It was a little after 9 in the morning when we got down to the platform. I took a picture of a funny-looking bench and we chatted while waiting for the train. We were both pretty tired, having been out until we missed the last train back home the night before (fortunately, Chase let us crash at his house) and I wanted nothing more than to get some breakfast and take a nap.
The train rolled up and as the first few cars rolled by, I didn't notice anything unusual. However, as the train started to slow down, I began to realize how uncomfortable our ride to Shinjuku would be.
I thought that I'd seen crowded trains before, but I'd never seen anything like this. Behind each door, there was a wall of people. In one car, a mittened hand was smushed against the window on a door. In the next car, a man's cheek was flattened on the glass.
"What in the fuck?!" I exclaimed in disbelief. "Maybe some of them will get off?"
"Not enough." daid replied.
When the train stopped, some people got off and I was hopeful for a moment. Until they all turned around. They'd gotten off the train because they were getting out of the way in case anyone else wanted off, not because they were getting off the train.
After the few people getting off the train were clear, we approached the train and tried to press ourselves into the solid wall of people standing in front of the door. daid managed to get into one door and a railway employee helpfully directed me to the next door over where there was a small space (though it took him two tries because I didn't understand what he was saying since my Japanese still sucks).
I got on the train and the doors barely shut in front of me. I managed to move my arms enough to hold my bag up to make more room at hip level where it seemed to be required and I tried to hold onto the small ledge above the door. Although everyone was tightly packed, the trains on the Keio line lurch more than most trains around Tokyo and I didn't want to accidentally lean heavily on one of my neighbours. The ride was uncomfortable enough without doing that.
It was a bit difficult to breathe from the weight of everyone around me and someone behind me was squirming a bit. I couldn't turn around to see who it was and I couldn't move anywhere to give them more space. I just stood there waiting for the next stop and hoping that nobody else would want on the train.
At the next stop, the line ups extended from the edge of the platform to the wall. I got off the train to let anyone who wanted off get off the train and I got the first look at the person who was squirming behind me as a woman and a young boy got off the train (I imagine that as bad as a train that crowded is for adults, it's probably worse for kids).
Luckily, almost half the passengers on the train got off. When I got back on the train, I was able to actually stand in the aisle and move my arms and hold onto a strap. The train was still pretty full once all the new passengers were on, but it was much better than before. When the train got to Shinjuku, everyone emptied out and I reunited with daid as we followed the crowd up the stairs and through the transfer area to the JR line.1
As we waited for the train on the Yamanote line, we discussed how ridiculous the last train was and how it was somewhat infamous for this sort of thing. In principle, busier trains exist (at least the guy at the station didn't have to push anyone into the train) and probably the train we were on was much busier earlier in the day since we got on the train after 9 when many people would already have to be at work. I do not especially wish to experience those trains though.
1. In general, it is much easier to follow the crowd when getting off a train and typically, the crowd knows where to go so you probably want to follow them anyway.↩
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