Schoolchildren Ride Trains Alone
Every morning, in cities across Japan, you’ll see young children—some as young as six—boarding public trains by themselves. Neatly dressed in uniforms with bright yellow hats or backpacks, they navigate crowded platforms without adult supervision.
To visitors, it might seem dangerous or even negligent. In many countries, letting a child out of sight, let alone on a public train, would raise alarms. But in Japan, it’s seen as a normal part of growing up.
This daily ritual speaks volumes about the country’s emphasis on safety, trust, and community responsibility. What would be considered reckless elsewhere is a symbol of independence and societal cohesion in Japan.