mil is for Mrs. Edo-san, or somone else in the office might read it, and we wouldn't want that, now would we.