Nankai's Mission: Making Manners Matter on the Rails

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Enter Nankai Electric Railway. Wait, weren't there posters about train manners inside their cars?

"We don’t create many posters of our own," says Akinori Oda, assistant manager in the company’s public relations department.

But that doesn't mean Nankai is inactive. The company serves Kansai International Airport, one of Japan's busiest international gateways, with around 30 million passengers annually. In that role, they display posters created annually by the Japan Private Railway Association and the Kansai Railway Association, both of which it's a member of.

What sets them apart is their manners awareness campaign aimed specifically at foreign travelers. For instance, the company issues alerts to passengers who try to use escalators while carrying large suitcases or bulky carry-on bags.

Nankai's Mission

"After the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of inbound travelers began gradually rising around August 2023," said Oda. "But with that came a surge in accidents, such as luggage falling on escalators. While we had been making announcements at Kansai Airport Station, we decided to create posters as well to raise awareness."

All of Nankai's posters are written in Japanese, English, Korean, and Chinese. Since customs and manners vary by country, the messaging avoids imposing Japanese norms on foreign tourists. Instead, it takes a more considerate tone, saying things like, "Doing A is dangerous. Therefore, please B."

*A multilingual etiquette poster by Nankai Electric Railway, encouraging good manners on trains for foreign visitors in English, Korean, and Chinese. (©Nankai Railway)*

In addition, since March of this year, the Rapi:t Express train connecting Kansai International Airport and Osaka Namba has included flyers in seat pockets with photographs illustrating "where to place suitcases and carry-on bags" and "the correct way to sit in your seat."

"Every year, many foreign tourists visit Japan," Oda explained. "As the railway that connects directly to Kansai International Airport, we believe it is Nankai Electric Railway's mission to communicate effectively with these visitors."

Hear, hear!

*An illustrated booklet outlining proper train manners, available inside the Rapi:t Express train. (©Nankai Electric Railway)*

Anime Teaches Manners

Since 2021, Nankai Electric Railway has collaborated with students from Osaka Animation College in Suita City, Osaka Prefecture, to produce educational animations. The titles include "Sachi's Promise" and "Nankai Electric Railway: Kai's Great Adventure!"

Sachi's Promise follows the journey of Sachi Nakamatsu, a young woman who overcomes challenges to become a train driver for Nankai Electric Railway. Her surname, Nakamatsu, comes from a station on the Nankai Kada Line in Wakayama City, where she was born and raised. After graduating from a local high school, Sachi joins the railway company and fulfills her dream of driving trains on the Kada Line, a route she had been familiar with since childhood.

*Sachi's Promise follows the journey of Sachi Nakamatsu, a young female train driver overcoming the challenges of her profession. (©Nanakai Electric Railway)*

*A scene from the manners awareness video Kai's Great Adventure! by Nankai Electric Railway, promoting proper train etiquette in a fun and engaging way.*

The first episode is titled Reckless Behaviors at Level Crossing. Meanwhile, the second episode is Railroad Crossing Emergency Button, and the third is Walking While Using a Smartphone. Each episode runs for approximately 30 seconds.

Kai-kun is the younger brother of Sachi Nakamatsu. His approximately five-minute story teaches passengers about proper train etiquette. It's inspired by an incident that occurred during Kai's trip from his home in Wakayama to visit his grandfather in Namba, Osaka, via the Nankai Electric Railway.

Professional voice actress Yuki Nakajima voices Yukiko Nakamatsu, while a student from Osaka Animation College voices Kai-kun. The story is available on the Nankai Electric Railway website.

Unique Outreach

In January of last year, the company hosted a special visiting lecture called "Nankai Electric Railway School." The event was aimed at elementary school students living along the Nankai Electric Railway line.

*Nankai Electric Railway’s outreach lecture at an elementary school, where train drivers are teaching students about proper railway etiquette. (©Nankai Electric Railway)*

In a rare move, the instructor for the event was not a station manager but a train driver. Furthermore, in March last year, the company organized a "manners training and exchange event" for foreign workers in Japan. Participants were taught proper railway etiquette and how to use ticket vending machines.

Author: Ryuichi Tadokoro, The Sankei Shimbun

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