#22 Why are foreigners on trains 'noisy'? The truth is 'motion sickness' and the solution is 'accountability'

1. The true nature of that irritation

The sake I drank on my business trip last night is still exerting its 'influence' inside my body. I managed to squeeze my heavy body into the commuter train. Foreign languages cut through the silence. It is not because the decibel level is high. It is not because I do not understand the meaning. Why do we feel such 'noise' and 'irritation' toward foreign tourists talking on the train?

It is easy to dismiss it as 'bad manners.' However, that solves nothing, and it does not reduce our stress.

To find a solution, I carefully observed the phenomenon and broke down the mechanism of this irritation. Two things became apparent: a physiological phenomenon and a structural defect in business terms.

2. 'Motion sickness' caused by 'different cultures'

I think the discomfort we feel is close to 'motion sickness (sensory conflict)' caused by the brain.

Motion sickness is a bug that occurs when the brain gets confused because the information entering from the eyes (the train is not moving) conflicts with the information entering from the ears (the reality of swaying). Let's apply this to the situation on the train.

Brain's prediction (model): Japanese trains are 'silent.' This is a collection of private spaces like a library.

Ear's actual measurement (input): Enjoyable conversation, loud laughter. This is a social space like an izakaya.

In a space where the brain predicts it 'should be quiet,' unexpected 'noise' continues to be input. The brain is overheating because it cannot process this 'divergence (gap) between prediction and reality.' This is the true nature of the emotion of 'noisy (unpleasant).'

They have no ill intent. It is just that the 'spatial definitions (specifications)' each party holds are different.

3. 'Responsibility to understand' cannot be established without 'accountability'

So, what should we do? Here, many Japanese people pray, 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do,' and wait for them to read the air and be quiet. But from a business perspective, that is nothing more than an abandonment of management. Humanity will not progress if we keep thinking it is someone else's fault.

'When in Rome, do as the Romans do' is a phrase that demands a so-called 'responsibility to understand' from the guest side. However, is it not unfair to demand understanding from the other party when the host side has not fulfilled its 'accountability' to clearly state the rules?

What if there were a project manager who yelled at stakeholders, 'Why aren't you acting according to our implicit rules?' without handing over specifications or conducting an orientation? That is clearly abnormal.

Us (hosts): Clearly state in language that this is a place to be quiet (accountability).

Them (guests): Recognize the presented rules and follow them (responsibility to understand).

Furthermore, I will not discuss here whether they will accept it as a result or whether they will 'do as the Romans do.' That is a different point of discussion.

The special specification of 'silence' on Japanese trains is not a global standard. That is precisely why it is unreasonable to demand quality (quietness) without presenting those specifications.

4. 'English proficiency' to protect comfort

Thinking of it this way, us speaking up in broken English is not mere meddling or complaining. It becomes a legitimate 'requirements definition process' to fulfill mutual responsibilities and conclude a quality assurance contract for this space.

However, we hit a wall of 'implementation' here.

'Do I have the English proficiency to convey that?'

Future English learning will not just be for 'winning in business.' It will be necessary to 'defend one's own comfortable living environment.' You don't need fluent conversation. Just like a site supervisor giving safety instructions, you just need to convey the facts, briefly.

"This is a quiet zone."

"Like a library."

Can I execute just this command with the appropriate tone?

5. Conclusion

Will you continue to endure 'motion sickness' while complaining and putting up with it, or block your ears with noise-canceling headphones? Or will you pay a small cost (courage and English) to control the environment?

Channeling the energy you use to frown and think 'how noisy' into reviewing junior high school English and actually issuing a command. That might be the solution with the highest ROI (return on investment) for a business person in Japan, a technology-oriented nation.