Among the world's many major cities, Tokyo is renowned for its highly efficient and punctual transportation system. For a journalist from Germany's Die Zeit, accustomed to the delays of European railways, stepping into the Tokyo Metro for the first time felt like entering a precisely operating world. This subway system, which transports 6.8 million passengers daily, can achieve accuracy not just to the minute, but even to the second. How is all of this accomplished?
Punctuality is Never a Coincidence
The German journalist stated that his journey began at Ikebukuro Station. When he arrived at the meeting point twenty minutes before the agreed time, Tokyo Metro staff had already been waiting for a long time, even half an hour earlier than the scheduled meeting time. For the journalist, accustomed to the casual time perception of Europeans, this spirit of punctuality was astonishing.
The German journalist, who initially thought "How is this possible?", only discovered the secret as he made his way into the core areas of the subway. Especially when he stood on the station platform observing, he noticed that the surrounding passengers did not appear chaotic despite the crowds. Instead, everyone queued according to floor markings, and when the train arrived, passengers boarded and alighted quickly but orderly, as if part of a meticulously choreographed flow mechanism. 
Witnessing this, the German journalist interviewed Tokyo Metro's dispatch center and drivers, discovering that the entire system's punctual operation is the result of precise calculation and continuous optimization. The employees here are not only rigorously trained but also have detailed contingency plans for unexpected situations. For instance, if a train breaks down, other trains can immediately assist in towing or pushing it to minimize the impact.
The Ultimate Manifestation of Time Management
Subsequently, the German journalist also visited a training center in Shin-Kiba, equipped with simulated stations and driving simulators, allowing employees to familiarize themselves with all possible emergency situations. After experiencing the emergency stop system and fire drills, he discovered that Tokyo Metro's pursuit of "punctuality" is not limited to the trains themselves but is deeply embedded in the entire organizational culture and employee training.
He stated that what surprised him even more was the extremely low number of complaint calls to the subway passenger hotline; occasionally, they even received words of encouragement and gratitude. This is in stark contrast to Germany, where passenger complaints about train delays are almost a daily occurrence.
For the German journalist, this in-depth journey into the Tokyo Metro gave him a new understanding of "punctuality culture." He stated that while time management in Germany seems to be regarded as a relatively relaxed concept, in Japan, "punctuality" is an internalized value, reflected not only in transportation but also integrated into people's daily lives.
via： クーリエ・ジャポン