Hand held? In your hand or in front? We asked 8 railroad companies for their opinions on “how to carry backpacks” on trains.

When did backpacks become hand-held ……?

I thought backpacks were supposed to be held in front of you on crowded trains. When did backpacks become hand-held ……?

What triggered the recent stir on SNS and other social media was a poster on the theme of “how to place and carry hand luggage” that was put up in a joint manner campaign by 19 railroad companies and bureaus in the Kansai region from March 1, 2012. The campaign called for passengers to be considerate of others around them when carrying and placing hand luggage, and urged passengers to place large items of luggage on a screen shelf, to hold backpacks in their hands, and to place hand luggage on their knees.

Incidentally, the ’18 campaign used the phrase “hold it in front of you. Despite this, the Kansai Railway Association explained to various media outlets that the reason for the change was that “there were people who were unable to do so for some physical or other reason, and it was pointed out to us that what should be done for those who could not hold it in front of them?

Again, this is a call for action in a campaign by 19 railroad operators & bureaus in the Kansai region.

However, I wonder if it is already good manners in Tokyo and other urban areas where commuter trains are packed to capacity to carry backpacks and other luggage in the hands instead of in the front.

We conducted an emergency questionnaire survey of eight Tokyo railroad companies (Keio Corporation, Odakyu Corporation, Tokyu Corporation, Seibu Corporation, Tobu Corporation, Tokyo Metropolitan Transportation Bureau, JR East, and Tokyo Metro).

In Tokyo, “backpacks in front” is the norm

Keio, Odakyu, Seibu, Tobu, JR East, and Tokyo Subway use the expression “backpacks in front” to call out about backpacks and other luggage. We also asked about the announcement method and specific wording.

Keio Electric Railway displays stickers in its trains that read, “Keep your backpack in front of you” and “This helps prevent pickpockets, etc.” (Keio Electric Railway)

Keio Electric Railway Co. We announce to passengers that they should carry their backpacks, bags, and other luggage in front of them or use the shelves above their seats. We do not have any particular rules. The reason for this is that carrying baggage on your back may cause you to come in contact with other passengers, and depending on how crowded the train is, it may be difficult for you to carry your baggage on your back. The reason for this is that carrying baggage on your back may cause you to come into contact with other passengers, and depending on how crowded the train is, you may be unable to move yourself.

Seibu Railways asks passengers to be considerate of others around them by holding backpacks and other baggage in front of their bodies or using the shelves.

Seibu Railway Co. We ask passengers to hold their backpacks in their hands or in front of them. The reason for this is that we cannot give sufficient consideration to other passengers with backpacks on their backs.

Tobu Railways explains, “When trains are crowded, carrying a backpack on your back may cause injury or trouble to other passengers around you. In addition, we request that passengers carry backpacks and other hand luggage by hand or hold them in front of their bodies, or place them on the racks in crowded trains.

At stations and on trains, depending on how crowded the train is, we may ask passengers to place large items of luggage on the luggage racks. Please hold your backpack in front of you or in your hand. We would also like to ask passengers to be considerate of each other so that all passengers can use the train safely and comfortably.

There were no reports of trouble between passengers…

On the other hand, Tokyu, Tokyo Metropolitan Transportation Bureau, and Tokyo Subway did not specifically state that they would hold “in front” of passengers, but called for consideration.

The “Baggage” policy is not limited to backpacks, but is also expressed in the form of the phrase, “Please be considerate of each other’s baggage. The term “luggage” is used instead of being limited to backpacks. The announcement is not limited to backpacks, but is referred to as “baggage”. Draft announcement: “In crowded trains, please be considerate so that your luggage does not cause inconvenience to other passengers.

We do not have a uniform rule, but we may ask you to be considerate so as not to inconvenience other passengers” (Tokyo Metropolitan Transportation Bureau)

(Tokyo Metropolitan Transportation Bureau) “We do not have a uniform rule. We consider the content of broadcasts in consideration of the in-train environment on a case-by-case basis, and currently use the following content. We are currently using the following broadcasts, which are made by voice and automated broadcasts as necessary in consideration of the in-train environment. We ask passengers to make a “backpack-related announcement”. Rucksacks, etc. (e.g. etc.) If you have a large bag, please hold it in your hand or place it on your seat (above). Please use the luggage racks above your seat.) Please use the luggage rack above your seat” (Tokyo Subway).

However, this is not to deny passengers’ riding methods, but to make crowded trains more comfortable and to encourage as many passengers as possible to use the trains. It is not intended to point out or warn those carrying backpacks.

Incidentally, when asked if there were any reports of trouble between passengers regarding the way they carry their baggage on crowded trains, most of the respondents answered, “Not particularly,” with the exception of the following few cases.

We are not aware of any cases of trouble, but we do receive comments about the way backpacks and other luggage are carried and placed on the train” (Tokyu Corporation)

We receive about 10 comments a year about the way backpacks are carried, but we do not know the number of cases that have led to problems.

Tobu Railways: “We do receive comments from customers about the manner in which they use their backpacks when trains are crowded. We will continue to raise awareness and educate our customers about the manner of use of backpacks, taking into consideration the conditions of use and opinions of our customers.

We received 40 comments and requests regarding the manner of carrying backpacks in the train during the fiscal year 2010, including various opinions about how to carry backpacks, such as “Please inform passengers to hold backpacks in front in crowded trains” and “Please inform passengers to hold backpacks in their hands instead of in front. We received a variety of comments on how to carry backpacks, such as “We received a number of comments on how to carry backpacks in mixed traffic” and “We received a number of comments on how to carry backpacks in mixed traffic” (Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd.)

In Tokyo, the majority of railroad companies still consider it good manners to hold backpacks “in front” of the passengers. And while there seem to be few cases where this has led to major problems, it is true that some people are frustrated by the level of “opinions and requests” they bother to give.

That said, there is no unified call by railroad companies in Tokyo at this time at least on how to carry backpacks. It does not mean that it is correct to follow the announcements of each railroad company mentioned above.

In that case, to avoid unnecessary trouble, some people may want to see a unified rule by all railroad companies on whether backpacks should be held in the front, on the back, or in the hand after all.

However, if “hold them in front” were to become the rule, some people would have difficulty holding them in front, such as pregnant women, people with babies, the injured, and the elderly. On the other hand, the backpacks of high school students, for example, are so heavy that they dig into their shoulders and leave bruises, making it practically impossible for them to carry them in their hands. Of course, if they carry their backpacks on their backs, they may knock people around them off their feet when they turn around.

It is not OK as long as you follow manners and rules, such as “hold it in front of you” or “hold it in your hand,” at least. The important thing is to be careful not to get so absorbed in your phone or chatting that you lose sight of your surroundings. Of course, we should also remember that the purpose of the backpack and the way it is carried is a call to make many people feel comfortable in a public place.