Toei Oedo Line

There’s a small kind of joy in people-watching , or rather, when you have nothing to do with yourself and end up observing the people around you instead. The sound of footsteps roaming across the platform, the hurried knocks of shoes against the floor as people rush toward the train, hopping in at the very last second before the doors close, everything about it feels like a scene from a documentary when I witness it with my own eyes.

That day, specifically, I didn’t realize how much more I was noticing people than usual. Maybe it was because my phone battery was running low, and I had to turn it off to save it for my trip home later that evening. So instead, I found myself paying more attention to my surroundings.

I really like the sound of Japan. When you travel, most of the time you wear earphones especially on public transport, while walking, everywhere. But when I went to Japan, I didn’t need them. I didn’t use them. I didn’t even bring them on purpose.

It was a Saturday afternoon, and I was already settled in the middle seat of the subway train when a group of four stepped in: two guys and two girls, all of them giggling with that awkward excitement people have when they’re still getting to know each other. One of the guys immediately offered his seat to one of the girls, polite and a little formal, like they had only met an hour ago.

“Please, please.”
“Oh, no, you sit.”
“Please.”
“Onegaishimasu.”

She finally took the seat, right beside me.

In front of us, two older women covered their mouths, exchanging looks as if they were mouthing “ooooh!” clearly charmed by the tiny display of gentle gesture happening in front of them.

Did the group of four even realize that even though they spoke softly and moved with the smallest gestures, they still managed to steal a quiet kind of excitement from the rest of us in the car? (Me, of course, someone who barely understands Japanese)

One of the older women kept glancing their way, as if monitoring the scene with a little cloud above her head saying, “There you go, young man”

I glanced to my left and saw a young father with his baby in a stroller. I had actually seen them earlier while we were queueing on the platform, the father was in the middle of a meeting with his earplugs in, and the baby was just taking everything in with those big, bubbly eyes, quiet and entertained by absolutely nothing.

Part of me wondered how this baby could stay so silent, eyes wide open, not even slightly bored, even though his dad was clearly busy with work calls. The father looked like a freelancer or someone in the creative industry. I could sense it from his casual outfit and, well, the fact that he was taking a meeting call on a weekend. (I, TOO, WAS TAKING CALLS, ON, THE, WEEKEND)

And I swear the baby gave off this vibe like, “Oh, I’ll entertain myself while he works.” He didn’t cry, didn’t fuss, didn’t even make a sound, even in a bumpy train!

I noticed so many things in this 20-minute train ride more than I usually do. I found myself unexpectedly entertained by the 3–5 adults quietly riding the train alone, each opening a book and smiling to themselves as they read.

They really enjoy their book as their little companion, fully content in their own company.

Somehow, this is what I really like about traveling, watching people instead of fussing over the usual touristy spots. Because I’ve read too many slice-of-life fiction books, my head is always full of little commentary bubbles about these completely unknown people lol.

Worth the 20-minute ride. Would do it again next time.