September's Manner Poster

I covet this poster. September's Subway Manner Poster, it reminds riders not to fall asleep on their neighbor's shoulder. Who cares if it is 100% photo shopped? It's cute! And it makes its point in such an appealing way. The other night, just as September was on the cusp of turning into October, Abby and I popped our heads into not one but two subway station offices to inquire after the parrots. In her best Japanese, Abby asked what the officials were planning to do with the poster at the end of the month, i.e. the next day, and whether they would be willing to give the poster to her. Needless to say, we were quite disappointed when we were dinged both times! Apparently, Manner Posters have been showing up on Internet commerce sites and Tokyo Metro doesn't like that. Do we really look like the types who sell stuff on the web? I think not. But rules are rules. And in Japan that means they are seldom excepted. After all these years, I still think like an American. Thank goodness.


This is October's offering. It is not quite as good but still grabs my attention. It depicts a kitty gazing at herself in a mirror.


This message is don't put make-up on while riding the subway.

Hats in Kichijoji

No trip to Kichijoji would be complete without a visit to at least one yarn store. Though Sheeps Meadow was closed last Thursday, Avril was not only open but in the midst of an exhibition of hats from the shop's new book. Downstairs, Avril features a wide array of yarns, most sold by the gram and stored on cardboard cones hung from the wall. Just look at all those colors and textures! The pure whites are simply sumptuous. In addition to a good sales tactic, the wall-mounted display is a marvelous decorative element.









Suspended from the ceiling upstairs was an array of caps made from the book. Shaped like a strawberry shortcake or adorned with a wooly sheep, each one was more fanciful than the next.







I particularly liked the chunky, finger knit cap and the nubbly crocheted tam. Too bad I have such an aversion to crochet needles. It is hard for me to imagine wearing some of these outrageous creations but they would probably be pretty fun to make.









Having had our fill of hats, we decided it was time to head home. When we boarded the Shibuya-bound train, we were quite surprised by this young woman with her pink, feathered bonnet. What was she thinking? I believe in a hat with attitude but this one was over the top.

Mind Your Manners

While on the subway last week with visiting friends from the US, I was struck by how well-mannered Tokyo passengers really are. When riding, they don't talk loudly, they don't eat food and they keep cell phone chatter to an absolute minimum. Yet sometimes one encounters a transgression. Recently while riding the Oedo Line, I gazed downward and discovered the toes pictured above. They belonged to a snoozing salariman who had slipped off his loafers to air his feet, revealing his toe-socks (yes! toe socks!) for all to see. But for the most part, subway riders are very mindful of their surroundings. They tend to turn inward and focus on their cell phones, ipods, pocket computer games or bunkoban paperback books. And, as a result, Tokyo subway cars are astonishingly quiet. Even the crowded ones.

Lest anyone forget their good comportment, the manner posters mounted monthly in stations and subway cars will keep them in line with gentle reminders of how to behave. I first noticed manner posters when we lived here in the late 80s/early 90s. At that time, the Tokyo Metro had engaged a rather brilliant graphic designer to produce a year's worth of posters, each one bearing a well-mannered and visually captivating message. My favorite depicted a subway interior loaded with open umbrellas of all different colors and patterns. One was crowned by a tiny frog (too cute for my taste but this is Japan). The message? Don't forget your umbrella on the train. I liked the posters so much that I began asking the station master in Yutenji if I could have them. This caused a lot of teeth sucking but sometimes I scored. On his suggestion, I eventually made my way to the source: subway headquarters in Ueno.

Much to my surprise, a very pleasant and very pregnant foreign woman of about my age greeted me upon my arrival. How she landed a job working for the Tokyo Metro is beyond my ken. But, be that as it may, my new friend was a great help. After hearing my quest, she disappeared for a moment only to return with a large roll of posters, all in mint condition and all for me. The following year, the subway commissioned a new designer. Since the new work did not speak to me, I put my collection to rest.



More recently, manner posters have begun to garner my attention again, though not enough to trigger my collecting instinct. Suspended from a subway car ceiling, this one admonishes riders to apply their make-up at home. On the face of it, the wielding of a mascara wand while commuting seems like a minor infraction. Yet to many in Japan it is construed as a private matter that, as the poster says, ought to be handled elsewhere. What a contrast to the CTA.

The Cutest Cupcake Store in Kichijoji

Here it is. The cutest little cupcake store in Kichijoji. As you can see from their window display, they do not carry a wide variety of sweets but each one is perfect. I bought Nama (= fresh) Caramel cakes for my sweeties. The slightly retro decor (antiqued table, kettle shaped pendant lights fixtures and a full-height chest of drawers made of blond wood) is the perfect backdrop without crossing over to the kitsch. Called Momen (tel. 0422 21 2508), the shop is just a hop, skip and a jump from Kichijoji Station.

Caught in the Act!

So this is how it is done. I have seen worker bees down on their hands and knees diligently scraping the chewing gum off station floors and dutifully polishing escalator handrails while commuters stream on by. But until today, I had never seen anyone clean those raised yellow lines that always seem to be under foot, especially if I am in a hurry and/or wearing heels of any sort.



Leading from platform to ticket wicket, they are intended to aid the visually impaired and remind the rest of us not to tread too close to the edge. Within the yellow strips, the dot pattern means "stop" (as in you are at the top of the stairs) and the dashes indicate "go straight."


The cleaner's dedication and perseverance were nothing short of awe-inspiring. What a contrast to the New York City Subway! I slowed for a moment to admire her handiwork but then slid back into high speed as I made my way to street level.